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Port of entry: South Florida

Customs broker for Miami seaport and Miami International Airport

Miami has two CBP ports: the Miami seaport (5201) and Miami International Airport (5206), both in the Miami Field Office. Allied CHB files entries for perishables, containers and air cargo at both ports in ACE under filer code 9AJ.

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Port facts

What do CBP ports 5201 and 5206 cover?

The seaport and the airport are two separate CBP ports, each with its own port office. Use 5206 for cargo that lands at the airport and 5201 for cargo that a vessel unloads at PortMiami.
Miami seaport
5201
Container terminals at PortMiami
Miami International Airport
5206
Air cargo, express consignments and international mail
CBP field office
Miami
Also 5202 Key West, 5203 Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale and 5204 West Palm Beach
Container terminals
Three at PortMiami
Seaboard Marine, POMTOC and South Florida Container Terminal (PortMiami list)
Express facility codes
5295 to 5298
UPS, DHL, FedEx and IBC hubs in Miami (CBP ACE port code list)
General order
From day 15 after landing
Cargo without an entry goes to a general order warehouse at the importer's risk and expense.
FDA
Division of Southeast Imports
Sweetwater Resident Post, Miami
USDA APHIS
Plant inspection station and animal import center
Both in Miami. The animal import center takes birds.
USFWS designated port
Yes
Miami, Florida (50 CFR 14.12)

Which agencies check cargo in Miami?

Most Miami imports are plants, food or animals, so CBP is rarely the only agency. CBP agriculture specialists inspect the perishables, and FDA, USDA and USFWS release the goods that they regulate.
Agencies at the Miami seaport (5201) and Miami International Airport (5206)
AgencyOffice for MiamiWhat it means for your cargo
CBP, airport (5206)Port office and cargo clearance, NW 25th Street, MiamiThe port page lists an Entry Branch, a Cargo Branch, an Import Specialist Branch, an International Mail and Courier Branch, and agriculture operations that work 24 hours, 7 days a week.
CBP, seaport (5201)Seaport trade operations, PortMiamiThe port page lists a Seaport Cargo Center with a mailbox for trade problems, an agriculture desk and a Warehouse Inspection Team.
FDADivision of Southeast Imports, Sweetwater Resident PostFood, seafood, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. FDA lists ports 5201 and 5206 and the Miami express hub codes under this office.
USDA APHIS PPQPlant inspection station, MiamiMost plants, cuttings and seeds for planting go to one of 16 USDA plant inspection stations for clearance. Miami has one of them.
USDA APHIS Veterinary ServicesMiami Animal Import Center, next to the airportQuarantine for pet birds and commercial bird shipments that arrive at Miami International Airport.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDesignated port: Miami, FloridaWildlife and wildlife products can enter here. The importer files Form 3-177 with the Service (50 CFR 14.61).
CDCCDC-registered animal care facility at MIAA foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies can arrive at Miami International Airport with a reservation at this facility.

For an FDA entry under initial review, FDA asks that questions go to the FDA ImportShield Program. Questions about an exam, a sample, a detention or a refusal go to the import operations of the Division of Southeast Imports.

What arrives in Miami, and which rules matter most?

The airport lists cut flowers, electronic devices and seafood as its top import groups. Most of these goods are perishable, so a missing permit or certificate costs product, not only storage.

  • Cut flowers

    CBP reported in February 2026 that Miami International Airport processes about 88 percent of U.S. cut flower imports, mostly from Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. Every shipment must be available for inspection at the port of first arrival (7 CFR 319.74-2(a)). Roses (HTS 0603.11.00) have a general duty rate of 6.8 percent and enter free with a valid claim under the Colombia (CO) or Peru (PE) trade agreement.

  • Fruits and vegetables

    Fresh produce needs an APHIS import permit and must meet its conditions (7 CFR 319.56-3(b)). APHIS sets the conditions by commodity and country. FDA also needs prior notice before arrival: 4 hours by air, 8 hours by water (21 CFR 1.279). See produce imports.

  • Seafood

    Every seafood importer needs written FDA verification procedures, unless an active FDA agreement with the exporting country covers the product (21 CFR 123.12). Tuna, swordfish, mahi mahi, grouper, red snapper, shrimp and other listed species are in the NOAA Seafood Traceability Program. The importer needs an International Fisheries Trade Permit and files harvest data in ACE (50 CFR 300.322 and 300.324). See seafood imports.

  • Pharmaceuticals and cold-chain goods

    The airport has the IATA Pharma Hub designation for temperature-sensitive goods. FDA reviews each drug entry in ACE and can ask for registration, listing and product data. See pharmaceutical imports.

  • Live birds, pets and wildlife

    Pet birds and commercial birds go to USDA quarantine at the Miami Animal Import Center. Wildlife can enter because Miami is a designated port. For dogs and cats, see our pet import page.

  • Containers at PortMiami

    Ocean cargo needs an ISF no later than 24 hours before loading at the foreign port (19 CFR 149.2). Florida East Coast Railway tracks on the port connect to the Hialeah rail yard, so a container can leave by rail. See ISF filing.

What goes wrong in Miami, and what should I do?

  • CBP finds a pest in perishables

    The inspector issues an emergency action notification, PPQ Form 523. By the time on the form, you must treat, clean, re-export or destroy the goods at your expense. If you do not act in time, APHIS destroys the goods and bills you (7 CFR 319.74-2(b)). Decide with the shipper in advance which option you will choose.

  • The flowers must be fumigated

    Cut flowers with leafminer flies (agromyzids) must be fumigated with methyl bromide at import, under 7 CFR part 305. Some chrysanthemums from Colombia and the Dominican Republic are exempt when the only pest is Liriomyza trifolii (7 CFR 319.74-2(c)). Fumigation adds time and cost, so tell the buyer.

  • Peak season before Valentine's Day and Mother's Day

    CBP inspects the most flower stems in the weeks before these two days. File the entry before the aircraft lands (19 CFR 142.2(b)) and send the documents when the flight leaves. A late document costs shelf life.

  • FDA holds food, seafood or drugs

    FDA can ask for documents, take a sample or detain the goods. Keep the product in its temperature range while the hold is open. Send the documents on the same day. See FDA holds and detentions.

  • An express parcel is held

    CBP handles express shipments at the DHL, UPS, FedEx and IBC facilities near the airport, and mail at the Foreign Mail Facility. De minimis is suspended for all countries (EO 14324), so each parcel needs an entry. See held courier parcels.

How does Allied CHB file an entry in Miami?

Allied CHB files entries remotely in ACE under filer code 9AJ at every U.S. port of entry. For Miami, the cargo stays at the airline warehouse, the express facility or the PortMiami terminal. We file the entry and the agency data, answer CBP, FDA and USDA, and tell you when the cargo is released.

For perishables, we file before arrival so that the inspection can start when the cargo lands. For the first entry, sign the power of attorney online.

  • Air waybill or bill of lading numbers

  • Commercial invoice and packing list

    With the botanical or species name for flowers, produce and seafood.

  • Plant and animal documents

    Phytosanitary certificate, APHIS permit number, or USFWS and CITES documents, as the goods require.

  • FDA and NOAA data

    Manufacturer or processor, FDA registration numbers, and for listed seafood the permit number and the harvest data.

  • Importer of record number and a customs bond

    A formal entry needs a bond. See customs bonds.

  • A signed power of attorney

    One time, before the first entry.

Quote on request

How do I get a quote?

Tell us about the shipment. We reply with a quote and the list of documents that we need.

Request: Customs entry at Miami

Quote on request

Do not send an EIN, a Social Security number or a password in this form. We ask for them securely later.

Or call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com.

Questions

Questions about customs in Miami

What are the CBP port codes for Miami?

5201 for the Miami seaport and 5206 for Miami International Airport. Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale is a separate port, 5203, in the same Miami Field Office. Use the code of the port where the cargo is unloaded.

Why does CBP inspect my flower shipment in Miami?

APHIS rules require that every imported cut flower shipment is available for inspection at the port of first arrival, and it stays there until it is released (7 CFR 319.74-2(a)). CBP agriculture specialists do this inspection at the airport. A shipment that lands in Miami is inspected in Miami, even if the buyer is in another state.

What happens if CBP finds a pest in my flowers or produce?

You receive PPQ Form 523. It tells you what to do and by when: treatment such as fumigation, cleaning, re-export or destruction. You pay the cost. If you do not act by the time on the form, APHIS destroys the goods and you pay for that too.

Do I need a permit to import seafood through Miami?

For the species in the NOAA Seafood Traceability Program, such as tuna, swordfish, mahi mahi, grouper, red snapper and shrimp, yes. The importer of record needs an International Fisheries Trade Permit and must file the harvest data in ACE at entry. All seafood importers must also meet the FDA importer verification rule in 21 CFR 123.12.

Can I import pet birds through Miami International Airport?

Yes. APHIS quarantines pet birds and commercial bird shipments at the Miami Animal Import Center, next to the airport. Ask APHIS Veterinary Services about the import rules and space before you ship.

Do I need a customs broker with an office in Miami?

No. A licensed broker with a national permit can do customs business at every U.S. port (19 CFR 111.19). Allied CHB is in Rahway, New Jersey and files Miami entries in ACE. The inspection and the pickup stay in Miami.

Perishables landing in Miami?

Send the air waybill, the invoice and the certificates before the flight leaves. We file the entry in ACE so the inspection can start on arrival.

Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com

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Last reviewed September 28, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.

Sources