Skip to main content

Port of entry: Puget Sound, Washington

Customs broker for the ports of Seattle and Tacoma

Seattle is CBP port 3001 and Tacoma is CBP port 3002, in the CBP Seattle Field Office. Air cargo at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport uses code 3029. Allied CHB files ISF and entries for all three in ACE under filer code 9AJ.

Request a quoteCall (908) 291-8001

Port facts

What do CBP ports 3001 and 3002 cover?

In 19 CFR 101.3, Seattle and Tacoma are part of one consolidated port, Puget Sound. Seattle is a CBP service port. The two harbors keep their own codes and CBP offices. The Northwest Seaport Alliance runs the container terminals of both ports as one gateway.
CBP port codes
3001, 3002
3001 Seattle (North Harbor), 3002 Tacoma (South Harbor)
Air cargo code
3029
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac)
CBP offices
SeaTac and Fife, Washington
Seattle port office at Sea-Tac Airport; Tacoma port office on Pacific Highway East in Fife
Container terminals
Three in each harbor
Seattle: Terminals 5, 18 and 30. Tacoma: Husky, Pierce County and Washington United (Northwest Seaport Alliance)
Other cargo
Autos, trucks, breakbulk and bulk
The alliance lists two auto processing facilities.
General order
From day 15 after landing
Cargo without an entry goes to a general order warehouse at the importer's risk and expense (19 CFR 4.37).
FDA
Division of West Coast Imports
Puget Sound Import Office (3001); Tacoma Resident Post (3002, 3029)
USDA APHIS PPQ
Plant inspection station
Seattle
USFWS designated port
Yes, Seattle
50 CFR 14.12 names Seattle, Washington.

Which agencies check cargo at Seattle and Tacoma?

CBP releases the cargo. FDA, USDA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must also release the goods that they regulate. In Puget Sound, CBP agriculture holds are a separate step with their own mailboxes.
Agencies at Seattle (3001), Tacoma (3002) and Sea-Tac (3029)
AgencyOfficeWhat it means for your cargo
CBPArea Port of Seattle, Seattle Field OfficeThe port pages list team mailboxes for trade, the Manifest Review Unit, air cargo, non-intrusive inspection and fines and penalties. A trade resolution liaison takes unresolved issues.
CBP agricultureSeparate mailboxes for Seattle, Tacoma and Sea-TacUpload the required documents to the Document Imaging System (DIS). Then email the agriculture mailbox for that location, as the CBP port page asks.
FDADivision of West Coast Imports: Puget Sound Import Office and Tacoma Resident PostFood, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. Seattle (3001) is under the Puget Sound Import Office. Tacoma (3002) and Sea-Tac (3029) are under the Tacoma Resident Post.
USDA APHIS PPQPlant inspection station, SeattlePlants and seeds for planting go to the plant inspection station. CBP agriculture specialists check wood packaging for the treatment mark (7 CFR 319.40-3(b)).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDesignated port: Seattle, WashingtonWildlife and wildlife products can enter at Seattle. The importer files Form 3-177 with the Service (50 CFR 14.61).
CDCCDC-registered animal care facility at Sea-TacA foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies needs a reservation there. CDC notes that the Seattle facility takes dogs that fly as cargo only.

What arrives in Puget Sound, and which rules matter most?

The Northwest Seaport Alliance lists China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan first among its trade partners. It also handles autos, trucks, breakbulk and project cargo. Many containers do not stay in Washington: they leave by rail for the Midwest.

  • Containers from Asia for inland cities

    BNSF and Union Pacific serve both harbors, with on-dock and near-dock rail yards. A container for Chicago or another inland city can move in-bond and clear there. See in-bond moves.

  • Autos and trucks

    Vehicles arrive on Ro-Ro vessels at the auto terminals. Each vehicle needs DOT Form HS-7 and EPA Form 3520-1 with the entry, and Section 232 duties can apply. See vehicle import.

  • Food, seafood and farm products

    FDA needs prior notice for food no less than 8 hours before a vessel arrives and 4 hours before an aircraft arrives (21 CFR 1.279). Meat and some farm products also need USDA clearance. See meat, seafood and dairy.

  • Air cargo at Sea-Tac

    Air cargo needs no ISF. The entry is due within 15 calendar days after landing (19 CFR 142.2). General order also starts on day 15 (19 CFR 122.50). FDA lists express facility codes at Sea-Tac, for example 3073 for DHL and 3095 for the UPS hub. See air freight customs.

What goes wrong at Seattle and Tacoma, and what should I do?

  • Agriculture hold

    CBP agriculture specialists can hold a container for a phytosanitary certificate, a permit or a wood packaging problem. Upload the documents to DIS, then email the agriculture mailbox for Seattle, Tacoma or Sea-Tac. CBP says that the email makes the release faster.

  • Long stay fees at the terminal

    Some Seattle and Tacoma terminals charge a long stay or extended dwell fee on import containers after the free time. The alliance summary says that days on a customs hold still count. Pick up the container as soon as CBP releases it.

  • Demurrage, per diem and chassis

    In Puget Sound, chassis come from several chassis pools, and each pool serves certain ocean carriers. Ask the trucker which pool your carrier uses. Under FMC rules, a demurrage or per diem invoice must show the free time, the dates and the rate (46 CFR 541.6). See our demurrage guide.

  • CBP orders an intensive exam

    The container moves to a centralized examination station (CES), a private facility where CBP officers examine goods (19 CFR 118.1). The importer pays to prepare the goods for exam (19 CFR 151.6) and the CES fees (19 CFR 118.4).

  • The rail in-bond runs late

    An in-bond must reach the destination port within 30 days (19 CFR 18.1(i)), and the arrival must be reported within two business days (19 CFR 18.1(j)). After arrival, the entry at the inland port is due before general order starts on day 15 (19 CFR 4.37(b)).

How does Allied CHB file an entry at Seattle and Tacoma?

Allied CHB files entries remotely in ACE under filer code 9AJ at every U.S. port of entry. For Puget Sound, we first check the harbor on the arrival notice: 3001 for Seattle or 3002 for Tacoma. For agriculture goods, we upload the documents to DIS and write to the right CBP mailbox.

Send the ISF data before loading and the entry documents before the vessel arrives. For the first entry, sign the power of attorney online.

  • Bill of lading or air waybill numbers

    Master and house numbers.

  • Commercial invoice, packing list and arrival notice

  • Importer of record number and a customs bond

    A formal entry needs a bond. See customs bonds.

  • For plant and farm goods

    Phytosanitary certificate, USDA permit and the wood packaging details.

  • For vehicles

    HS-7, EPA 3520-1, the foreign title or registration, and the VIN.

  • 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 Seattle and Tacoma

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 at Seattle and Tacoma

What are the CBP port codes for Seattle and Tacoma?

Seattle is 3001 and Tacoma is 3002. Air cargo at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport uses 3029. All three are in the CBP Seattle Field Office. The arrival notice shows the code for your shipment.

Why does my shipment wait after I upload the agriculture documents?

The CBP port page asks for a second step. After the upload to DIS, send an email to the agriculture mailbox for the location: the Seattle seaport, the Tacoma seaport or Sea-Tac air cargo. CBP says this makes the release faster.

Do days on a customs hold count toward terminal long stay fees?

Yes, at the terminals in the alliance summary of January 2026. The fee depends on the terminal and changes from time to time. Check the terminal website before the free time ends.

My container goes by rail from Tacoma to the Midwest. Where do I file the entry?

Either at Tacoma before the train leaves, or at the inland port after the in-bond arrives. The in-bond has 30 days to reach the destination port. See in-bond moves.

Can wildlife products enter through Tacoma?

The list of designated ports in 50 CFR 14.12 names Seattle, Washington, not Tacoma. Ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you route wildlife to Tacoma. A Service permit can allow a nondesignated port (50 CFR 14.31 to 14.33).

Can I bring a dog in through Sea-Tac?

Yes, if the dog meets the CDC rules. A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies needs a reservation at a CDC-registered facility. At Sea-Tac, the facility takes dogs that fly as cargo only. See our pet import page.

Cargo arriving at Seattle, Tacoma or Sea-Tac?

Send the bill of lading or air waybill and the invoice. We file the entry in ACE and tell you what each agency needs.

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

Request a quoteAll ports

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