Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

(CTPAT)
Trade Compliance Portal 3.0 Manual

Step by Step Instructions for Application and Annual

Notification Letter Processes

May 2025
 How to Apply to CTPAT Trade Compliance

1. Apply to the CTPAT Trade Compliance Program from the CTPAT Security Portal.

Once the Company Officer, as identified in the CTPAT portal, CLICKS on the Actions button, a
dropdown menu with Launch Trade Compliance will be visible and upon clicking on it, an
Eligibility Questionnaire will appear. After completing the Eligibility Questionnaire, if the
importer is determined to be eligible, the application will continue in the Trade Compliance
portal.
Note: The importer must be able to answer yes to all the questions to proceed with the
application process. If any of the answers are currently no, this is an area that needs to be
improved within the organization to move forward. Questions may be directed to
CTPATTradeCompliance@cbp.dhs.gov.

CLICK on the Actions button:

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Dropdown menu; CLICK on Launch Trade Compliance:

Complete the Eligibility Questionnaire and CLICK Submit:

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Trade Compliance portal landing page:

2. IOR Selection Tile

Once the applicant is in the Trade Compliance portal, the applicant CLICKS on the IOR
Selection tile and the IOR Number Selection pop-up window will appear. The list is generated
from the partner’s CTPAT profile and will display all IOR numbers that have been granted Tier II
or Tier III benefits. The applicant CLICKS the check box next to the IOR number(s) to be
included in the application. The applicant can select as many or as few IOR numbers as it wants
to participate in the program.

NOTE: Only the IOR numbers selected will be granted benefits of the Trade Compliance
Program at the time of application approval.
The applicant also chooses whether to include Drawback and/or FTZ in its application at this
time. When finished, the applicant CLICKS the Save button and the IOR Number Selection will
be saved.

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CLICK on the IOR Selection tile:

Check the box(es) for the applicable IOR(s) in IOR Number Selection pop-up window:

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CLICK on Drawback Activity and/or FTZ Activity, if applicable, and CLICK on the Save button:

IOR Selection tile heading will change from “Section Incomplete” to “Completed Section”:

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3. Points of Contact Tile

Points of Contact tile will automatically include data from the Security Portal. During the time of
application creation in the portal, contact information will be automatically added and the
applicant is able to include more contact information if desired by clicking on the Points of
Contact tile. This tile will automatically show as a Completed Section as soon as the applicant
makes the transition from the Security portal to the Trade Compliance portal.

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CLICK on Points of Contact Tile to update, if necessary:

4. Required Attachments Tile

Once the applicant CLICKS on the Required Attachments tile, a Required Attachments pop-up
window will appear to allow the applicant to upload documents for each required attachment.
When all documents have been uploaded, the applicant CLICKS on the Close button.

CLICK on the Required Attachments tile:

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Required Attachments pop-up window; the applicant CLICKs on the Upload button and
completes the file upload process for each requirement:

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After all documents have been uploaded, applicant CLICKS on the Close button:

Required Attachments tile will change from “Section Incomplete” to “Completed Section”:

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5. Completing the Trade Compliance Questionnaire

Applicant CLICKS on the Questionnaire tile and a Questionnaire pop-up window will appear.
The applicant responds to the questions. When finished, the applicant CLICKS on the Save
button followed by the Complete button.

Upon completion of the Questionnaire, the applicant should CLICK on the Review and Submit
Questionnaire button followed by the Save Application button.

CLICK on the Questionnaire tile:

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Respond to the questions in the Questionnaire pop-up window; CLICK on the Save button
followed by the Complete button:

The Questionnaire tile will change from “Section Incomplete” to “Completed Section”:

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CLICK on Review and Submit Questionnaire:

CLICK on Save Application button:

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6. Execute the Memorandum of Understanding

Applicant executes a Trade Compliance Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to complete the

application. Once signed, a copy of the MOU will be available in PDF format, in the document
library.

Applicant CLICKs on the agree to the terms check box followed by the Submit button:

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The Application Date will now be Populated, and the Application Status will be Submitted:

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If the application is approved by Trade Regulatory Audit, the National Account Manager, Trade
Compliance HQ, and the CTPAT Director, the Application Status will change to Approved, the
Trade Compliance Status will be Active, the ANL Status will change to Not Submitted, and the
Annual Notification Letter tile is activated:

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 How to submit the Annual Notification Letter

1. Submitting the Annual Notification Letter (ANL)

To submit the ANL, the Company Officer of the Trade Compliance Partner, as identified in the
CTPAT portal, should CLICK on the Annual Notification Letter tile. The ANL Cover Letter pop-
up window will appear. The Trade Compliance Partner must complete in full all four cover letter
paragraphs, which represent the first four parts of the ANL (see examples below with screen
prints). The Trade Compliance Partner must also provide executive summaries of the details
requested in the remaining fields, as well as upload attachments that support this information.
Please refer to the ANL Reporting Requirements in the Trade Compliance Handbook for
additional guidance. Once all information has been added to the ANL Cover Letter, the Trade
Compliance Partner will CLICK on the Save button followed by the Complete button.

Upon completion of the ANL, the Trade Compliance Partner should CLICK on the Review and
Submit ANL button. A Review and Submit ANL pop-up window will appear to show a copy of
the ANL for the Trade Compliance Partner’s review. The ANL is auto generated from the Trade
Compliance Partner’s responses. After the Trade Compliance Partner’s review of the ANL is
complete, the partner should CLICK on the Save Application button.

Trade Compliance Partners should submit the ANL before their ANL Anniversary Date. Note:
The ANL Status will change to “Not Submitted” 30 days before the ANL Anniversary Date.
When the status is “Not Submitted”, Trade Compliance Partners can begin the ANL submission
process.

Once the Trade Compliance Partner submits the ANL, no changes to the portal account can be
completed until CBP approves the ANL.

CLICK on the ANL tile:

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ANL Cover Letter pop-up window:

Paragraph 1 Example:

In accordance with the requirements of participation to the Trade Compliance Program,

(Company Name) is hereby submitting its annual notification letter. (Company Name) was
formally approved for participation in the Trade Compliance Program on (date). (Note: For
legacy ISA participants, the ISA program date should be used.)

Paragraph 2 Example:

During the past year, (Company Name) has complied with the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) laws and regulations, as well as CTPAT and Trade Compliance Program
requirements. We have, and continue to maintain, a system of business records that demonstrate
the accuracy of CBP transactions as required.

Paragraph 3 Example:

(Company Name) has performed a review of its CBP internal control policies and procedures
and made appropriate adjustments and/or changes to its internal control systems when necessary.
(Company Name) has also performed periodic transactional testing based on its risk assessment
and corrective action has been taken, where necessary, to ensure that internal control is
implemented. Test results will be maintained for 3 years at (location) and are available for review
upon request.

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Paragraph 4 Example:

In compliance with the Trade Compliance Program requirements, (Company Name) has
summarized in the following question responses the changes to its organization, personnel, and
import activity along with the results of the internal control adjustments/changes and
transactional testing. (Company Name) will continue to meet the requirements of the program. If
you have any questions, our contact for the program is (Name, Title). You can contact him/her at
(telephone number, e-mail address).

Trade Compliance Partner completes ANL Cover Letter and CLICKS on Save button followed
by Complete button:

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Annual Notification Letter tile will change from “Section Incomplete” to “Completed Section”:

CLICK on Review and Submit ANL button:

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Review and Submit ANL pop-up window; CLICK on Save Application button, which will auto
generate the Trade Compliance Memorandum of Understanding:

2. Trade Compliance Partner executes a Trade Compliance Memorandum of

Understanding to complete the ANL process.

Trade Compliance Partner CLICKs on the agree to the terms check box followed by the Submit
button:

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ANL Status will be “Submitted”:

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 Additional Portal Functions

1. Document Library

The Document Library stores both importer and CBP files. The Trade Compliance Partner
uploads supporting documents here, such as the organizational chart and the required forced
labor documents. The Trade Compliance Partner will also find the CTPAT Trade Compliance
Newsletter and Handbook located here.

CLICK on Document Library:

CLICK on the Upload button:

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Upload pop-up window will appear; CLICK on Browse to select the file to be uploaded, then
select the appropriate Document Type from the dropdown menu and CLICK Save:

Document has been uploaded:

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2. Event History

The Event History section displays key importer submissions and CBP acknowledgements.

CLICK on Event History:

Troubleshooting

For issues or questions regarding the CTPAT Trade Compliance Portal please email the Trade
Compliance mailbox @ ctpattradecompliance@cbp.dhs.gov.

Note: Technical issues should be reported via telephone to the national Help Desk at 1-800-927-
8729 or via email to ctpathelpdesk@cbp.dhs.gov.

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