Continuous Bond vs Single Entry Bond: Which Do US Importers Need?

If you import goods into the US regularly, a continuous customs bond is almost certainly the right choice. A single entry bond makes sense only for one-time or occasional shipments. Understanding the difference between a continuous bond vs single entry bond takes most of the guesswork out of this decision before your first shipment clears.

What Is a US Customs Bond?

A US customs bond is a financial guarantee required by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for any commercial shipment valued over $2,500. It protects the US government by ensuring all applicable duties, taxes, and fees will be paid and that the importer will comply with customs regulations.

Three parties are involved in every bond: the importer, a licensed surety company, and CBP. The surety guarantees payment to CBP if the importer defaults. The importer pays the surety a premium in exchange for that guarantee.

If you are importing goods into the US, a customs bond is required before your shipment can clear as a formal entry. This article covers US CBP bonds specifically. Canadian importers who need financial security for shipments clearing through the CBSA should see A & A's CARM bonds page, as those are a separate requirement under a different regulatory framework.

Continuous Bond vs Single Entry Bond: The Key Differences

The fundamental difference is scope. A continuous bond covers every US customs entry you make for a 12-month period. A single entry bond covers one shipment only, and expires once that shipment clears.

What Is a Continuous Customs Bond?

A continuous customs bond covers an unlimited number of US customs entries for a rolling 12-month period. One annual premium, one bond on file with CBP, regardless of how many shipments you make.

Key facts about continuous bonds:

• Annual cost: typically $400 to $600 per year for a standard $50,000 bond
• Minimum bond amount: $50,000 (CBP sets this at 10% of duties, taxes, and fees paid in the prior year, with a $50,000 floor)
• Automatically renews each year unless you cancel it
• Required for all ISF (Importer Security Filing) filers, which includes every ocean freight importer

Once filed, the bond stays active until terminated. There is no per-shipment paperwork, no per-shipment cost, and no coverage gaps between entries.

What Is a Single Entry Bond?

A single entry bond covers exactly one customs entry. Once your shipment clears CBP, the bond expires.

Key facts about single entry bonds:

• Cost: typically 0.4% to 0.5% of the shipment's CIF value (commercial invoice + insurance + freight), with a minimum of around $50 per entry
• No annual commitment, no renewal
• Must be obtained separately for each shipment
• Works for any mode of transport

On a $100,000 shipment, a single entry bond costs approximately $400 to $500. On a $20,000 shipment, expect to pay around $80 to $100.

Which Bond Type Is Right for You?

For most importers who ship more than twice a year, a continuous bond costs less and creates less friction. The math is straightforward.

A continuous bond runs $400 to $600 per year, regardless of how many entries you make. A single entry bond costs roughly 0.5% of each shipment's value. On a $100,000 shipment, that single entry bond already costs as much as a full year of continuous bond coverage. Make two shipments at that value and you have paid double the annual continuous bond premium.

Choose a continuous bond if:

• You make two or more formal entries per year
• Your shipments are high in value
• You ship ocean freight (ISF filing is mandatory for all ocean importers, and ISF requires a continuous bond)
• You want to stop procuring a new bond for every single shipment

Choose a single entry bond if:

• You are making a one-time import with no plans to repeat
• You are testing a new supplier before committing to regular shipments
• Your shipment value is low enough that the 0.5% cost stays well below the $400 to $600 annual continuous bond premium

A US customs broker can run the numbers for your specific volume and recommend the right bond type before your first shipment clears.

How Much Does a Customs Bond Cost?

A continuous bond costs approximately $400 to $600 per year. A single entry bond costs approximately 0.5% of the shipment's CIF value, with a minimum of around $50 per entry.

Continuous bond cost factors:

• Bond amount required (CBP minimum is $50,000; high-volume importers may need a larger bond)
• Annual premium rate charged by the surety (typically around 1% of the bond amount)
• Broker or surety service fees

Single entry bond cost factors:

• Shipment CIF value
• Duties and taxes applicable to the goods
• Rates set by the surety company

Side-by-side comparison:

Continuous Bond:

• Cost: approximately $400 to $600 per year
• Coverage: all US entries for 12 months
• Best for: importers making two or more entries per year
• Minimum bond: $50,000

Single Entry Bond:

• Cost: approximately 0.5% of CIF value (minimum approximately $50)
• Coverage: one shipment only
• Best for: one-time or occasional importers
• Minimum bond: value-based, per shipment

How to Get a US Customs Bond

Getting a US customs bond through a licensed customs broker is a straightforward process, and coverage can be active within one to two business days.

The steps:

• Choose your bond type based on your expected import volume
• Provide your import history (required for continuous bond amount calculation)
• Your broker submits the application to a licensed surety company
• The surety files the approved bond with CBP

Continuous bonds typically activate within one to two business days. Single entry bonds can often be processed the same day, making them practical for time-sensitive one-off shipments.

A & A handles both bond types as part of our US customs brokerage services. If you are unsure which type fits your operation, we can review your import volume and get the right bond in place quickly.

Contact A & A to get your US customs bond sorted.

If you need broader trade compliance support, A & A's customs consulting team can assist with duties, drawback, and import strategy. And if you import into Canada and need CBSA financial security, that is handled separately through our CARM bonds service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a continuous bond mean?

A continuous bond is a standing US customs bond that covers all your formal import entries for a rolling 12-month period. One annual payment provides unlimited coverage across all shipments and all modes of transport for that year.

Who needs a continuous bond?

Any importer making two or more formal US entries per year should use a continuous bond. Ocean freight importers are required to have one because ISF filing mandates an active continuous bond on file with CBP.

How long does it take to get a continuous bond?

A continuous bond typically activates within one to two business days after you submit your application and import history to a licensed surety company or customs broker.

How much does a continuous bond cost?

Most importers pay $400 to $600 per year based on the $50,000 minimum bond amount. Importers with higher duty volumes may require a larger bond, which increases the annual premium proportionally.

The Right Bond for Your Import Volume

A continuous bond is the right call for most active US importers. After two or three entries per year, it costs less than buying individual single entry bonds and removes per-shipment procurement from your workflow entirely.

Single entry bonds have one clear use case: a genuinely one-time import, a supplier trial, or a shipment where the value is low enough that 0.5% stays below the annual continuous bond premium.

If you expect to make more than two formal US entries this year, a continuous bond will save you money and reduce administrative overhead.

A & A's licensed customs brokers help importers get the right bond in place and manage the full clearance process from there. Reach out to A & A about importing goods into the US or request a quote to get started.