CBP 216 Form: Foreign Trade Zone Activity Permit

CBP 216 Form PDF Details

The CBP 216 Form, officially the Application for Foreign Trade Zone Activity Permit, is a mandatory document for any business operating within a foreign trade zone (FTZ) in the United States. Governed by 19 CFR 146.52 and 146.66, the form is issued by the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Foreign trade zone operators and manufacturers must submit this permit application before conducting specific zone operations such as manipulation, manufacture, exhibition, destruction, or temporary removal of merchandise. The form requires comprehensive details including the foreign trade zone number and location, the type of trade zone operation, a full description of the merchandise, and the approval signatures of both the foreign trade zone operator and the CBP Port Director. With OMB Control Number 1651-0029, the CBP 216 form maintains a system of accountability for all trade zone operations and ensures compliance with U.S. foreign trade regulations.

Who Needs to File CBP Form 216

Any company conducting trade zone operations within a U.S. foreign trade zone must obtain a permit. The following groups typically need to file this form: foreign trade zone operators holding an FTZ operator agreement with CBP, manufacturers using a foreign trade zone for production and assembly of merchandise, importers and exporters managing goods within a trade zone, companies seeking temporary removal of merchandise from the foreign trade zone for outside processing, and businesses planning exhibition of trade zone goods to foreign buyers. The foreign trade zone operator co-signs the application, and the CBP Port Director formally approves each request. All foreign trade zone permit holders must maintain their approved applications on file for CBP inspection. For related trade documentation, see our CBP Form 1300 and CBP Form 1302 pages, or browse our full U.S. Customs and Border Protection forms collection.

Zone Operations Covered by CBP Form 216

The CBP 216 permit application covers a wide range of foreign trade zone operations. When completing the form, you must specify the exact type of trade operation. Manipulation covers cleaning, sorting, and repackaging of merchandise within the foreign trade zone. Manufacture involves production, processing, or assembly of goods in the trade zone, often converting foreign merchandise into new products eligible for trade benefits. Exhibition refers to displaying merchandise to prospective foreign buyers within the trade zone. Destruction means disposing of merchandise under CBP supervision at the foreign trade zone location. Temporary removal covers moving goods outside the foreign trade zone for processing, with the obligation to return them. Each trade zone operation requires full documentation within the permit application, including the zone status of goods (domestic, foreign, or privileged foreign), the weight and quantity of merchandise, and the precise trade zone location. For related trade and customs forms, also see our CBP 6059B form.