Customs Form 3499 – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Customs Form 3499 PDF Details

This official CBP form is issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. Its official title is Application and Approval to Manipulate, Examine, Sample, or Transfer Goods. Any party that needs to physically interact with bonded merchandise before it is formally entered into U.S. commerce must submit this form and receive written CBP approval before performing the requested activity.

Who must file this form?

Importers, licensed customs brokers, bonded warehouse operators, and freight forwarders regularly use CBP Form 3499 when they need to inspect, sort, repackage, sample, or move bonded merchandise. Situations that require a filed application include:

• Repacking goods in a bonded warehouse to meet buyer specifications
• Taking product samples for laboratory testing before customs entry
• Examining cargo to verify quantities or condition after transit damage
• Transferring merchandise from one bonded location to another
• Combining or separating shipments within a foreign trade zone

Without prior CBP approval, these activities constitute an unauthorized manipulation of bonded goods, which can result in penalties, liquidated damages, or seizure under 19 U.S.C. 1562.

What information the form requires

The application section on page one requests the following details:

• Consignee information – the legal name and address of the party responsible for the merchandise
• Port and entry data – port of entry, warehouse entry number, and date the goods arrived
• Description of goods – commodity description, country of origin, quantity, and approximate value
• Nature of manipulation – a precise written description of what the applicant intends to do with the goods and why
• Applicant signature and date – certification that the stated information is accurate and the activity is lawful

Page two contains the CBP officer approval block, including the officer name, title, and authorization date. After the activity is completed, the officer also fills in the post-manipulation report confirming what was done and whether any discrepancies were found.

Governing regulations

The legal authority for this application comes from three sections of the Code of Federal Regulations:

• 19 CFR 19.8 – Manipulation in bonded warehouses: defines what constitutes manipulation and who may apply for permission
• 19 CFR 19.11 – Examination and sampling: the procedure for requesting and conducting examinations of bonded merchandise
• 19 CFR 158.43 – Allowance for damage: provisions for cases where manipulation reveals defective or damaged goods

The OMB control number is 1651-0073. The Paperwork Reduction Act Statement on page two discloses the estimated completion time and the uses of the collected information. Applicants should retain the approved copy with their entry documentation, as CBP auditors may request it during a post-entry review.

How and where to submit

The completed form is submitted in paper format to the CBP port director at the port where the bonded goods are held. Most ports require the application to be filed before the manipulation begins, not after. Straightforward requests are commonly reviewed within one to three business days. For time-sensitive cargo, applicants should contact the port director in advance to request expedited review.

Related customs and CBP forms

Depending on your import transaction, you may also need CBP Form 6059B (customs declaration), CBP Form 1302 (cargo manifest), or CBP Form 1300 (vessel manifest). Exporters and re-exporters should also review Customs Form 4790, and international postal shipments may involve the CN 23 Customs Declaration.