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Border services and customs officers

OaSIS code 43203.01

Border services and customs officers administer and enforce laws and regulations related to customs and border crossing. They conduct interviews and inspections at border crossings to detect undeclared goods and contraband.

Overview

Also known as

  • Border services officer (BSO)
  • Customs inspector

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Conduct interviews, using inspections and information-seeking techniques at border points as part of primary and secondary inspections for immigration, food, plant and animals, and customs program functions
  • Apply applicable legislation, policies, and procedure when screening and/or inspecting people and goods
  • Inspect baggage to detect undeclared merchandise, or contraband
  • Inform manufacturers and shippers of customs and laws and procedures
  • Observe fabrication of articles affected by customs laws and conduct appraisals
  • Board carriers arriving from foreign countries to determine nature of cargo to ensure compliance with customs and commerce laws
  • Inspect goods imported by mail
  • Operate firearms and use defensive tactics and physical force when necessary in the performance of duties
  • May conduct an arrest, detention, or conduct personal search of individuals suspected of having committed a criminal offence under the Customs Act or certain other designated Criminal Code offences until police intervention is possible.

Additional information

  • Border services officers must be willing to work anywhere in Canada, including rural and remote areas.
  • Progression to managerial positions in these fields is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41403)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

43 – Assisting occupations in education and in legal and public protection

Sub-major group

432 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Minor group

4320 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Unit group

43203 – Border services, customs, and immigration officers

Occupational profile

43203.01 – Border services and customs officers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Clerical Activities
5 - Highest Level
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance
5 - Highest Level
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
5 - Highest Level
Interacting with Computers
5 - Highest Level
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
5 - Highest Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Government agencies

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Explosive Strength
5 - Highest Level
Near Vision
4 - High Level
Problem Identification
4 - High Level
Selective Attention
4 - High Level
Speech Clarity
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Decision Making
4 - High Level
Coordinating
3 - Moderate Level
Critical Thinking
3 - Moderate Level
Evaluation
3 - Moderate Level
Instructing
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important