Import · Setup
The RM import/export business number
Before the CBSA will release commercial goods to you, the CRA has to know who you are. That identity is a Business Number with an import/export — RM — program account attached to it: 123456789RM0001. This page covers what the RM account is, how to get one, and the mistake that stops most first-time importers at the border.
What an RM account actually is
A Business Number (BN9) is the nine-digit identifier the CRA assigns to your business. On its own it does nothing at the border. Program accounts give it purpose, and each is a two-letter suffix on the same root: RT for GST/HST, RP for payroll, RM for import/export.
So 123456789RM0001 reads as one business, one import/export account. It is the legal prerequisite for any commercial import into Canada — every customs transaction, every release, and every Statement of Account in CARM is filed against it.
How to get one
- 01
Register for a Business Number (BN9) via CRA Business Registration Online if you don't already have one.
- 02
Add the import/export (RM) program account — since Oct 21, 2024 new importers with a BN9 can do this inside the CARM Client Portal.
- 03
List every legal and trading name that appears on your invoices and customs paperwork on the account.
- 04
Expect same-day to a few business days for the BN9; RM activation in CARM is near-instant once the BN9 exists.
The mistake that stops most first-time importers
A GST/HST (RT) account is not enough — you specifically need the import/export (RM) program account. Businesses that have filed GST for years routinely discover this on the day of their first shipment.
RM business number FAQ
Is my GST/HST number enough to import?
No. GST/HST is an RT program account. Importing commercially requires an RM program account on the same Business Number, and having one does not give you the other.
How long does registration take?
Registering the BN9 through CRA Business Registration Online takes anywhere from same-day to a few business days. Once the BN9 exists, adding the RM account inside the CARM Client Portal is near-instant.
Do I need an RM account to export as well?
Not always. Exporting to the United States, on its own, does not require CARM enrolment — CARM governs the import side. Pure US-only exporters with no controlled goods often need nothing beyond the Business Number. You will need a CERS account if you ship non-US goods worth CAD $2,000 or more, or if you hold export permits.
Can my customs broker register the account for me?
No. Your broker can transact on your behalf once you grant them delegated access in the CARM Client Portal, but only you, using your BN9, can register the business and designate the Business Account Manager.
Which business names belong on the account?
Every legal and trading name that appears on your invoices and customs paperwork should be listed on the account.
Official sources
Keep going
The RM account is step one of the import setup. These cover the rest.