What is the Automated Manifest System (AMS)?
The Automated Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic data system operated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Carriers and authorised filers use it to send details of the cargo on board a ship or aircraft before it reaches the United States, so CBP can screen shipments for security risks.
The term AMS is often used loosely for all advance cargo filings to CBP. In practice, ocean, rail and truck manifests are now handled in CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), while air cargo uses Air AMS together with the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) programme.
Core principle: AMS lets CBP know what is coming before it arrives, so high-risk cargo can be stopped or examined.
Key AMS deadlines
| Mode | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Ocean | Manifest data at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at the foreign port (the “24-hour rule”) |
| Ocean, importer side | Importer Security Filing (ISF or “10+2”), also due 24 hours before loading |
| Air | Air AMS before arrival (at wheels-up for short flights), plus ACAS data before loading |
Who files and who pays?
Carriers and NVOCCs
What it is: Shipping lines, airlines and freight forwarders acting as carriers submit the manifest data for each bill of lading or air waybill.
Why it matters: Late or incomplete filings can mean penalties or cargo not being loaded.
Importers
What it is: For ocean freight, the importer (or its agent) is separately responsible for the ISF filing.
Why it matters: ISF errors carry their own penalties, separate from AMS.
Forwarders usually charge an AMS fee per bill of lading or air waybill. Whether the buyer or the seller pays depends on the agreed Incoterms and the freight contract.
The European equivalent: ICS2
The EU runs its own advance cargo system, the Import Control System 2 (ICS2). It requires an entry summary declaration (ENS) for goods entering the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Northern Ireland. ICS2 covers air cargo and, since 2024–2025, sea, inland waterway, road and rail. If you import into a European fulfilment warehouse, your carrier’s ICS2 filing plays the same role that AMS plays for US imports.
Example: A container of apparel leaves Shanghai for Los Angeles. The forwarder files AMS 24 hours before loading and the importer files ISF. If the same goods were heading to Rotterdam, the carrier would file an ICS2 entry summary declaration instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is AMS required for all US imports?
Advance cargo data is required for ocean and air cargo arriving in the US. Which system and deadline apply depends on the transport mode.
What is the difference between AMS and ISF?
AMS is the carrier’s manifest filing. ISF (10+2) is a separate filing by the importer for ocean shipments. Both are due before loading.
Does Europe use AMS?
No. The EU uses ICS2 for advance cargo information; the UK has its own safety and security requirements.
Related: Automated Export System (AES) · Centralised Examination Station (CES). EU guidance: ICS2 for road and rail (European Commission).
