An Arrival Notice is very much what it sounds like - A document stating that your cargo has arrived or is arriving. The Arrival Notice can come from the freight carrier, freight forwarder, or an agent and is sent to the consignee (the receiver) or the notify party.

For Ocean shipments, generally the Arrival Notice will be sent approximately 5 days before scheduled arrival.

For Air shipments, the Arrival Notice is sent once the flight has departed origin.

The purpose of an Arrival Notice is informational only and does not serve as a form of release document. The Arrival notice indicates the warehouse (via FIRMS code) where the goods will be placed once offloaded from the vessel and allows the consignee or appointed customs broker to begin pick up procedures.

**Bonus: What is a FIRMS code?

Facility Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) is a program whereby U.S.C.B.P. manages Customs bonded facilities. A Specific code is assigned to each bonded facility