Customs inspectors enforce customs and immigration laws and regulations. They are employed by Canada Customs, with offices in a variety of locations, including highway border towns, airports, seaports, and inland facilities.
There are three major types of customs inspectors: traveller inspectors, postal inspectors and commercial inspectors.
Travellers inspectors are the first officials people meet when they enter Canada. As a traveller inspector, you act as an immigration officer, questioning travellers and checking their documents to make sure they are eligible for entry. You also make sure that everything they are bringing into Canada has been declared and that any animals and plants they have are admissible.
Postal inspectors check goods mailed into Canada to make sure they are admissible and that all duties and taxes have been paid. In some cases, items may be referred to other ministries such as the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food or the Department of Health for inspection.
Commercial inspectors are responsible for overseeing bulk goods brought in by freight trucks, trains, planes, ships or couriers. In this case, you board carriers arriving from foreign countries to determine the nature of their cargo. You make sure that their export documents and their important permits are in order. You also make sure that all taxes have been paid.
Regardless of your specialty, you also inform the public about customs procedures and the details of customs-related legislation. You may also specialize in areas of customs inspection, such as the appraisal and classification of goods, customs investigations, drug teams, policy development or administration.
Language requirements vary depending on the job. You may be tested in both official languages. Language training may be provided at government expense.
Customs inspectors are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and are paid an annual salary. Because many customs offices operate around the clock, seven days a week, you may have to do shift work.
Canada Customs is always looking for competent, responsible and resourceful people. The work will appeal to you if you enjoy meeting a variety of people and learning about other cultures. You should be naturally curious, notice details, enjoy learning, and be good at recognizing people who appear nervous or act strangely. You also need a good memory to remember all the regulations you have to enforce. Finally, you should be open to doing a variety of different types of work in the course of your career.
Good customs officers are polite but firm. If you catch someone breaking the rules, you do not lecture them. You assign the penalty and let them go on their way.
A good way to get experience and to find out if this work is for you is to get a summer job at Canada Customs.