The Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) is a method for goods to be cleared through CBP prior to arrival. A PAPS number is assigned to shipments arriving on a truck either at the northern or southern border of the U.S. PAPS numbers are required for all shipments requiring pre-arrival clearance. 

Shipments requiring pre-arrival clearance are assigned PAPS Numbers by the carrier, which are types of Shipment Control Numbers. A PAPS number cannot be reused for a minimum of three years. The carrier will often have PAPS Stickers printed sequentially to prevent numbers from being reused by mistake. PAPS Numbers must begin with the carrier’s SCAC, followed by at least 4 characters (letters or numbers).