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How to become A Customs Inspector

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

“It's my nature to be kind, gentle, and humane. But remember, when it comes to matters of protecting my country and my people, fear me! For then, I will be the deadliest one, who is powerful and relentless.” That's the obiter dictum - the universal motto of Customs Inspectors who enforce legislation to s... Continue Reading

Skills a career as a Customs Inspector requires: Law Travel International Relations Law Enforcement Police View more skills
Customs Inspector salary
$46,711
USAUSA
£38,090
UKUK
Explore Career
  • Introduction - Customs Inspector
  • What does a Customs Inspector do?
  • Customs Inspector Work Environment
  • Skills for a Customs Inspector
  • Work Experience for a Customs Inspector
  • Recommended Qualifications for a Customs Inspector
  • Customs Inspector Career Path
  • Customs Inspector Professional Development
  • Learn More
  • Conclusion

Introduction - Customs Inspector

“It's my nature to be kind, gentle, and humane. But remember, when it comes to matters of protecting my country and my people, fear me! For then, I will be the deadliest one, who is powerful and relentless.” That's the obiter dictum - the universal motto of Customs Inspectors who enforce legislation to stop the smuggling of illegal and dangerous goods.
Similar Job Titles Job Description
  • Customs Law Enforcement Agent
  • Customs Officer
  • Customs and Border Protection Officer
  • Border Services Officer
  • Customs and Excise Officers
  • Border Patrol Officer
  • Customs and Immigration Officer
  • Border Patrol Agent

What does a Customs Inspector do?

What are the typical responsibilities of a Customs Inspector?

A Customs Inspector would typically need to:

  • Examine passports, visas, immigration applications, and other travel documents to detect and prevent fraud; verify the identity of passengers traveling in and out of a country by sea/air/rail/road
  • Question travelers about their reasons for visiting the country and their plans while they are in the country; identify travelers to question based on prior offense/likely risk; detain and arrange deportation of aliens suspected of illegal activity
  • Ensure that passengers declare all currency and items purchased abroad so that the proper taxes and import duties can be collected
  • Search passengers, their luggage, cars, coaches, and freight vehicles for prohibited items taken in or out of the country
  • Examine shipping manifests and documentation relating to imported goods to ensure that the products do not violate the local laws regarding the country of origin or child labor standards before clearing them for release
  • Patrol coastlines by boat or work inland with sniffer dogs to inhibit smuggling of illegal and dangerous goods such as firearms, narcotics, counterfeit products, cash, endangered plants, and animals as well as pests attached to imported agricultural goods
  • Locate and seize undeclared merchandise, contraband, and anything else that does not clear Customs' regulations, making sure to report violations and discrepancies to the authorities
  • Petition for remission or mitigation of penalties, initiate civil and criminal prosecutions, and testify in court proceedings
  • Work across multiple sites rather than at one single location, specializing in areas such as counter-terrorism, organized crime, modern slavery and human trafficking
  • Have a line management responsibility for assistant officers
  • Record findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions while collecting and supplying trade statistics

Customs Inspector Work Environment

Customs Inspectors work at ports of entry, including seaports, airports, postal depots, international border crossings, and outposts, that is anywhere people and goods leave or enter the country. Whether they work indoors or outdoors is dependent upon their station. For example, at seaports, Customs Inspectors will spend a lot of time outdoors inspecting cargo ships and aircraft entering and departing the country. On the other hand, Customs Inspectors who work for airports will work mainly indoors, alongside the airport’s baggage claim and passenger registration departments. Customs Inspectors usually wear a uniform.

Customs Inspectors work with different law agencies. When inspecting cargo, a Customs Inspector may work with freight companies and other types of agencies to verify the cargo contents before allowing them into the country.

Work Schedule

The Customs Department runs a 24/7/365 operation. You will work a variety of shifts, starting early, finishing late, and covering nights. You will also work weekends and public holidays on a rotating basis. It is usual to work between 36 and 40 hours per week. Shifts can be up to 12 hours long.

In locations where part-time work is possible, around a quarter of Customs Inspectors choose this option. The rest work full time.

Employers

Customs Inspectors work under different program titles, depending on the country.Vacancies attract intense competition. Job vacancies are advertised by careers services, via the internet, in newspapers, and online publications. You should check vacancies on an individual basis, as qualification requirements vary depending on location.

Customs Inspectors are generally employed by:

  • Government Departments
  • Border Patrol & Customs Authorities
  • Defense and Security Services
  • Law Enforcement Organizations
Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications as a Customs Inspector.

Workplace Challenges
  • Physically demanding work which involves standing or walking around a lot throughout the workday
  • Lack of bonafide office space and the need to work in a noisy, dirty or dangerous work environment with a high probability of working outdoors in all kinds of weather
  • Mobility and flexibility regarding the place of work a must

Work Experience for a Customs Inspector

Any type of experience which allows an aspiring Customs Inspector to develop the required skills for the job is useful. Working in security or getting involved in armed forces experiences such as the reserves or joining the army, navy, or air cadets will give you a distinct advantage. Experience as a Special Constable or Police Community Support Officer would offer a strong set of transferable skills.

Prior work experience in seaports, rail, or airports would be particularly useful; there are a huge number of roles in these hubs of activity, within the retail or hospitality outlets, such as a travel adviser or baggage handler. It may be possible to find such roles as summer work or a part-time position. Any experience that overlaps with the work of Customs Inspectors will be helpful, such as immigration, fraud investigation, enforcing regulations, and customs.

Recommended Qualifications for a Customs Inspector

The majority of Customs Inspectors typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma. Although a degree is not an essential requirement, around half of the entrants qualify for a degree or postgraduate qualification.

Particularly important subjects include criminology, psychology, public services, law, criminal justice, police science, natural resources law enforcement & protective services, criminalistics & criminal science, law enforcement investigation & interviewing, law enforcement record-keeping, and evidence management.

Experience and a qualification in more than one foreign language may also be beneficial. Candidates, who have experience dealing with people in approved work situations such as managing or owning a business and explaining administrative procedures to others, maybe preferred.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Usually, Custom Inspector applicants must be a national of the country of application with a full and valid passport. You must have been living in the country of application for the past three to five years.

You must be at least 18 years old, although the age requirements vary depending on your country of residence. You will need to declare any health issues and possibly have a medical examination. You will undergo a full security and background check. You must hold a relevant driving license.

Customs Inspector Career Path

With experience and ability, you can progress to a Senior Customs Inspector position, wherein you may manage other officers or specific projects. There will be more opportunities for promotion if you are willing to relocate around the country. You could move into a training position, and teach new officers how to do the job.

It may also be possible for a Customs Inspector to move to other departments within the home office and the wider civil service. However, you may need further qualifications and training for some jobs. There is also a connection with other similar roles in the Police, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Armed Forces, the United Nations Organization (UN), and other roles that involve national security.

Job Prospects

Candidates with relevant experience and the zeal to be the first line of defense at the borders of their country will have the best job prospects as a Customs Inspector.

Customs Inspector Professional Development

Before beginning the job as a newly recruited Customs Inspector, you will go through a structured and specific training program where you will learn all that you need to know to protect your country’s borders.

The initial training program is meant to ensure that an Inspector can efficiently handle unsafe situations. It may be residential, extend over three to five months, and usually include pre-course online learning, classroom learning, and mentoring. You will learn different key skills, including interviewing, legislation, immigration and customs laws, searching techniques, and threat assessment techniques.

You may also gain a personal safety training qualification, enabling you to use handcuffs and batons as well as arrest and restraint techniques.

After your training, you will continue your learning on the job with a mentor to support you during your first six to twelve months. Once you've passed your probationary period, you may undertake the full responsibilities of a Customs Inspector.

You may also get the opportunity to undertake specialist training, depending on your role, such as a course in airside driving, which would allow you to drive vehicles on an airport runway. The conventional drug, medical, and fitness examinations will form a part of on-going employment testing.

Learn More

The Role of a Customs Inspector

As a Customs Inspector, you will form part of a frontline law enforcement organization, tasked with ensuring that the border of your country is safe and secure round-the-clock. The work involves patrolling the entry and exit points of the country - the coastline, rail services, and airports - and detecting risks by using your skill and intuition; by monitoring people and items. Customs Inspectors come from all walks of life, as do the members of the public you will deal with, so your role will be full of variety.

Specialized Training

All countries have their form of Customs Inspectors, and they all vary slightly in their responsibilities. Many require their Customs Inspectors to be armed and trained to prevent threats that may try to invade the country. Inspectors may also train to work with K-9 dogs and use them to inspect areas that they may miss or are unable to process.

Conclusion

Excellence is achievable, but not without sacrifice and discipline.

Advice from the Wise

Customs compliance is not a necessary evil. It can offer considerable opportunities in the form of cost savings.

Did you know?

The 8,891-kilometer Canada-U.S. border is the world’s longest shared border.

Introduction - Customs Inspector
What does a Customs Inspector do?

What do Customs Inspectors do?

A Customs Inspector would typically need to:

  • Examine passports, visas, immigration applications, and other travel documents to detect and prevent fraud; verify the identity of passengers traveling in and out of a country by sea/air/rail/road
  • Question travelers about their reasons for visiting the country and their plans while they are in the country; identify travelers to question based on prior offense/likely risk; detain and arrange deportation of aliens suspected of illegal activity
  • Ensure that passengers declare all currency and items purchased abroad so that the proper taxes and import duties can be collected
  • Search passengers, their luggage, cars, coaches, and freight vehicles for prohibited items taken in or out of the country
  • Examine shipping manifests and documentation relating to imported goods to ensure that the products do not violate the local laws regarding the country of origin or child labor standards before clearing them for release
  • Patrol coastlines by boat or work inland with sniffer dogs to inhibit smuggling of illegal and dangerous goods such as firearms, narcotics, counterfeit products, cash, endangered plants, and animals as well as pests attached to imported agricultural goods
  • Locate and seize undeclared merchandise, contraband, and anything else that does not clear Customs' regulations, making sure to report violations and discrepancies to the authorities
  • Petition for remission or mitigation of penalties, initiate civil and criminal prosecutions, and testify in court proceedings
  • Work across multiple sites rather than at one single location, specializing in areas such as counter-terrorism, organized crime, modern slavery and human trafficking
  • Have a line management responsibility for assistant officers
  • Record findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions while collecting and supplying trade statistics
Customs Inspector Work Environment
Work Experience for a Customs Inspector
Recommended Qualifications for a Customs Inspector
Customs Inspector Career Path
Customs Inspector Professional Development
Learn More
Did you know?
Conclusion

Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits
  • R Realistic
  • I Investigative
  • A Artistic
  • S Social
  • E Enterprising
  • C Conventional
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that this career profile addresses
Decent Work and Economic Growth Responsible Consumption and Production Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions