Technical guide for the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) portal — Registering for the CERS Portal

3.0 Registering for the CERS Portal

This section summarizes how to get started using the CERS Portal. Before creating a CERS portal business account, the exporter must have a CBSA-assigned authorization ID, CBSA-assigned Shared Secret and use a computer that meets the technical requirements documented in Section 8.0.

Creating a CERS Portal business account is a three-step process for the authorized representative of the exporter company who will become the Portal business account:

1. Logging in with a credential
2. Creating a CERS Portal user account: Section 3.2
3. Creating a CERS Portal business account: Section 3.3

Obtaining a credential: In order to use the CERS Portal, all users must begin by logging in with a credential, either through a commercial credential service (Sign-In Partner), which enables users to access the CERS Portal using the same credentials they use to do business with some financial institutions or a government-issued credential service (GCKey). For more information on the credential options currently available, please refer to the Cyber authentication renewal initiative frequently asked questions.

Once the CERS Portal business account has been created, the Portal business account may add additional CERS Portal users to the Business Account so they may submit trade data and/or view Export declaration statuses and related information. Additional users must follow steps 1 and 2 mentioned above to create their own log in credential and CERS Portal User Account.

There are 4 user roles in the CERS Portal:

1. Portal business account: A business account is a user role in the CERS Portal that has the unique ability to register, update and delete their business account. They have the ability to:
   • view, create and edit export declarations
   • view, create and edit lookups
   • view messages
   • assign user roles to all other users in their CERS Portal business account
2. Proxy portal business account: A proxy portal business account is a user role in the CERS Portal that has the ability to:
   • view, create and edit export declarations
   • view, create and edit lookups
   • view messages
   • assign user roles to account users and account browsers in their CERS Portal business account
3. Account user: an account user is a user role in the CERS Portal that has the ability to:
   • view, create and edit export declarations
   • view, create and edit lookups
   • view messages
4. Account browser: an account browser is a user role in the CERS Portal that has read-only access to:
   • export declarations
   • lookups
   • messages

3.1 Creating a CERS Portal user account

Once users are logged in to the CERS Portal with their credential and have accepted the CERS Portal Terms and Conditions, they may create a CERS Portal user account. Users will be asked to provide their name, email address and phone number, as well as language preference.

Once they have supplied this information, their user account will be created and they will be provided with a User Reference Number (URN).

A URN is:

• a system-generated number, uniquely associated with a CERS Portal user account
• used by CERS Portal business portal business accounts to assign users a role in a business account
• used to help identify legitimate CERS Portal users if they contact the Technical Commercial Client Unit (TCCU) for assistance. Please refer to page 1 for the TCCU's contact information

3.2 Creating a CERS Portal business account

Exporter authorized representatives (Portal business accounts) may create a CERS Portal business account immediately after they have created their CERS Portal user account.

The CERS Portal prompts the Portal business account to enter the following information:

• (i) An exporter business number
• (ii) An activation code (for example, Shared Secret)
• (iii) The Account Owner's contact information (position title, address, telephone number, email, etc.)

The Account Owner may add users to the CERS Portal Business Account so they may view and/or submit export declarations and related information (as required).

3.3 CERS Portal help and support

To view further information about registering for and using the CERS Portal or to obtain technical support, see the CERS Portal help and support page at (This will be available in the subsequent version of the ECCRD).