What is the application process?
- Draft. We recommend that you submit a draft of an application first. The FTZ staff
will review the draft and let you know if any information is missing. This can speed up
the filing and processing of the application later.
- Filing. When an application is filed by the FTZ staff, it is assigned a “docket
number” and notice is published in the Federal Register for public comment on the proposal.
The public comment period usually lasts 60 days (30 days for temporary/interim
manufacturing cases).
- Review. During this period the application is being reviewed by an analyst on
the FTZ staff, the CBP Port Director and by industry experts (for subzone and
manufacturing applications).
- Interagency Clearance. Once the analyst completes their review and
recommendation, the application is sent to CBP headquarters and the Department of the
Treasury for review. If there is concurrence with the recommendation, the application will be
returned to the Department of Commerce for final review by the Board member or designee who has
the authority to sign the Board Order. The Board Order is then published in the Federal Register.
For more information see the Application Page and the Standard Application Process Diagram.
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