What Is an Import General Manifest (IGM) and Why It Matters

The Import General Manifest is one of the less visible documents in the import process, but it’s foundational — customs clearance can’t proceed correctly without it matching your other paperwork.

What an IGM Is

The IGM is filed by the shipping line or airline (not the importer) upon a vessel or aircraft’s arrival, listing all cargo on board. It’s the customs authority’s first official record that your shipment has arrived.

Why It Matters to You

• Your Bill of Entry must match the details filed in the IGM — consignee name, cargo description, quantity
• A mismatch between your invoice/packing list and the IGM entry can trigger a query or hold
• IGM filing errors by the carrier do happen, and correcting them takes coordination between the carrier and customs

What You Can Do About It

As the importer, you don’t file the IGM yourself, but ensuring your booking details with the shipping line or airline exactly match your commercial documents reduces the chance of a mismatch causing delay later.

If a shipment of yours is stuck due to an IGM discrepancy, our team can help coordinate the correction with the carrier and customs.