A Certificate of Origin is required for each export shipment to prove the country of origin to the importing country. Therefore, it must be obtained for every shipment.

A COO is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. However, a good business practice is to have a COO less than 6 months old to clear customs of the importing country. This will avoid having to pay demurrage if foreign customs ask you to provide a more current certificate or there are issues with the shipment documentation.

• Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin: Certifies that the goods do not qualify for any preferential treatment under trade agreements. In the US, non-preferential certificates of origin are issued except in the case of USMCA.
• Preferential Certificate of Origin: Certifies that the goods qualify for reduced tariffs or exemptions under specific trade agreements. Examples include:
  • Form A for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
  • EUR.1 or EUR-MED for European Union trade agreements
  • USMCA – US Mexico Canada Trade Agreement

The most common documents required to apply for a COO in the US are:

• Commercial Invoice: Details about the shipment, including product descriptions and values.
• Bill of Lading or Airway Bill: Proof of shipment details.

• Exporter’s Information: Name, address, and contact details.
• Consignee’s Information: Name, address, and contact details.
• Description of Goods: Detailed description of the goods, including HS codes, gross and net weight of the shipment. The invoice must have a company seal or the signature of the authorized personnel.
• Country of Origin: The country where the finished goods were produced or manufactured.
• Country of Final Destination: The final country where the goods will be delivered.
• Signature and Stamp: Authorized signature from the chamber of commerce or issuing authority.

Typically, an exporter or the manufacturer of the goods applies for the COO. Authorized representatives, such as freight forwarders or logistics companies, can also apply on behalf of the exporter with an authorization letter.

Yes, you can list multiple products in a Certificate of Origin with different countries of origin on a single COO, provided each product’s origin is clearly indicated.

Depending on the importing country, some nations, particularly those in the Middle East, require a Certificate of Origin (COO) to be legalized. The most common countries that mandate document legalization are Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, and Qatar.

Yes, many countries accept electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOO). eCOOs facilitate faster processing and verification and can be used in the same way as paper certificates.

Benefits of E-Certificates:

• Same Day Approval: E-certificates are processed or approved the same day at Denver World Trade center
• Instant Availability: Once approved, certificates are instantly accessible to the applicant and interested parties.
• Instant Validation: Embedded QR codes in the certificate allow for immediate validation to custom authorities.
• No Risk of Loss: Digital certificates eliminate the risk of losing physical documents.
• Cost and Time Savings: E-certificates reduce administrative costs and processing time.
• Facilitates Custom Pre-Clearance: E-certificates streamline the customs clearance process.
• Environmental Benefits: Reducing the use of paper contributes to environmental sustainability.

Since the start of 2020, due to COVID-19, most countries worldwide have begun accepting electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOO), making it rare to need a notarized COO. Certificates issued by platforms like SWIFTDOX can be validated by a QR code and verified through a dedicated verification site. This system is utilized by thousands of small, medium-sized companies, as well as some of the largest companies in the world.