Certificate of Origin Template
A certificate of origin states where goods were produced — not where they were shipped from, and not where the seller is based. That distinction is the whole point. Origin determines the duty rate, whether a preferential trade agreement applies, and whether a quota or sanction bites. Most certificates are stamped by a chamber of commerce, which certifies the exporter's declaration rather than independently verifying the factory.
| 6 Item No. | Marks & Numbers | No. of Pkgs | Kind of Packages | Description of Goods | HS Code | 7 Quantity | Unit | Gross Weight (KG) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
It is hereby certified, on the basis of control carried out, that the declaration by the exporter is correct and that the goods described above originate in .
Your entries are kept as you move between documents — the parties, ports, container and line items carry across.
Preferential and non-preferential origin
A non-preferential certificate simply records where goods were made, and is used for statistics, quotas and general customs purposes. A preferential certificate claims a reduced or zero duty rate under a specific trade agreement, and the rules for earning it are much stricter — there will be a value-added threshold or a required tariff-heading change. Claiming preference you cannot substantiate is a customs offence, not a paperwork error.
Substantial transformation
Goods made from imported components originate where they last underwent substantial transformation — broadly, where they became a different product with a different character and use. Assembling imported parts into a finished machine usually qualifies. Repacking, sorting, labelling or diluting usually does not. When a shipment mixes origins, the certificate must say so line by line rather than declaring a single convenient country.
Getting it certified
Chambers of commerce want the certificate, a copy of the commercial invoice, and often a declaration from the manufacturer. Prepare all three together — a mismatch between the goods description on the invoice and on the certificate is the most common reason a chamber sends the application back. Some chambers now certify electronically, which is faster but does not change what evidence they want.
Prefer to fill it in on screen? Use the certificate of origin generator →
Exporters
Issue the invoice, packing list and origin paperwork for a shipment in one sitting, without re-keying the consignee address four times.
Freight forwarders
Produce a clean set of documents for a client who sent you a spreadsheet, and hand back PDFs that a customs broker will accept.
Customs brokers
Rebuild a missing or unusable document from the particulars you already hold, without waiting on the shipper's software licence.
One shipment in, every document out
| FreightStow | Typical alternative | |
|---|---|---|
| Enter the shipment once, every document fills in | Yes | Re-key per document |
| Document types | 33 | Varies |
| Statutory forms (CMR, ISF, USMCA origin) | Included | Often missing |
| Add, rename or remove line-item columns | Yes | Fixed templates |
| PDF built in your browser | Yes | Upload, then download |
| Works before you create an account | Yes | Usually not |
The right-hand column describes the general pattern in this category, not one named vendor. Features and plans change — check any provider’s current terms before deciding.
Commercial documents · 12
- Packing List — DetailedFull itemised packing list with HS codes, marks and numbers, package types and per-item dimensions.
- Packing List — SimpleMinimal packing list: what is in the shipment, how many packages, and what it weighs. No HS codes or dimensions.
- Packing List — ContainerPacking list broken down by container, for FCL shipments where each line must be traced to a container and seal.
- Packing List — ConsolidatedOne packing list covering several orders or invoices consolidated into a single shipment.
- Commercial InvoiceThe primary customs valuation document: what was sold, to whom, on what terms, and for how much.
- Proforma InvoiceA binding quotation in invoice form, issued before shipment so the buyer can open a letter of credit or arrange an import licence.
- Tax InvoiceInvoice showing the tax charged on a supply, in the form required for the buyer to reclaim input tax.
- Credit NoteCancels or reduces a previously issued invoice, for returns, short shipments or agreed price adjustments.
- Purchase OrderThe buyer's formal instruction to supply goods on stated terms, prices and delivery dates.
- QuotationA priced offer to supply, stating validity, lead time and the Incoterms the price is quoted on.
- Request for QuotationInvites a supplier to price a specified list of goods against stated delivery terms and a response deadline.
- Sales ConfirmationThe seller's acceptance of an order, confirming goods, price, terms and shipment schedule back to the buyer.
Declarations & instructions · 10
- Non Asbestos DeclarationCertifies that the goods contain no asbestos in any form — required by Australia, Saudi Arabia and other markets that ban asbestos outright.
- New and Unused DeclarationCertifies that the goods are new and have never been used — required where the destination restricts imports of second-hand goods.
- Packing DeclarationDeclares the timber packaging and container cleanliness of a consignment — required for Australian and New Zealand biosecurity clearance.
- DeclarationA blank declaration on letterhead, for the one-off statements a buyer, bank or customs authority asks for that have no standard form.
- Declaration of OriginA self-certified origin statement made by the exporter, used where a full chamber-stamped certificate of origin is not required.
- Verified Gross Mass DeclarationThe SOLAS VGM certificate. No container may be loaded to a vessel without a signed verified gross mass from the shipper.
- Shipper's Letter of InstructionThe exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder, including the authority to act as agent for customs purposes.
- Shipping InstructionTells the carrier exactly how the bill of lading should read: parties, routing, cargo description and freight terms.
- Forwarding InstructionBooks a consignment with a freight forwarder: collection details, routing, cargo particulars and who pays which charges.
- Sales ContractThe agreement itself: goods, price, delivery terms, payment and the clauses both parties sign against.
Statutory & customs forms · 11
- CMR — Consignment Note (Sender)The sender's copy of the international road consignment note, retained as proof of what was handed to the carrier.
- CMR — Consignment Note (Carrier)The carrier's copy of the road consignment note, evidencing the contract of carriage.
- CMR — Consignment Note (Consignee)The consignee's copy of the road consignment note, travelling with the goods and signed on delivery.
- Bill of LadingThe carrier's receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title the consignee must surrender to collect the cargo.
- Certificate of OriginCertifies where goods were produced. Usually stamped by a chamber of commerce and required to claim tariff treatment or satisfy a letter of credit.
- Certification of Origin (USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC)The free-trade certification for US–Mexico–Canada shipments. Has no prescribed form, but must carry all nine required data elements.
- Importer Security FilingThe ten data elements a US importer must file with CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel bound for the United States.
- Phytosanitary CertificateCertifies that a consignment of plants or plant products meets the importing country's phytosanitary requirements.
- Form 6 — Transboundary Movement DocumentMovement document accompanying a transboundary shipment of hazardous waste, tracking it from exporter to disposal facility.
- Form 9 — Transboundary Movement DocumentMovement document for transboundary shipments of hazardous recyclable material, tracking custody through to the recovery facility.
- Bill of ExchangeAn unconditional written order requiring the drawee to pay a fixed sum on demand or at a stated future date — the instrument behind documentary collections.
+Who issues a certificate of origin?
Usually a chamber of commerce in the exporting country, acting on the exporter's declaration. Some destinations additionally require legalisation by their own embassy or consulate. For certain trade agreements the exporter can self-certify instead, which is what a declaration of origin is for.
+What is the difference between a certificate of origin and a declaration of origin?
A certificate is issued and stamped by a third party, normally a chamber of commerce. A declaration is a statement the exporter makes themselves, often printed directly on the invoice. Where a trade agreement permits self-certification the declaration is sufficient and far quicker; where it does not, only the stamped certificate will clear.
+Is country of origin the same as the country goods were shipped from?
No, and conflating them is the most common error on the form. Origin is where the goods were produced or last substantially transformed. Goods manufactured in Vietnam, warehoused in Singapore and shipped to Rotterdam are of Vietnamese origin, shipped from Singapore.
+Do I need a certificate of origin for every shipment?
No. It is required when the destination customs authority asks for one, when a letter of credit calls for it, or when you are claiming preferential duty. Plenty of routine shipments between countries without a relevant agreement need no certificate at all — check the destination's requirements before paying for one.
+How long is a certificate of origin valid?
It relates to a specific consignment rather than having a general shelf life, so it is valid for that shipment. Preferential certificates under some agreements must be presented within a set window after issue — commonly twelve months — and blanket certifications covering repeat shipments have an explicit stated period.
Judge it by the document, not the feature list.
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