How to fill out a certificate of origin
A certificate of origin states where goods were produced. This decides the duty rate and whether the goods can enter at all. Origin is not where the shipment sailed from, and it is not where the seller is registered. It is where the goods were wholly obtained or last substantially transformed. Most rejected certificates get that one point wrong.
The 11 fields on a certificate of origin
Taken from the document itself, in the order it prints them.
- Shipper / Exporter
The exporter, as the party making the origin declaration. This party is responsible for it, so it should be the company that can actually prove where the goods were made.
- Country of Origin
The most important field. Where the goods were wholly obtained or last substantially transformed. Not the port of loading, and not the seller's country. For assembled goods this depends on the rule of origin for that tariff heading, which is usually a change of classification or a percentage of local value.
- Document No.
- Consignee
The importer at destination. Where the certificate supports a preferential duty claim, this name has to match the one on the customs entry.
- Method of Dispatch
Sea, air, road or rail, with the routing. Chambers of commerce check this against the transport document before stamping.
- Notes
If a letter of credit requires particular wording, copy it here word for word. Banks reject anything reworded.
- Name
- Title
- Place
- Date
- Company
The company standing behind the declaration. This may be the exporter or an agent acting for them. A chamber will ask for proof of authority before certifying an agent's signature.
The line-item columns
One row per product. Columns can be hidden, renamed or added in the generator.
- Item #
- Marks & Numbers
Ties the certificate to specific packages rather than to a general type of goods. That is what makes it evidence for this shipment.
- Pkgs
- Pkg Type
- Description
Must match the commercial invoice. A chamber compares the two documents before stamping and will refuse if the descriptions differ.
- HS Code
Needed because rules of origin are written per tariff heading. Without it, nobody at destination can check whether the origin you claim is correct under the rule.
- Qty
- Unit
- Gross Wt
Must match the packing list and the transport document. The chamber checks this figure too.
A working certificate of origin, prefilled with a sample shipment. Every field above is editable here, and it downloads as a PDF.
| 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 .
Parties, ports, container and line items carry across every document.
Preferential against non-preferential
A non-preferential certificate simply states origin. It is used for quotas, statistics, labelling rules and embargo checks. A preferential certificate claims a reduced duty rate under a trade agreement, and must be issued in that agreement's own form, such as an EUR.1 movement certificate, a Form A or a USMCA certification. This generator produces the general non-preferential certificate. A preference claim needs the specific form. Presenting the wrong one loses the reduced rate.
When you need a chamber of commerce stamp
For a plain non-preferential certificate, many destinations accept a self-issued declaration. Others require certification by a chamber of commerce. A smaller group, including several Middle Eastern markets, also require consular legalisation on top of the chamber stamp. Find out which applies before the goods ship. Legalisation can take longer than the voyage.
Substantial transformation, in practice
If a product is made from materials from several countries, origin is where the last substantial transformation happened. What counts as substantial is defined per tariff heading. Usually it is a change in HS classification at four or six digits. Sometimes it is a minimum percentage of local value added. Repackaging, labelling, simple assembly and dilution do not give origin, however much work they involve.
+Who issues a certificate of origin?
The exporter completes it. Depending on the destination, it is either self-certified or stamped by a chamber of commerce. The chamber certifies the signature and checks that the paperwork is consistent. It does not certify the origin itself. That remains the exporter's responsibility.
+Is the country of origin the same as the country of export?
Often, but not always. Treating them as the same is the usual mistake. Goods made in Vietnam and shipped from Singapore originate in Vietnam.
+Can one certificate cover several countries of origin?
Yes, as long as the origin of each line is stated against that line. A single header origin on a mixed shipment is a misdeclaration.
+How long is a certificate of origin valid?
A non-preferential certificate covers one shipment and has no separate validity period. Preferential certificates do have time limits. A USMCA blanket certification, for example, may cover up to twelve months.
Try it with a real shipment.
Everything above is already on the form. Fill it in and download the PDF — no account needed.
Open the certificate of origin generator