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Certificate of OriginTemplate

A Certificate of Origin (C/O) is an official document that certifies where goods were manufactured or produced. It is required by customs authorities to determine the origin of products for tariff classification, trade statistics, and eligibility for preferential duty rates under free trade agreements. You fill it in yourself: for a non-preferential C/O a chamber of commerce then certifies it, and some trade agreements (USMCA, for example) let you certify origin yourself.

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CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

Invoice Number
INV-2025-0089
Invoice Date
10 Jan 2025
Letter Of Credit No
LC/2025/SYD/00456
Exporter
ABC Exports Inc.
123 Trade Street Los Angeles, CA 90001 United States
Consignee
Global Trading Co.
456 Commerce Ave Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia
Method of Dispatch
Sea
Type of Shipment
FCL
Vessel / Aircraft
MSC AURORA
Voyage / Flight No
AU2501E
Port of Loading
Los Angeles, USA
Date of Departure
15 Jan 2025
Port of Discharge
Sydney, Australia
Final Destination
Sydney, Australia
DESCRIPTION OF GOODSMARKS & NUMBERSKIND & NO OF PKGSHS CODEGROSS WT (KG)
Stainless Steel Cookware Sets (12pc)ABC-001CTN X 2007323.932400.00
Non-stick Frying Pans 28cmABC-002CTN X 5007615.101800.00
Kitchen Utensil Sets (5pc)ABC-003CTN X 4008215.991200.00
Total5400.00
Declaration By The Chamber

The undersigned certifies on the basis of information provided by the exporter that to the best of its knowledge and belief, the goods are of designated origin, production or manufacture.

Place and Date of Issue
Los Angeles 10 Jan 2025
Signatory Company
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
Name of Authorized Signatory
Robert Johnson
Signature
Declaration By The Exporter

I, the undersigned, authorised to sign on behalf of the exporter, declare that the goods described above were produced or manufactured in the country shown under Country of Origin, and that the particulars given in this certificate are correct.

The goods were produced/manufactured at
Los Angeles, California, USA
Place and Date of Issue
Los Angeles 10 Jan 2025
Signatory Company
ABC Exports Inc.
Name of Authorized Signatory
John Smith
Signature
Sample document with realistic data

What is a Certificate of Origin used for?

A Certificate of Origin is one of the most important documents in international trade, serving as an official declaration of where goods were manufactured, produced, or processed. Customs authorities worldwide require this document to verify the origin of imported goods, apply appropriate tariff rates, and enforce trade policies. Without a valid Certificate of Origin, shipments may face delays, higher duties, or even rejection at the border.

There are two main types of Certificates of Origin: non-preferential and preferential. Non-preferential C/Os simply certify the country where goods originated without claiming any special tariff treatment. Preferential C/Os, on the other hand, are issued under specific free trade agreements (such as USMCA, EU-Korea FTA, or RCEP) and allow importers to claim reduced or zero tariffs. The type required depends on the destination country and whether a trade agreement exists between the exporting and importing nations.

Certificates of Origin are typically issued by authorized bodies such as Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, or government agencies. The exporter must provide accurate information about the goods, including descriptions, HS codes, and manufacturing details. The issuing authority then certifies the document, often with an official stamp or seal. For Letters of Credit transactions, banks may require the C/O as part of the document set to release payment.

Customs clearance and import documentation
Determining applicable tariff and duty rates
Claiming preferential tariff treatment under FTAs
Trade statistics and compliance reporting
Meeting import licensing requirements
Letter of Credit documentary requirements
Verifying goods are not from sanctioned countries

How to create a Certificate of Origin

1

Start a new document

Open ovrseas and create a new export document. Select Certificate of Origin from the available document types.

2

Enter exporter and consignee details

Add complete information for the exporter (seller) and consignee (buyer), including company names, addresses, and country information.

3

Add goods description

Enter detailed descriptions of the goods including marks and numbers, packaging type, HS codes, quantity, and weight. Be specific about the product characteristics.

4

Specify origin information

Declare the country of origin for each product. For preferential C/Os, ensure goods meet the rules of origin requirements for the applicable trade agreement.

5

Review and generate

Verify all information is accurate, add the exporter declaration, then generate your Certificate of Origin ready for Chamber of Commerce certification.

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Your questions, answered.

A Certificate of Origin specifically certifies where goods were manufactured or produced, and is often issued or certified by a Chamber of Commerce. A Commercial Invoice is issued by the seller and details the sale transaction including prices, terms, and parties. Both are required for international shipments but serve different purposes - the C/O focuses on origin verification while the Commercial Invoice covers the commercial transaction.
A non-preferential C/O simply certifies the country where goods originated without any special tariff benefits. A preferential C/O is issued under a specific free trade agreement (like USMCA, CPTPP, or EU FTAs) and allows importers to claim reduced or zero tariffs. Preferential C/Os have stricter rules of origin requirements that products must meet to qualify for the preferential treatment.
Certificates of Origin are typically issued or certified by authorized bodies such as local Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, or government agencies. The exporter prepares the document with product and origin information, then submits it to the authorized body for verification and certification. Some preferential C/Os allow for self-certification by approved exporters.
A Certificate of Origin typically requires: exporter and consignee details, description of goods, marks and numbers, number and type of packages, HS codes, gross and net weights, country of origin declaration, and certifying authority signature/stamp. For preferential C/Os, additional information about origin criteria may be required.
Yes, HS (Harmonized System) codes are typically required on Certificates of Origin. They help customs authorities identify products and verify that the declared origin is consistent with the type of goods. For preferential C/Os, the HS code is essential to determine if goods meet specific rules of origin under the trade agreement.
Yes, a Certificate of Origin requires signatures from both the exporter (declaring the origin of goods) and the certifying authority (such as a Chamber of Commerce). The certifying authority typically adds an official stamp or seal to authenticate the document. Some countries accept electronic C/Os with digital signatures.
A C/O is required when: the importing country mandates origin documentation for customs clearance, the importer wants to claim preferential tariff rates under an FTA, the Letter of Credit requires it as part of the document set, or goods are subject to anti-dumping duties or quotas based on origin.
A standard Certificate of Origin is a general document certifying country of origin. A USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) Certificate is a specific preferential origin certificate that allows goods to qualify for duty-free or reduced tariff treatment between the US, Mexico, and Canada. USMCA certificates have specific format requirements and origin criteria.
It depends on the type and destination. Non-preferential C/Os typically require Chamber of Commerce certification. Some preferential agreements allow self-certification by exporters, importers, or producers - for example, USMCA allows any of these parties to certify origin. Check the specific requirements of the trade agreement and importing country.
The sample on this page is free to download as a PDF, no sign-up. Creating your own Certificates of Origin in ovrseas is free for 14 days with no credit card; after that it is $15 for a week, $20 a month or $192 a year. Our platform lets you prepare the exporter's part of a C/O: exporter, consignee, goods, marks and origin details. The certification box is left blank for the issuing body; a non-preferential C/O usually still has to be certified by your local Chamber of Commerce or another authorized body.
Submitting incorrect origin information can result in serious consequences including: customs delays and additional inspections, denial of preferential tariff treatment, financial penalties and fines, seizure of goods, and potential criminal charges for fraud. Always verify that goods genuinely meet origin requirements before certification.
Validity periods vary by type and agreement. Non-preferential C/Os are typically valid for the specific shipment they cover. Preferential C/Os under trade agreements may have specific validity periods - for example, USMCA certificates are valid for 4 years from the date of certification. Check the specific requirements of the importing country and applicable trade agreement.

Related Templates

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Contract between shipper and carrier acknowledging receipt of goods.

Packing List

Detailed list of package contents, weights, and dimensions for shipping.

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