For years, the only option for exporters was to provide a paper version of the form that they had to deliver or courier to a chamber of commerce office to be reviewed and, hopefully, stamped. Of all the required export documents, obtaining a certificate of origin had one of the most expensive and time-consuming processes.
Recently, however, more and more exporters are going online to request a certificate of origin from a U.S.-based chamber of commerce that can be returned the same day with the chamber seal. It's faster, cheaper, and because it is registered with the International Chamber of Commerce, more secure. Here’s how to complete an electronic certificate of origin (eCO).
For almost a century, chambers of commerce have been the organizations most exporters rely on to sign and stamp their certificates of origin. The old way of doing this was tedious. It required exporting companies to:
The traditional process was (and is!) time-consuming and expensive when you add all the delivery and courier fees. But the online version—the electronic certificate of origin—is an easier way to get the certificate you need.
This seven-minute video walks you through the entire process of signing up for and creating an electronic certificate of origin. It can be summarized with these three steps:
In just a few hours, you’ll receive email notification that your eCO is approved, certified and ready to use.
Ready to start using electronic certificates of origin? Head to our certificates of origin page and fill out the form to begin generating certificates you can use for your export shipment.
If you aren’t interested in or don’t need an electronic version of the certificate of origin form, you can download and print a PDF version of the form.
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This article was first published in November 2015 and has been updated to include current information, links and formatting.