Chamber CertificationFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Thousands of U.S. exporters are using Shipping Solutions’ Chamber Certification Portal (previously called the eCO Portal) to quickly and affordably create Certificates of Origin, Certificates of Free Sale and other documents certified by a U.S.-based chamber of commerce.

Shipping Solutions is now unveiling a new, modernized version of this portal that will make this process even easier and even more secure. As we make this transition, here are answers to the common questions we are getting from our clients.

• Chamber Certification Portal FAQ
• Certificate of Origin FAQ
• Certificate of Free Sale FAQ

Not yet a user of Shipping Solutions’ Chamber Certification service? Click here to learn more and to register for free. Need help? Send an email to help@shippingsolutionssoftware.com or call (651) 905-1727.

 

Shipping Solutions’ New Chamber Certification Portal FAQ

Q. What is chamber certification?

Chamber Certification is Shipping Solutions’ new portal for exporters that allows them to create Certificates of Origin and Certificates of Free Sale certified by a U.S.-based chamber of commerce. The customs authorities in many countries require importers to provide these documents with a chamber’s official seal in order to allow the goods into those countries.

This is an updated version of Shipping Solutions’ previous electronic certificate of origin (eCO) Portal. It will replace the existing eCO Portal on November 24, 2025.

Q. Which chamber is providing this certification service?

Shipping Solutions has been partnering with the American World Trade Chamber of Commerce (AWTCC) for more than a decade to provide this service. The AWTCC is registered with the International Chamber of Commerce, which is recognized by most customs authorities throughout the world. We are continuing this partnership with them.

Q. Why are you upgrading?

The new technology we are using provides two primary advantages over the eCO Portal:

1. It’s easier to use
2. It’s even more secure

Q. What happens to our old data?

Because we are transitioning to a new portal with entirely new technology, your previous chamberized documents won’t be transferred to the new system. However, the AWTCC is maintaining these records for seven years, during which time you can email them at support@chambercertification.com to retrieve an old record for any reason, for example, if you need it for a customs audit or for your company’s internal records.

All chamber certified documents generated from this new portal will be retained in the History section of your account for seven years.

Q. How do I apply for a Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Free Sale or other chamber certified document?

The process is very easy to complete:

1. If you haven’t yet registered for an account with Shipping Solutions, visit the registration page and complete the registration form. In order to prevent any delays in setting up your account, please fill in all the registration form fields. There is no charge for registering.
2. The AWTCC will review your registration form and send you a Welcome email once it is approved, which will typically occur within one business day. Click the link to create a password for your account.
3. Log in to your Chamber Certification account and complete the application form. The login page includes a link to the User Guide as well as short videos that walk you step-by-step through the application process.
4. Once the AWTCC receives and approves your application, they will provide you with a chamber-certified document by email or overnight courier, whichever method you indicate. The document is typically sent within one business day.
   
   

Certificate of Origin FAQ

Q. What is a Certificate of Origin?

A Certificate of Origin form is often required by customs when importing goods into a particular country. Since the exporter is usually the party that sourced the goods and arranged the export, they generally are the party that prepares the Certificate and gets it chamberized when required.

A Certificate is an important document in international trade because it identifies the country of origin of the goods being exported. This information is used to determine the proper duty rates to apply to imports as well as the admissibility of goods in some countries. A Certificate of Origin may also be required to satisfy a letter of credit.

There are generally two types of Certificates of Origin:

1. A free trade agreement Certificate of Origin is used to prove that listed goods qualify for reduced duty rates under a trade agreement between two or more countries. The FTA Certificates don’t typically require a chamber certification. Download the various U.S. FTA Certificate of Origin templates from the Shipping Solutions website.
2. A generic Certificate of Origin is used for non-trade agreement shipments and usually requires chamber certification. Register now for a free Chamber Certification account.

Q. When do I need a Certificate of Origin?

The customs authority in the country of import uses the origin of the goods identified on the Certificate to assess the proper duty rate for those goods. So while a country may not require a Certificate of Origin, it may be beneficial to provide one.

Let’s say you’re shipping something overseas and the standard duty rate on your goods is 2% unless the goods are from the United States, in which case the duty rate is 1%. If the exporter and importer don’t care about the 1% savings in duty rate because they don’t want to bother with a Certificate of Origin, then the exporter typically doesn’t need to provide one. But if the reduction in the duty rate can save them hundreds or thousands of dollars, then they are motivated to generate and provide one.

Other countries may require a Certificate for every shipment. For example, Kazakhstan is trying to keep Chinese goods out of their country, so they require a Certificate of Origin for every import into their country. There may be other countries that have similar requirements.

Q. How do I get a Certificate of Origin?

Since 1923, Chambers of Commerce have been an official body to sign and stamp Certificates of Origin generated by exporters. This has traditionally required companies to manually create the form, deliver or courier it to a chamber, wait for the appropriate staff member to review and certify the Certificate, send or courier it back to the exporter, and then forward it by international courier to the importer.

Exporters can now generate and submit a Certificate of Origin to a U.S.-based chamber of commerce online and get it approved within a single business day. These Certificates can either be printed out on a color printer or sent overnight to the exporter. Either way, the Certificates include the required signatures and stamps by an accredited chamber, are registered with the International Chamber of Commerce, and are recognized and accepted by customs authorities around the world.

You can go online and register for the Certificate of Origin Portal for free.

Q. Under what circumstances will a U.S. chamber of commerce issue a stamped Certificate of Origin for an export?

The rule is the same for all Chambers around the world. As long as the goods listed on the Certificate of Origin have some logical affiliation with their country, they will issue a Certificate of Origin. For U.S.-based Chambers, the two biggest affiliations are: (1) the exporter is located in the United States, or (2) the goods were produced in the U.S. As long as one of those two things are true, we can issue the document.

Q. Can companies not based in the United States get a Certificate of Origin stamped by a U.S. chamber of commerce?

Yes, if the goods listed on the Certificate are made in the United States. See above.

Q. What documentation do you need to get a Certificate of Origin stamped by a chamber of commerce?

An exporter needs to provide a copy of the commercial invoice for the shipment showing the country of origin for each item. The Certificate of Origin should list the same country of origin for each item as the invoice. This is usually the only documentation that is required. If there are still some questions, the Chamber may request a letter from the manufacturer confirming that they produced the goods in the country listed.

Q. Do any of the other export documents need to be approved and stamped by the chamber of commerce?

There are some circumstances when the country of import requires that the Commercial Invoice get chamberized in addition to the Certificate of Origin. In rare cases, they may require other documents get stamped by the Chamber as well. As a general rule, the importer should notify the exporter if these additional documents are required.

Q. What does an exporter do with a stamped Certificate of Origin once they get it from the Chamber?

The Certificate of Origin often accompanies the shipment, whether it's in paper or electronic form; whether they print it out or email it. The Certificate goes to the importer, and the importer provides it to show to the customs authority in the country of import so they can determine what duties should apply to the goods in the shipment. The duties are based on where the product is made, which is why the country of origin appears on the Certificate.

Q. When should an exporter apply for a Certificate of Origin?

The standard time frame for requesting a Certificate of Origin is up to three weeks before the goods leave the country of export.

Q. Can an exporter request a Certificate of Origin for items that are already en route to the importer?

Yes. Sometimes exporters apply for a Certificate of Origin while the goods are traveling by vessel to the destination country and haven’t arrived yet. Sometimes the goods have arrived, haven’t yet cleared customs, and are sitting in storage because the exporter hasn’t provided the proper paperwork. The exporter has up to three weeks after the goods have departed the U.S. to apply for the Certificate.

Q. What if the exporter requests a Certificate of Origin more than three weeks after it’s departed?

If it’s more than three weeks, the exporter can complete a “retrospective application” for up to three months after the goods have been shipped. In the retrospective application, the exporter is certifying that no other Certificates of Origin were issued for the goods in this shipment and explaining why they didn’t apply for a Certificate during the normal time frame.

Q. What can the exporter do if it has been more than three months since the goods shipped?

At that point a Certificate of Origin shouldn’t be issued. Exceptions may apply.

Q. Are Certificates of Origin issued for specific export shipments, or can you issue a blanket Certificate good for all shipments going to the same consignee?

Most Certificates of Origin are shipment specific. Everything on a particular Certificate of Origin is going to the same consignee, on the same shipment, and at the same time. There are free trade agreement Certificates of Origin like the USMCA Certification of Origin that can be valid for all shipments to a particular consignee within a year, but they don’t generally need to be approved and stamped by a chamber of commerce.

Q. How does a chamber of commerce know the information being provided is accurate?

It doesn’t. Chambers verify the information against the support documentation provided.

Q. Can an exporter provide a Certificate of Origin that is not chamberized?

With the exception of most free trade agreement Certificates of Origin, most Certificates of Origin need to be stamped by a chamber of commerce to be valid.

Q. What does it mean when the Certificate of Origin needs Apostille certification?

An “apostille” is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of 1961. It is a Secretary of State certification of a Notary Public signature. A list of countries that accept apostilles is provided by the U.S. State Department.

Q. What does it mean to get the Certificate of Origin legalized?

In some exports, the final step in the process is sending the Certificate to the consulate of the importing country for its stamp. This can only be done after local and state level processing and sometimes must also include the U.S. Department of State or other agency certification. It is recommended that you confer with your chamber or importer for requirements.

 

Certificate of Free Sale FAQ

Q. What is a Certificate of Free Sale?

A Certificate of Free Sale, sometimes called a “Certificate for Export” or “Certificate to Foreign Governments,” is evidence that goods—such as food items, cosmetics, biologics or medical devices—are legally sold or distributed in the open market, freely without restriction, and approved by the regulatory authorities in the country of origin (United States).

Q. How do I know when I need a Certificate of Free Sale?

As a general rule, the importer of the goods into a particular country will notify the exporter that they need a Certificate of Free Sale in order to import the good(s). It is up to the exporter to apply for the certificate.

Q. Do I need a Certificate of Free Sale for every shipment to a particular country?

A Certificate of Free Sale is used when you are registering a new product in a country. You’re sending a Certificate of Free Sale to the customs authority in that country saying, in effect, “This is a new thing I’m going to start importing, and here are my support documents that confirm this product(s) is legal to sell in the country of manufacture.”

Therefore, only one Certificate of Free Sale is required for each product going to each country.

Q. Can I use the same Certificate of Free Sale for a particular product with multiple countries?

No. Each country requires its own certificate because it is a document they keep on file with their customs authority.

Q. Once a Certificate of Free Sale is filed with the customs authority of a particular country, does it expire at some point?

No.

Q. How do I get a Certificate of Free Sale?

Exporters who need a Certificate of Free Sale should register online for the service at the Certificate of Free Sale page on the Shipping Solutions website. Once you receive your login credentials, login at the eCO Portal with the user name and password you received and follow the instructions on the page. An application is required that you can download from the eCO Portal. The application must be notarized.

The cost for a Certificate of Free Sale is $100 plus shipping fees. Members of the Shipping Solutions AMP program save $25 per certificate. You will not be charged until your certificate has been approved and completed by the chamber.

Q. What documentation do I need to get a Certificate of Free Sale stamped by a chamber of commerce?

In order to receive a Certificate of Free Sale from AWTCC, the exporter needs to provide copies of invoices listing two different U.S. customers within the past 12 months that include the product(s) to be listed on the Certificate of Free Sale. The exporter also needs to indicate that they are the manufacturer of the good(s), or, if they are not, provide a declaration from the manufacturer that the goods were made in the United States.

Q. Do all the items listed on a Certificate of Free Sale signed by a U.S. chamber of commerce have to be manufactured in the United States?

Yes. The Certificate of Free Sale is stating that the product is available for sale without restrictions in the country of the manufacturer.

Q. Can companies not based in the United States get a Certificate of Free Sale stamped by a U.S. chamber of commerce?

No.

Q. What does an exporter do with a stamped Certificate of Free Sale once they get it from the chamber?

Typically they will provide it to the importer of the goods who will provide it to the customs authority in the country of import.

Q. When do I need a Certificate of Free Sale provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instead of a U.S. chamber of commerce?

We recommend that exporters that need a Certificate of Free Sale verify with the importer if the customs authority in their country will accept a certificate from a chamber of commerce for the particular product they are importing or if they need a certificate from the FDA.

Q. What does it mean when the Certificate of Free Sale needs Apostille certification?

An “apostille” is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of 1961. It is a Secretary of State certification of a Notary Public signature. A list of countries that accept apostilles is provided by the U.S. State Department. Some countries also require consulate legalization on the Certificate of Free Sale. The chamber will advise the necessary stamps, but you can also verify with your importer.