Generic Certificate of Origin

What is a Certificate of Origin?

A certificate of origin (COO)  is an important document in international trade because it identifies the country of origin of goods being exported. Customs authorities in many countries require the certificate of origin because they use the information to help determine the admissibility of goods and the duty rate to apply to imports.

Before downloading this template, it’s important to know that electronic certificates of origin are now the fastest and easiest way to obtain a certified COO. Instead of completing paperwork and visiting your local chamber of commerce, you can create and submit an electronic certificate of origin online.

Create an electronic certificate of origin, accredited by the International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation, here. You can be assured that your certificate will comply with the rules, regulations and best practices of international trade.

How the Traditional Paper Certificate of Origin Process Works

Before electronic certification became widely available, exporters typically followed a paper-based process to obtain a certified certificate of origin:

1. Complete a chamber of commerce liability form or membership application.
2. Provide documentation showing where the goods were manufactured, such as a manufacturer’s declaration or commercial invoice.
3. Fill out the certificate of origin form (using a template like the one on this page).
4. Submit the documents to your local chamber of commerce for review and stamping.
5. Pay the chamber’s certification fee.
6. Send the stamped certificate to your customer, broker or freight forwarder.

While this process is relatively straightforward, it can become time-consuming and expensive, particularly when multiple copies must be certified or documents must be couriered.

That’s why many exporters now choose to generate electronic certificates of origin (eCOs) instead.