GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Certificate of Origin

A certificate of origin is an official trade document confirming the country in which goods were manufactured, harvested, or sufficiently processed to qualify as originating there.

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Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_origin

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Definition & Explanation

A certificate of origin is an official trade document confirming the country in which goods were manufactured, harvested, or sufficiently processed to qualify as originating there. It is typically issued by an authorised body in the exporting country—most commonly a chamber of commerce—and presented to customs at the point of import. Where an importer claims a preferential tariff rate under a free trade agreement, the certificate provides customs authorities with the evidence required to grant the reduced duty. A key distinction separates the non-preferential certificate of origin, used for general customs purposes, import restrictions, or trade statistics, from preferential origin proofs, which are subject to specific rules of origin and may take alternative forms such as a supplier's declaration or a REX statement. Exporters should obtain the document well ahead of shipment: late submission at destination routinely causes clearance delays and additional storage charges.