--- title: "What Is a Certificate of Origin?" url: https://www.uncap.com/glossary/certificate-of-origin author: "Denis Dyli" published: 2026-10-28 updated: 2026-10-28 summary: "A certificate of origin is a signed statement that declares the country where exported goods originated. Some importing countries require one to clear customs, and a second kind certifies that goods qualify for a free trade agreement's reduced or duty-free tariff rates. It is an export trade document, separate from the commercial invoice." --- # What Is a Certificate of Origin? > A certificate of origin is a signed statement that declares the country where exported goods originated. Some importing countries require one to clear customs, and a second kind certifies that goods qualify for a free trade agreement's reduced or duty-free tariff rates. It is an export trade document, separate from the commercial invoice. **Certificate of origin**: A certificate of origin is a signed statement that declares the country where exported goods originated. Some importing countries require one to clear customs, and a second kind certifies that goods qualify for a free trade agreement's reduced or duty-free tariff rates. It is an export trade document, separate from the commercial invoice. ## How it works The International Trade Administration (trade.gov) describes a certificate of origin as a signed statement as to the origin of the export item, required by some countries. It says one may be required for three reasons: - Foreign customs, to meet the requirements of the country of importation. - A bank, when a letter of credit calls for it. - The buyer, simply on request. A certificate may be required even if the commercial invoice contains the same information. The number of copies and the language required vary from country to country. The rules that decide which country is the origin are covered under [country of origin](/glossary/country-of-origin). The term also has a vehicle meaning: in California, applications for original registration or title of new vehicles generally must include a Manufacturer's Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO/MSO). This page covers the trade document. ## Types of certificate of origin trade.gov names two types: - Generic, or non-preferential. The country of origin stated does not qualify the goods for any preferential treatment in the importing country. A generic certificate needs to be certified by an outside entity, such as a local chamber of commerce. In many cases, a statement of origin printed on company letterhead will suffice. Generic certificates may be obtained from a commercial vendor, broker or freight forwarder, and electronic versions are available from customs brokers and freight forwarders. - Free trade agreement (FTA) certification. Compared with a generic certificate, it certifies that the goods are eligible for duty-free or reduced tariffs because the importing country extends those privileges to the country of origin. FTA certificates are self-certified, and they should be issued only if a good qualifies. Not all FTAs require specific forms: most FTA partners accept declarative statements with specific data elements, though importers may still ask for a specific format. ## What a USMCA certification contains For goods imported into the US under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the customs regulations at 19 CFR 182.12 set the content. The certification of origin need not be in a prescribed format, but it must be in writing or sent electronically by a means CBP authorizes. To be valid, it includes: - Whether the certifier is the importer, exporter or producer - Contact details for the certifier, the exporter and the producer, and for the importer if known - A description of the good, detailed enough to relate it to the invoice and the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature - The HTSUS tariff classification, to six or more digits as needed - The rule of origin under which the good qualifies - For a blanket certification of identical goods, the period it covers, up to 12 months - A signed statement certifying that the goods qualify as originating and that the information is true and accurate It must be completed in English, French or Spanish, and the importer must have it when it claims preferential tariff treatment. A properly completed, signed and dated certification is valid for four years from the date it was completed. This is general information, not legal or customs advice. ## Example A US distributor imports identical cases of valves from a Canadian producer every month, 120 cases at $150 a case: 120 x $150 = $18,000 a shipment. The valves qualify as originating goods. First, the producer completes one blanket certification of origin for January 1 to December 31, a 12-month period, which covers all 12 monthly shipments. The distributor keeps it on file, claims preferential tariff treatment on each entry, and submits a copy if CBP asks. ## On Shopify The product data a certificate of origin repeats lives on each product in Shopify. For a physical product, Shopify saves information required when shipping internationally: the Country/Region of origin, defined as the country where the product was manufactured or assembled, and the Harmonized System (HS) tariff code, which gives customs the information to apply the correct tariffs. Every international order requires a commercial invoice, and when you collect duties at checkout, Shopify advises checking that the HS code and the country or region of origin match on the commercial invoice and on the order in your Shopify admin. ## How Uncap helps Uncap's guide to [mill test reports](/post/mill-test-reports-steel-distributors) covers a related document with an origin line: South Carolina DOT's reinforcing steel specification lists a domestic origin statement among what the mill test report must include. On Shopify, attaching the report for each heat on a delivery to that order, so the contractor and the inspector can pull it from order history, is built during implementation. ## Related terms - Commercial invoice - HTS code - Incoterms - Freight forwarder - Letter of credit ## Sources - International Trade Administration: Special Export Documents - International Trade Administration: Common Export Documents - eCFR: 19 CFR 182.12, Certification of origin ## Frequently asked questions ### Where can I get a Certificate of Origin? Generic certificates may be obtained from a commercial vendor, broker or freight forwarder, and electronic versions are available from customs brokers and freight forwarders. Free trade agreement certifications are self-certified; under USMCA, the importer, exporter or producer completes it. The International Trade Administration notes that CBP provides a sample template. ### Can I make my own Certificate of Origin? Often, yes. The International Trade Administration says that in many cases a statement of origin printed on company letterhead will suffice, though it also says a generic certificate needs to be certified by an outside entity, such as a local chamber of commerce. Free trade agreement certifications are self-certified, and for USMCA claims into the US the certification need not be in a prescribed format. ### How long is a certificate of origin valid? It depends on the agreement and the importing country. For USMCA claims into the US, a properly completed, signed and dated certification is valid for four years from the date it was completed, and a blanket certification covers identical goods for a period of up to 12 months.