What is a certificate of origin used for?

It documents where exported goods were manufactured, so the importer can clear customs at the right duty rate. For U.S. entries, the country of origin must be declared on the commercial invoice and entry anyway; a separate certificate is requested when origin affects the outcome — preference claims such as USMCA, anti-dumping scrutiny on transshipped goods, or the destination country's import rules. Many banks also require a CoO under letters of credit.

Does a certificate of origin need a chamber of commerce stamp?

It depends on the destination and who is asking. The U.S. does not require chamber certification — an exporter-signed certificate or USMCA certification is sufficient. But some destinations and letter-of-credit terms require a chamber-of-commerce-certified (sometimes embassy-legalized) CoO, common in parts of the Middle East and Latin America. Check the consignee's or bank's document requirements before booking.

Can I put the USMCA certification of origin on the commercial invoice?

Yes. USMCA has no mandatory format — the certification can live on the commercial invoice or any other document, as long as it contains the nine required data elements (19 CFR 182.12). Many shippers add a short certification block to the invoice with the blanket period and origin criteria per line.

Who can sign a USMCA certification of origin?

The exporter, the producer, or the importer — any of the three may certify (indicate which on the form). Whoever signs takes responsibility for proving the claim and must keep the supporting records for at least five years, because CBP or a trading partner can audit the certification.

Is a certificate of origin the same as title to the goods?

No. A certificate of origin says nothing about ownership, payment or title — it only attests where the goods were made. Ownership documents are the commercial invoice and transport documents (bill of lading / airway bill); the CoO travels alongside them in the shipment's document pouch.

Free Certificate of Origin Template

Updated 2026-10-30Invoice × Tariff editorial

A certificate of origin (CoO) states where exported goods were manufactured, so the importing country can apply the right duty treatment. The U.S. has no mandatory form: a general CoO is a simple exporter-signed statement, while a USMCA certification of origin must carry the nine data elements of 19 CFR 182.12. Download a blank template below, or fill one in online with your HS codes.

Certificate of origin generator — fill it in online

Instead of typing onto a PDF by hand, generate the certificate: the builder carries your HTS codes and country of origin per line, switches between a general CoO and the USMCA certification format, prints bilingual (English / 中文) paper, and exports a vector PDF — everything in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Open the certificate of origin generator →Free · no sign-up · works in any browser

Download the blank template

Free, no sign-up. The PDF carries both formats: page 1 is a general certificate of origin, page 2 the USMCA certification of origin with all nine data elements laid out — print and fill by hand, or type into any PDF editor.

PDF template.pdf · general + USMCA pages Excel template.xlsx · two sheets Word template.docx · editable

The online generator produces the same fields as fillable PDF — with HS-code lookup, autosave and a bilingual print layout the static templates don't have.

What a general certificate of origin contains

There is no single official form, but freight forwarders, banks and customs brokers expect the same field set. All of them are pre-labeled in the template:

1Exporter. Full legal name, address and contact details of the shipper.
2Consignee. Full legal name and address of the buyer or receiving party.
3Certificate number & date. Your own sequential numbering; the issue date of the certificate.
4Goods description. What the goods are, with enough detail to match the invoice — vague terms like “parts” or “samples” get rejected.
5HS / HTS code. At least the 6-digit HS code per line; U.S. entries use the 10-digit HTS for duty.
6Country of origin. Where each line was manufactured or last substantially transformed — not the ship-from country.
7Quantity, weight & packages. Quantity per line, plus total net/gross weight and the number and kind of packages.
8Ports & carrier. Port of loading, port of discharge and the vessel or flight carrying the goods.
9Declaration & signature. A statement that the information is true and correct, signed by the exporter.

USMCA certification of origin: the nine required data elements

To claim USMCA preference on Canada/Mexico → U.S. shipments (and U.S. → Canada/Mexico exports), the certification of origin must contain nine minimum data elements. USMCA prescribes no mandatory form — CBP publishes a suggested template — but every element below must be present (19 CFR 182.12):

1Certifier. Who is certifying: the exporter, producer, or importer — indicate which one (any of the three is allowed).
2Certifier's business details. Name, title, address, email and phone of the certifying party.
3Producer details. Name, address, email and phone of the producer — or the words “Available upon request”.
4Importer details. Name, address, email and phone of the importer if different from the certifier.
5Description & HS classification. Description of the good and the 6-digit HS classification to the chapter, heading and subheading level.
6Origin criterion. A (wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory), B (produced entirely from originating materials and meeting the product-specific rule), or C (motor vehicles by net-cost RVC).
7Blanket period. For a certification covering multiple shipments: a single period of up to 12 months. Single shipments can leave it out and state the dates on the invoice instead.
8Authorized signature. Signature of the certifier with name, title, company and date.
9Certification statement. The statement that the goods qualify as originating, the information is true and accurate, and the signer accepts responsibility and will keep the supporting documentation.

The generator's USMCA format lays these out in the CBP order: certifier, exporter, producer, importer, then the goods table (description, 6-digit HS, origin criterion per line), blanket period, authorized signature and the certification statement — filled from the same data as your invoice.

General CoO vs. USMCA certification — which one do you need?

	General certificate of origin	USMCA certification of origin
Purpose	States the origin for customs, banks and inspectors	Claims USMCA preferential duty treatment
Legal basis	No prescribed form — commercial practice	19 CFR 182.12 (nine data elements)
Who signs	Exporter (chamber stamp only if the destination asks)	Exporter, producer or importer — any one certifier
Goods detail	Description, HTS, origin, quantity, weights	Description, 6-digit HS, origin criterion per line
Covers	One shipment	One shipment or a blanket period up to 12 months
Record keeping	Follow the destination's rules	Certifier keeps support records ≥ 5 years, subject to verification

Country of origin: manufacture, not ship-from

The origin on a certificate of origin is where the goods were manufactured or last substantially transformed — not where they ship from, and not where they were bought. Chinese-made goods shipped via Vietnam stay Chinese-origin, and origin decides the duty layers on U.S. entry: the China Section 301 lists, the global Section 301 tiers and Section 232 all key off it. For mixed-origin shipments, fill the origin per line — the generator derives each line's country from the same origin field your invoice and tariff calculation use.

Frequently asked questions

What is a certificate of origin used for?: It documents where exported goods were manufactured, so the importer can clear customs at the right duty rate. For U.S. entries, the country of origin must be declared on the commercial invoice and entry anyway; a separate certificate is requested when origin affects the outcome — preference claims such as USMCA, anti-dumping scrutiny on transshipped goods, or the destination country's import rules. Many banks also require a CoO under letters of credit.
Does a certificate of origin need a chamber of commerce stamp?: It depends on the destination and who is asking. The U.S. does not require chamber certification — an exporter-signed certificate or USMCA certification is sufficient. But some destinations and letter-of-credit terms require a chamber-of-commerce-certified (sometimes embassy-legalized) CoO, common in parts of the Middle East and Latin America. Check the consignee's or bank's document requirements before booking.
Can I put the USMCA certification of origin on the commercial invoice?: Yes. USMCA has no mandatory format — the certification can live on the commercial invoice or any other document, as long as it contains the nine required data elements (19 CFR 182.12). Many shippers add a short certification block to the invoice with the blanket period and origin criteria per line.
Who can sign a USMCA certification of origin?: The exporter, the producer, or the importer — any of the three may certify (indicate which on the form). Whoever signs takes responsibility for proving the claim and must keep the supporting records for at least five years, because CBP or a trading partner can audit the certification.
Is a certificate of origin the same as title to the goods?: No. A certificate of origin says nothing about ownership, payment or title — it only attests where the goods were made. Ownership documents are the commercial invoice and transport documents (bill of lading / airway bill); the CoO travels alongside them in the shipment's document pouch.

Templates are provided free, without warranty. Not customs, tax or legal advice — origin determinations and preference claims remain the certifier's responsibility, and duty is finally determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at entry. See the disclaimer.