Certificate of Origin for Exports
A certificate of origin proves to your buyer’s customs that the goods were made in India. A preferential certificate gets your buyer a lower duty under a trade agreement; a non-preferential one just proves origin. We prepare the application and file it on DGFT’s common digital platform with the right issuing agency.
What it is
A certificate of origin (CoO) states the country where your goods were produced. It travels with the shipping papers. Your buyer’s customs uses it to decide the duty, and sometimes whether the goods may enter at all.
There are two kinds, as para 2.90(b) of the Handbook of Procedures 2023 sets out. A preferential CoO is issued under a free trade or preferential trade agreement, so your buyer can claim the lower duty that agreement offers. A non-preferential CoO certifies Indian origin, with no duty concession. Para 1.15 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 says both are issued on DGFT’s common digital platform as e-certificates, each carrying a unique UDIN and a QR code.
Who it applies to
Exporters to FTA partner countries
If you ship to a country that has a trade agreement with India, such as the UAE under CEPA or Australia under ECTA, your buyer needs a preferential CoO to claim the lower duty.
Exporters whose buyer or bank asks for it
Letters of credit and foreign customs often call for a non-preferential CoO, even with no concession at stake.
Traders re-exporting foreign goods
Goods that are not of Indian origin, shipped onward through re-export, trans-shipment or merchanting trade, can get a back-to-back non-preferential CoO.
Why it matters
Your buyer pays less duty
Under an FTA, the concession is claimed only against a valid preferential CoO. Without it, your buyer pays the full rate.
Payments under an LC clear
If the letter of credit lists a CoO and it is missing or wrong, the bank can treat it as a discrepancy and hold payment.
Goods clear at destination
Foreign customs can check the UDIN and QR code on an e-CoO instead of chasing paper.
Documents required
To register on the platform
- Import Export Code (IEC), updated for the year
- Digital signature certificate (DSC) of the authorised signatory
- Email ID and mobile number linked to the IEC
For a non-preferential CoO
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Shipping bill and bill of lading or airway bill, where the agency asks
For a preferential CoO
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of each product
- Working that shows the goods meet the agreement’s rules of origin, such as input costs and their source
Preferential vs non-preferential CoO
| Preferential CoO | Non-preferential CoO | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Lower duty for your buyer under an FTA/PTA | Proof of Indian origin only |
| Who issues | Agencies designated in Appendix 2B | Agencies listed in Appendix 2E, such as chambers of commerce, FIEO and the export promotion councils that issue an RCMC |
| Origin test | The rules of origin of that agreement | Indian origin under HBP para 2.93(a); imported inputs must undergo more than simple operations |
| Government fee | As charged by the issuing agency | ₹200 per certificate |
| Where to apply | DGFT common digital platform for e-CoO | |
Here is the catch with non-preferential origin: a Faridabad trader that imports finished goods and only repacks them is unlikely to pass the test in para 2.93(a). If the goods were made abroad, the back-to-back route is the honest answer. Separately, manufacturers who are Status Holders can join the Approved Exporter Scheme (para 2.62 of FTP 2023) and self-certify origin for preferential benefits.
How it works
Check which certificate the buyer needs
We read the buyer’s order, the LC and India’s agreement with the destination country. Then we confirm which certificate you need.
Test the goods against the origin rules
Take a Faridabad auto-parts maker shipping to Dubai that uses imported steel. We map its inputs and HS codes against the CEPA rules of origin before claiming, so the claim holds up if UAE customs verifies it.
Register on the e-CoO platform
We register your IEC on DGFT’s platform with your DSC. No IEC yet? We handle your IEC registration first.
File the application with the right agency
We enter the exporter, consignee, product and HS details, upload the invoice and packing list, sign with your DSC and pay the fee.
Download and share the e-CoO
The approved certificate carries its UDIN and QR code. We send it to you for the shipping file and the buyer.
Timelines
Apply when shipping papers are final
The CoO is built on the commercial invoice and packing list, so we apply as soon as those are fixed for the consignment.
Before your buyer claims the concession
In practice, your buyer needs the preferential CoO when their customs assesses the goods. So we file early enough for it to be ready before the goods land.
IEC update every year, April to June
Para 2.06 of FTP 2023 requires the IEC to be updated every year between April and June. An IEC that is not updated is deactivated, which blocks new applications.
What happens if the certificate is missing or wrong
Your buyer pays full duty
Without a valid preferential CoO, the FTA concession is lost on that consignment and the price advantage goes with it.
The bank can hold payment
If the LC calls for a CoO and the document is missing or does not match the invoice, the bank can flag a discrepancy.
A wrong origin claim gets questioned
Importing countries can verify preferential claims. A certificate that does not meet the rules of origin can lead to the concession being denied.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of origin in export?
A certificate of origin is an official document that states the goods were produced in India. It is issued as an e-certificate on DGFT’s common digital platform, with a UDIN and a QR code, under para 1.15 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Your buyer’s customs uses it to apply the right duty and origin checks. We handle the filing, so the certificate is ready with your shipping papers.
What is the difference between preferential and non-preferential CoO?
A preferential CoO lets your buyer claim a lower duty under a trade agreement; a non-preferential CoO only proves Indian origin. Para 2.90(b) of the Handbook of Procedures 2023 recognises both. Preferential certificates follow each agreement’s rules of origin and are issued by agencies in Appendix 2B. Non-preferential certificates are issued by agencies in Appendix 2E. We confirm which one your shipment needs before filing.
Who issues a certificate of origin in India?
Designated agencies issue it, through DGFT’s e-CoO platform. Preferential certificates come from the agencies designated in Appendix 2B. Non-preferential certificates come from agencies listed in Appendix 2E, which include chambers of commerce, export promotion councils and FIEO. You choose the agency in the online application. We pick the agency that fits your product and location, and handle any query it raises.
What is the fee for a non-preferential certificate of origin?
The fee is ₹200 per certificate. Public Notice 43/2024-25 dated 27 January 2025 amended para 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures to fix this fee, which also covers attestation of any additional documents. It is paid online when you submit the application. Preferential certificate fees are set by the issuing agency. Either way, we tell you the exact government fee before we file.
Do I need to submit a bill of materials for a non-preferential CoO?
No. After Public Notice 43/2024-25 of 27 January 2025, exporters are not obliged to furnish a bill of materials to claim Indian origin for a non-preferential CoO. A copy of the invoice and the packing list uploaded with the online application is enough. The agency still checks that the goods meet the origin criteria in para 2.93(a). We keep your input records ready in case it asks.
Can an issued certificate of origin be corrected?
Yes. Para 2.93(d) of the Handbook of Procedures, as amended in January 2025, allows an in-lieu certificate: you request a correction to an existing e-certificate online. This helps when the invoice number, consignee or quantity changes after issue. Raise the request as soon as you spot the error, before the buyer presents the document. We file the correction for you and send the fresh certificate.
Can I get a CoO for goods that were not made in India?
Yes, a back-to-back non-preferential certificate of origin. New para 2.93(f), added by Public Notice 43/2024-25, allows it for goods not of Indian origin that are re-exported, trans-shipped or sold under merchanting trade. It certifies the goods’ actual origin, not Indian origin. Tell us how the goods move and we will choose the right certificate.
Do I need an IEC to apply for a certificate of origin?
Yes. You register on DGFT’s e-CoO platform with your Import Export Code and a digital signature. Para 2.06 of FTP 2023 also requires the IEC to be updated every year between April and June; an IEC that is not updated is deactivated. If you do not have an IEC yet, we get it first, and the CoO application follows straight after.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The government fee for a non-preferential certificate of origin is ₹200 per certificate, including attestation of any additional documents, under para 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures as amended by Public Notice 43/2024-25. Preferential certificate fees are charged by the designated issuing agency.
Ready to begin?
Share the invoice, packing list and destination country, and we will tell you which certificate your buyer needs and file it.