What is Angola CNCA?
CNCA (Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola) is a mandatory loading certificate for all sea shipments to Angolan ports, including Luanda and Lobito. Commissioned by ARCCLA (Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Cargas e Logística de Angola) under regulations dating back to 1994 (Decree No. 19/94), it serves as a critical pre-clearance document. Failing to present the validated CNCA document at the destination port results in the cargo being blocked from delivery and heavy penalties.
Official CNCA Validation Procedure
According to the customs regulations of Angola, every cargo shipment purchased from abroad and transported for commercial, business, diplomatic, or personal purposes requires a validated Loading Certificate:
- ▪The exporter or freight forwarder is responsible for obtaining the CNCA waiver before shipping.
- ▪A Documento Unico (DU) / Import License is compulsory for all CNCA applications since 2015. The DU must be valid (standard validity is 60 days from issuance).
- ▪The DU is not required only for temporary shipments (under Temporary Regime) or when the total FOB value of the cargo is below $5,000 USD.
- ▪For temporary shipments, the exporter must provide an official declaration letter confirming the temporary export/shipment status.
- ▪All vehicle shipments (new or used) require a vehicle authorization letter issued by the relevant Angolan transport authority. Age limits apply: light vehicles must not exceed 5 years, and heavy-duty vehicles must not exceed 8 years.
Waiver Regulations & Q&A
What is the difference between CNCA, CNC, and ARC Number?
They refer to the exact same document. CNCA stands for Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola, which is the official Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) required for imports.
What is the DU Document / Documento Unico?
The DU is the official import license required by the Angolan Ministry of Commerce. It is mandatory for customs clearance and must be uploaded with your CNCA waiver application.
Do I need the original hard copy of the CNCA certificate at the port?
Yes. Angola is unique in requiring the importer to present the original hard copy of the validated CNCA certificate to release the cargo. While other countries accept electronic copies, you must courier the original certificate to your importer in Angola.
Must the CNCA number be declared on the Bill of Lading?
No, customs regulations do not require the CNCA certificate number to be annotated on the face of the Bill of Lading (BL).
Are there penalties for cargo arriving without a CNCA?
Yes. Shipments arriving without a validated CNCA or with false declarations are subject to customs penalties of twice the certificate cost plus standard regulatory fines.
4. Mandatory Document Specifications
- Timing: The CNCA validation process must be initiated as soon as the BL is obtained.
- LCL Applications: House BL (HBL) requires Master BL (MBL) submission if requested.
- Copy Policy: One CNCA certificate is issued per BL.
- CNCA Numbers: The draft CNCA number is provided with the draft; the final validated CNCA number accompanies the final validated certificate.
- Consignee: Must be issued directly to the final consignee in Angola.
- Incoterm: Must clearly state the chosen Incoterm.
- Value Breakdown: CFR shipments require distinct FOB and Freight value breakdowns.
- DU Alignment: Total Commercial Invoice value must match the Documento Único (DU) value.
- Conditional: Required if the freight value is not indicated in the Commercial Invoice.
- Currency: Accepted in EUR or USD. Other currencies are subject to official conversion.
- Consistency: The DU value must match the Commercial Invoice value.
- Exemptions: DU is exempted for temporary shipments OR commercial invoice value below 5,000 USD.
- Discrepancy: A maximum 5% discrepancy tolerance is accepted between the Commercial Invoice and the DU values.
5. Prior Authorization HS Codes
Shipments are subject to Prior Authorization from the relevant Angolan transport authority if the Documento Único (DU) lists any of the following HS codes:
| HS Code | Regulation Details & Vehicle Categories |
|---|---|
| 8408.20 | Compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel/semi-diesel engines) for vehicles. |
| 8701 | Tractors (excluding tractors of heading 8709). |
| 8702 | Motor vehicles for transport of 10 or more persons, including the driver (e.g. buses). |
| 8703 | Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for transport of persons (e.g. passenger cars). |
| 8704 | Motor vehicles for the transport of goods (e.g. trucks, lorries). |
| 8705 | Special purpose motor vehicles (e.g. crane trucks, fire trucks, concrete mixers, road sweepers). |
| 8706.00 | Chassis fitted with engines, for the motor vehicles of headings 87.01 to 87.05. |
| 8707 | Bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles of headings 87.01 to 87.05. |
| 8708.40 | Parts/accessories for motor vehicles of 8701 to 8705: Gearboxes and parts. |
| 8708.94 | Parts/accessories for motor vehicles of 8701 to 8705: Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes. |
| 8708.80 | Parts/accessories for motor vehicles of 8701 to 8705: Suspension systems and parts thereof (including shock absorbers). |
| 8708.50 | Parts/accessories for motor vehicles of 8701 to 8705: Drive-axles with differential, whether or not with other transmission components. |
6. Prohibited Import HS Codes
Items classified under the following HS codes are strictly prohibited from import into Angola:
7. Critical Compliance Notes
- Application Process: Initiating the certification requires completing a registration form. Access the official form link to self-file, or delegate it to our validation team for a standard compliance service fee.
- Amendments Policy: Once a certificate is validated, any amendments to the registered CNCA will incur an amendment fee.
- Non-Containerized Cargo: RORO, bulk, or general cargo shipments are calculated on case-by-case rates. Contact our support team directly.
- LCL MBL Consolidations: For LCL applications under a Master BL, a separate CNCA must be issued for each House BL (HBL) and Master BL (MBL) combination.