What is the Angola ARCCLA certificate (Angola ECTN)?
The ARCCLA certificate (formerly CNCA, Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola), also searched as the Angola ECTN, is a mandatory loading certificate for all sea shipments to Angolan ports, including Luanda and Lobito. Issued by ARCCLA (Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga 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 ARCCLA document at the destination port results in the cargo being blocked from delivery and heavy penalties.
New to the ARCCLA? Read what the ARCCLA is, and CTN meaning in shipping for the cargo tracking note that 30 African and Middle East destinations ask for in one form or another.
Other names for the Angola ARCCLA
One instrument, several names. For Angola the filing is the ARCCLA — Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga e Logística. The same certificate is also referred to as CNCA (Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola, the former name), ARCCLA certificate, ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), and cargo tracking note, and a request for one is a request for the other. If your importer or your carrier has asked for a name that is not on this page, send it to us with the Bill of Lading and we will confirm which filing they mean.
Which ports need the Angola ARCCLA?
The requirement follows the final destination. For Angola the port of discharge is Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda. Tell us the final destination when you send the Bill of Lading: if the cargo continues by road to another country, that country’s own certificate rules may apply as well.
Official Angola ARCCLA sources
ARCCLA, the Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga e Logística de Angola, regulates cargo certification for Angola. Its new portal was under construction when we checked.
- ARCCLA official portal: arccla.gov.ao
- GAC Hot Port News: mandatory ARCCLA registration (ARCCLA circular 003/2022, 1 March 2022)
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When must the Angola ARCCLA be issued?
For Angola the ARCCLA has to be validated before the vessel arrives at the port of discharge. Filing as soon as the booking is confirmed is safe, and a draft Bill of Lading is enough to open the file; we confirm the exact cut-off against your Bill of Lading before anything is filed.
Who files the Angola ARCCLA?
The shipper, the exporter, or the freight forwarder acting for them — the party at origin that holds the Bill of Lading and the commercial invoice. The consignee usually cannot fix a missing certificate from the destination side once the vessel has sailed. Where the sales terms put the cost on the buyer, that settles who pays; it does not move the obligation to file.
How to get the Angola ARCCLA, step by step
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 ARCCLA waiver before shipping.
- ▪A Documento Unico (DU) / Import License is compulsory for all ARCCLA 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.
Angola ARCCLA: validity and amendments
A validated ARCCLA is issued against one shipment: one Bill of Lading, one vessel, one voyage, one consignee. It does not carry over to your next shipment and it carries no renewal date. If the shipment changes, the certificate has to change with it — and what can be amended after validation, and at what cost, is set by the destination authority. Corrections to the draft before filing cost nothing, which is why we send you the draft first.
What happens without a valid Angola ARCCLA?
Cargo arriving without a validated ARCCLA is generally not released at Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda: customs clearance delays, storage and demurrage accruing daily, and regulatory fines until a valid certificate is presented. The demurrage is often the larger of the two numbers, and it is the one that grows while the paperwork is corrected.
What the Angola ARCCLA costs
Two lines, quoted separately. The first is the statutory charge the destination authority sets for registering the certificate — it belongs to the authority, not to us, and it varies by destination and shipment profile. The second is our service fee for preparing the file, checking it against the published requirements, filing it and handling any query. Neither is a percentage of your cargo value. Both are fixed and shown before anything is filed, so the invoice you approve is the invoice you pay. How ECTN charges are calculated.
Angola ARCCLA: latest notices and articles
- Angola Independence Day 2026 · 2026-11-11
- How to Export from Spain to Angola · 2026-02-24
- New ECTN Guidelines for Vehicle Components to Angola · 2026-02-24
- What is ARCCLA? · 2026-02-24
Is the Angola ARCCLA Mandatory?
Yes. The ARCCLA is mandatory for all sea shipments to Angola. It is the document searches call the Angola ECTN or, under its former name, the CNCA. It must be issued and validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge at Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda.
A loaded container proves nothing here. Under ARCCLA circular 003/2022 a shipowner must not refuse Angola cargo that has no certificate, but it must report that cargo to ARCCLA, and the obligation to obtain the certificate stays with the shipper.
How Long Does the Angola ARCCLA Take?
The Bill of Lading starts the clock: ARCCLA validation is opened as soon as the BL is obtained, and a draft BL is enough. The ARCCLA registration form comes next, then the draft with its draft ARCCLA number, then the final validated certificate with the final number. That order has to finish before the vessel reaches Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda.
Three things hold it up. The DU comes from the buyer in Angola, and its value has to agree with the invoice. Vehicles and the listed engine and parts codes wait for Prior Authorization from the Angolan transport authority. The importer also needs the original hard copy of the ARCCLA to release the cargo, so the courier to Angola is a step of its own.
Port of Discharge and Onward Transit for Angola Cargo
An Angola Bill of Lading names Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda as the port of discharge, and that port has to match the cargo. One ARCCLA certificate is issued per BL, so a change of Angolan port is a change to the file behind that certificate. The ARCCLA number, by contrast, does not have to be annotated on the face of the BL.
If cargo leaves Angola by road for another country, that country’s own certificate rules may apply as well. Send the final destination with the BL so we can check it before the ARCCLA is filed.
Shipping to Angola from Turkey
The shipper or freight forwarder in Turkey starts the ARCCLA application, so ask the buyer in Angola for the DU before loading and check that it is still inside its standard 60 days from issuance.
Issue the commercial invoice directly to the final consignee in Angola and state the Incoterm. CFR shipments need separate FOB and freight values. EUR and USD are accepted; other currencies go through official conversion. The invoice total must match the DU value, with a maximum 5% discrepancy accepted between the two.
For LCL cargo under a Master BL, a separate ARCCLA is issued for each House BL and Master BL combination, and the Master BL may be requested with the House BL.
Why File Through GetCTN
The ARCCLA form can be self-filed, or delegated to our validation team for a service fee. A draft BL is enough for us to open an Angola file, and we confirm the cut-off for Luanda, Lobito or Cabinda against that BL before filing. We compare the DU and invoice values against the 5% tolerance, because a DU that has expired or does not match is the first rejection cause on this page. You see the draft ARCCLA first: draft corrections cost nothing, while any amendment to a validated ARCCLA incurs a fee. GetCTN is an independent authorized agent and is not part of ARCCLA.
Which Angola Cargo Does Not Need a DU?
Every ARCCLA application has required a Documento Único since 2015, with two exceptions: shipments under the Temporary Regime, and cargo below USD 5,000. For a temporary shipment, the exporter provides an official declaration letter confirming the temporary status.
All other Angola cargo needs a DU that is valid when the application is made. Check the issue date before you book: an expired DU is a listed ARCCLA rejection cause.
Do Vehicle Parts to Angola Need Prior Authorization?
Yes, for the listed HS codes. If the DU shows gearboxes (8708.40), steering parts (8708.94), suspension (8708.80), drive-axles with differential (8708.50), chassis fitted with engines (8706.00), vehicle bodies (8707) or vehicle diesel engines (8408.20), Prior Authorization from the relevant Angolan transport authority is required. Check those codes before the DU is issued.
Complete vehicles, new or used, need a vehicle authorization letter issued by that authority, and age limits apply: light vehicles must not exceed 5 years, heavy-duty vehicles 8 years. RoRo, bulk and general cargo for Angola are priced case by case.
Angola ARCCLA questions
What is the difference between ARCCLA, CNC, and ARC Number?
They refer to the same Angola loading certificate. CNCA (Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola) is the former name; the certificate is now issued by ARCCLA (Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga e Logística de Angola).
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 ARCCLA waiver application.
Do I need the original hard copy of the ARCCLA certificate at the port?
Yes. Angola is unique in requiring the importer to present the original hard copy of the validated ARCCLA certificate to release the cargo. While other countries accept electronic copies, you must courier the original certificate to your importer in Angola.
Must the ARCCLA number be declared on the Bill of Lading?
No, customs regulations do not require the ARCCLA certificate number to be annotated on the face of the Bill of Lading (BL).
Are there penalties for cargo arriving without a ARCCLA?
Yes. Shipments arriving without a validated ARCCLA or with false declarations are subject to customs penalties of twice the certificate cost plus standard regulatory fines.
What does ARCCLA circular 003/2022 require?
Shipowners and transport operators trading to Angola must register with ARCCLA and make sure cargo loaded for Angola travels with its loading certificate. If the certificate is missing they must not refuse to load the cargo, but they must report it to ARCCLA. The obligation to obtain the certificate stays with the shipper.
Is the CNCA certificate the same as the ARCCLA certificate?
Yes. CNCA (Conselho Nacional de Carregadores de Angola) is the former name; the certificate is now issued by ARCCLA (Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga e Logística de Angola). It is unrelated to China’s CNCA.
4. Mandatory Document Specifications
- Timing: The ARCCLA 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 ARCCLA certificate is issued per BL.
- ARCCLA Numbers: The draft ARCCLA number is provided with the draft; the final validated ARCCLA 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 ARCCLA 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 ARCCLA must be issued for each House BL (HBL) and Master BL (MBL) combination.