How to Get an ECTN (BESC) Certificate: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is a BESC/ECTN Certificate?

The BESC or ECTN certificate is a mandatory document for exporters and freight forwarders sending cargo to specific African nations. This certificate helps prevent cargo loss, smuggling, and tax evasion by providing detailed shipment information including origin, destination, and transit points.

Why is the BESC/ECTN Certificate Important?

Obtaining this certificate is crucial for:

• Ensuring compliance with destination country import regulations
• Facilitating faster customs clearance
• Avoiding penalties and delivery delays

Does your shipment need a BESC?

Before starting the application, confirm whether your shipment requires a BESC or ECTN certificate based on destination country regulations. Consult with your shipping agent for current requirements.

How to get an ECTN certificate, step by step

1. Find the name your destination uses

The ECTN is the same kind of document everywhere, but each country prints it under its own name. Use the name printed on the destination's certificate when you apply:

Name on the certificate	Destinations
BESC	Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger, Togo, Burundi, Guinea, Central African Republic, Liberia
BSC	Senegal, Ivory Coast, Madagascar
ECTN	Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia
Other names	CTN for Sierra Leone, CEE for Guinea-Bissau, SPN for Ghana, ARCCLA for Angola, BIETC for Gabon, FERI for DR Congo, ACD for Sudan and Kenya, ACID for Egypt

2. File for the final destination, not only the port

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Central African Republic and Burundi have no seaport. Their cargo is discharged in a coastal country and travels on by road. The certificate follows the final destination: cargo for Bamako discharged at Dakar still needs the Mali BESC. Tell the filer both the port of discharge and the final destination.

3. Check when the certificate is due

Each country anchors its deadline to a different moment, and that decides when you have to start:

• At loading: the Kenya ACD reference code is obtained at the point of loading and goes into the Goods Description of the Bill of Lading.
• Before the vessel arrives: the Mali BESC has to be validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge.

The safe rule everywhere is to open the file when the booking is confirmed. A draft Bill of Lading is usually enough to start.

4. Prepare the documents

The core set is the same almost everywhere: Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice (when freight is not on the invoice), export declaration and packing list. Some destinations add their own step:

• Angola: the importer's import licence, the D.U.
• Madagascar: both the shipper and the consignee must be registered on GasyNet's BSC system before a draft can be issued.
• Egypt: the importer registers the ACID number on NAFEZA and passes it to the exporter, who must be registered on CargoX.
• Kenya: the ACD is filed from the exporter's own KRA account; a forwarder files as a sub-user of that account.

5. Check the draft, then validate

Check the draft against the Bill of Lading and the invoice before it is validated: weights, package counts, HS codes, parties and the port of discharge. Corrections at draft stage are part of the normal process; many authorities charge for changes after validation.

6. Put the number where it is required

Some destinations want the certificate number on the Bill of Lading, others do not. Kenya requires the ACD code in the Goods Description; for Mali the authority does not require the BESC number on the Master Bill of Lading, although some carriers ask for it. Check with your carrier before the Bill of Lading is issued.

Questions about getting an ECTN

Can I get an ECTN after the vessel has sailed?

Sometimes, at a higher cost. Cameroon has a regularisation ECTN at its port desk, and a late online request stays pending until the penalty is paid. Mali refuses a customs declaration without a BESC at the border and sends the cargo back to the port to be regularised. Filing on time is always cheaper.

Do I need one ECTN per container?

One certificate covers one Bill of Lading, however many containers it lists. For LCL cargo some destinations need one filing per House Bill of Lading, as Kenya does.

Can I apply for an ECTN myself?

It depends on the destination. In Kenya the exporter files from its own account; in Burkina Faso only forwarders create the ECTN in the shippers' council's application. See who can file an ECTN, country by country.

Which documents do you need?

Collect the following documents and shipment details:

• Bill of Lading (BOL)
• Commercial Invoice
• Freight Invoice (if applicable)
• Export Customs Declaration
• Packing List

Ensure all documents are accurate and fully detailed to prevent application delays.

How do you submit the application?

Submit prepared documents to the expert team via online submission, which is efficient and environmentally friendly. Enter all information correctly to prevent processing delays.

How much does it cost?

Certificate costs vary by destination country and cargo volume, typically calculated on container count or gross weight. Payment methods include bank transfers and online platforms.

When do you receive the certificate?

After processing and payment, the authorized agent issues your certificate electronically. Print and present this document with your shipping materials upon arrival at the destination port.

Conclusion

Following these straightforward steps while carefully preparing documentation ensures smooth compliance with shipping regulations to African countries. Success depends on attention to detail and selecting an appropriate agent.