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Comprehensive Guide

Kenya ACD Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: August 4, 2026

The ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is required for sea shipments to Kenya, discharging at Mombasa. This guide covers the documents you need, how the filing runs, and the country-specific rules that decide whether the certificate validates on the first attempt.

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Overview

The ACD — Advance Cargo Declaration — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Kenya, which discharge at Mombasa. It ties the shipper, consignee, cargo and freight values on your Bill of Lading to a single reference that customs can reconcile before the cargo is worked. Filing deadlines differ by destination — some require the certificate before the vessel sails, others later — so we confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed.

Discharge ports

Mombasa

Required documents

Bill of Lading
Draft or final; weights, seals and discharge port must match the cargo.
Commercial Invoice
Goods and declared values as shipped.
Freight Invoice
Required when freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.
Export Customs Declaration

Application process

  1. 1
    Submit
    Send your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, with the Freight Invoice if freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.
  2. 2
    Draft & invoice
    We prepare a draft certificate and a fixed-price invoice within 3–6 hours.
  3. 3
    Approve
    You review the draft and confirm every detail before anything is filed.
  4. 4
    Payment
    The fixed-price invoice is settled so the file can go forward for validation.
  5. 5
    Validate
    The certificate is validated and the final ACD number is confirmed.

Timeline

StepDuration
Submit documentsYour action
Draft & invoice3–6 hours
Approve draftYour action
PaymentYour action

Special rules & HS codes

Rule 1

In Transit: Kenya does requires the ACD if the shipment is in transit to a neighboring country.

Frequently asked questions

The ACD — Advance Cargo Declaration — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Kenya, discharging at Mombasa.

Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice and Export Customs Declaration.

Filing deadlines differ by destination — some require the certificate before the vessel sails, others later. We confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed.

A draft certificate and a fixed-price invoice come back within 3–6 hours of receiving your documents.

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