Get Instant Quote
Comprehensive Guide

Niger BESC Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: August 4, 2026

The BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is required for sea shipments to Niger, discharging at Niamey (Dry Port via Cotonou). 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.

Start your certificateSee the country rules

Overview

The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Niger, which discharge at Niamey (Dry Port via Cotonou). 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. Cargo that only passes through on its way to a landlocked neighbour is treated as in-transit and still needs a certificate, so the routing has to be documented from the start.

Discharge ports

Niamey (Dry Port via Cotonou)

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.

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 BESC number is confirmed.

Timeline

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

Special rules & HS codes

Rule 1

The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be supplied in advance.

Rule 2

Final, dated MBL is required prior to validation.

Rule 3

Shipper, consignee and notify parties address must match between all documents.

Rule 4

Weight on export declaration must match the BL.

Rule 5

Statistical value on export declaration must match the commercial invoice.

Rule 6

Shipper owned containers must have the tare weight mentioned on the BL.

Rule 7

This number can be transmitted to the shipping line in order to obtain the required BL number. For validation of the BESC we need the final Bill of Lading.

Rule 8

A pre-validated certificate has to be completed within its validity window or it is cancelled.

Frequently asked questions

The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Niger, discharging at Niamey (Dry Port via Cotonou).

Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice and Freight Invoice.

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.

Yes. Cargo moving onward to a landlocked neighbour still needs a certificate, and the transit routing must be documented.

Ready to get your BESC?

Send your Bill of Lading and get your draft certificate today — fast, transparent, compliant.

✓ 30+ countries covered✓ Validated in hours✓ Expert compliance desk