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Comprehensive Guide

Republic of Congo ECTN Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: August 4, 2026

The ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is required for sea shipments to Republic of Congo, discharging at Pointe-Noire. 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 ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Republic of Congo, which discharge at Pointe-Noire. 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

Pointe-Noire

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

Official ECTN Document Sample

Verify the layout, stamps, and ECTN customs format of a validated Republic of Congo loading certificate:

Official Republic of Congo ECTN sample document
Sample Draft

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 1 hour on average.
  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 ECTN number is confirmed.

Timeline

StepDuration
Submit documentsYour action
Draft & invoice1 hour on average
Approve draftYour action
PaymentYour action

Special rules & HS codes

Rule 1

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

Rule 2

The customs declaration requirement does not apply for shipments loading in the USA.

Rule 3

It is not possible to create an ECTN number for Congo on forehand.

Rule 4

Printing the ECTN number on the Master Bill of Lading is not required by the authority, but individual carriers may ask for it.

Rule 5

The costs for an ECTN will increase by 50% in case a validation is requested beyond three (3) calendar days after departure of the vessel.

Official sources

Official Republic of Congo ECTN sources

The certificate is issued for the Conseil Congolais des Chargeurs (CCC) in Pointe-Noire.

accessed

Top 3 causes of Republic of Congo ECTN rejection

  • ECTN number is not displayed on the Bill of Lading.
  • Vessel departure date is more than 5 days prior to validation request.
  • Commercial invoice value has a discrepancy with the Freight invoice.

Specific questions: Republic of Congo

What is the difference between the Republic of Congo and DR Congo?

They are neighbouring but separate countries. Cargo for the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) through Pointe-Noire needs the Republic of Congo ECTN; cargo for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) through Matadi or Boma needs the FERI. The port of discharge on the Bill of Lading shows which one applies.

What is the NVU (URN) number for the Republic of Congo?

Once the certificate is validated it receives a unique visa number, the Numéro de Visa Unique (NVU), also called the URN. Printing it on the Master Bill of Lading is not required by the authority, but it is a carrier requirement: CMA CGM, for example, requires the NVU on the Bill of Lading. Check with your carrier before the Bill of Lading is issued.

Is the Republic of Congo ECTN the same as the BESC?

Yes. The Conseil Congolais des Chargeurs (CCC) calls the import certificate the BESC IMPORT (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons, destination Congo); the issued document is printed as the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (e-CTN). It is one certificate. The CCC also issues a separate BESC EXPORT for cargo leaving Congo.

Is the Republic of Congo ECTN valid for DR Congo?

No. DR Congo issues its own certificate, the FERI. A Republic of Congo ECTN covers cargo discharged at Pointe-Noire only.

Latest updates: Republic of Congo

Frequently asked questions

The ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Republic of Congo, discharging at Pointe-Noire.

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 1 hour on average of receiving your documents.

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

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