Overview
The ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to South Sudan, which discharge at Juba (Dry Port via 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 deadline: Validated before the vessel reaches the port of discharge. 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
Required documents
Official ECTN Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and ECTN customs format of a validated South Sudan loading certificate:
Application process
- 1SubmitSend your Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, with the Freight Invoice if freight is not shown on the commercial invoice.
- 2Draft & invoiceWe prepare a draft certificate and a fixed-price invoice within 1 hour on average.
- 3ApproveYou review the draft and confirm every detail before anything is filed.
- 4PaymentThe fixed-price invoice is settled so the file can go forward for validation.
- 5ValidateThe certificate is validated and the final ECTN number is confirmed.
Timeline
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| Submit documents | Your action |
| Draft & invoice | 1 hour on average |
| Approve draft | Your action |
| Payment | Your action |
Special rules & HS codes
Rule 1
The ECTN 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
A pre-validated certificate has to be completed within its validity window or it is cancelled.
Rule 8
Country of Origin of the goods.
Official sources
Official South Sudan ECTN sources
The South Sudan ECTN is run by the South Sudan Revenue Authority on its own portal.
- South Sudan Revenue Authority: ECTN portal (ectnssra.com)
- ANTASER notices: 1 April 2019 launch and the 2022 customs circular
accessed
Top 3 causes of South Sudan ECTN problems
- The port of discharge (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam or Port Sudan) or the final destination in South Sudan is not stated.
- Commercial invoice is not stamped by the South Sudan Embassy or Chamber of Commerce where this is required.
- Parties, addresses, weights or values differ between the Bill of Lading, the invoice and the export declaration.
Specific questions: South Sudan
Who issues the South Sudan ECTN?
The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), on its ECTN portal ectnssra.com. Individuals and companies register on the portal, upload the documents, pay by prepayment or cash on delivery, and follow the application status online.
Do exports from South Sudan need an ECTN?
Yes. The SSRA describes the ECTN as mandatory for all cargo entering or exiting South Sudan, so outbound cargo needs one as well as imports.
My cargo for Juba is discharged at Port Sudan. Which certificates do I need?
Both the South Sudan ECTN and the Sudan ACD. The South Sudan ECTN follows the final destination, and Sudan’s ACD is required for cargo passing through Port Sudan in transit as well.
What is the penalty for shipping to South Sudan without an ECTN?
According to ANTASER’s notices, a 2022 customs circular set a penalty of USD 5,000 per infringement, on top of the delay and storage while the certificate is regularised.
Latest updates: South Sudan
South Sudan's Ministry of Trade and Commerce mandates Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) certificates for all imports and exports, effective April 1, 2019.
Frequently asked questions
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