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Comprehensive Guide

Togo BESC Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: August 4, 2026

The BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is required for sea shipments to Togo, discharging at Lome. 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 Togo, which discharge at Lome. 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: Final B/L within 5 days of pre-validation. 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

Lome

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 BESC Document Sample

Verify the layout, stamps, and BESC customs format of a validated Togo loading certificate:

Official Togo BESC 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 BESC number is confirmed.

Timeline

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

Special rules & HS codes

Rule 1

Each BESC covers at most 5 containers; a larger shipment needs a second certificate.

Rule 2

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

Rule 3

Final, dated MBL is required prior to validation.

Rule 4

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

Rule 5

Weight on export declaration must match the BL.

Rule 6

Statistical value on export declaration must match the commercial invoice.

Rule 7

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

Rule 8

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

Official sources

Togo BESC sources

The Togo BESC is managed by the Conseil National des Chargeurs Togolais (CNCT).

accessed

Top 2 causes of BESC rejection in Togo

  • The statistical value on the export declaration does not match the FOB value on the commercial invoice.
  • The weight on the Bill of Lading does not match the weight on the export customs declaration.

Case study: BESC Case Study: Managing a Split Bill of Lading for a Shipment to Lomé, Togo

Specific questions: Togo

Who manages the Togo BESC?

The Conseil National des Chargeurs Togolais (CNCT) manages the Togo BESC. According to InterCom Togo, the Togo BESC certificate has been mandatory since 1 August 2015 and is issued for the State by Antaser Afrique through its STED Togo platform.

Is the Togo BESC certificate the same as the Togo ECTN?

Yes. Togo BESC, Togo BESC certificate, Togo ECTN and Togo CTN all mean the BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) for cargo imported through Lomé.

Frequently asked questions

The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the electronic cargo tracking note required for sea shipments to Togo, discharging at Lome.

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

Final B/L within 5 days of pre-validation.

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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