Congo ECTN
ECTN is a mandatory document for all ports in the Republic of the Congo
We also have many exporters regularly obtaining CTN and ECTN for the Republic of Congo from us. Our exceptional team is ready to support exporters and freight forwarders in 
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We’ve provided the CTN certificate for over 20 countries to clients worldwide since 2005.
What is ECTN?
ECTN is a mandatory loading document for all shipments to the Republic of the Congo. It is also known as BSC. It is required for Djeno, N’kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo or any other port.
It was determined as a regulation in 2008 by the Republic of the Congo Customs Officials. Failing to present the ECTN document will lead to severe consequences and a hefty fine.
Procedure
According to this law, every cargo purchased from abroad and transported for commercial, business, in some cases, diplomatic and personal purposes require a Loading Certificate called ECTN – Electronic Cargo Tracking Note.
The shipper or the freight forwarder is responsible for acquiring the ECTN waiver certificate from the authorized representative.
- Bill of Lading: A draft copy can be used for the draft.
- Commercial Invoice – Incoterm and the values have to match with TI document
- Freight Invoice: It is necessary if the freight cost isn’t on the commercial invoice.
- GUOT Document – Values must be the same as the commercial and freight invoices.
According to Republic of the Congo Customs regulations, all cargo to the Republic of the Congo must be accompanied by an ECTN certificate.
The ECTN must be validated before the 5th day after the departure at the latest. The certificate cost will be 50% higher if the certificate is not validated by the given period.
Shipments that arrive without ECTN or with false information on the ECTN get a fine equivalent to the value of the certificate plus the regulation charge determined by the Republic of the Congo National Port Officials.
FAQs related to the Republic of Congo ECTN Certificate
TI is a part of the GUOT document, which acts as an Import declaration in the Republic of Congo. The TI is required as a supporting document to apply for ECTN.
URN number is a reference number of the Rep. of Congo ECTN certificate. It can be found on the validated ECTN certificate.
Yes, you can apply for the Republic of Congo ECTN certificate after the departure. However, please note that authorities imposed a penalty on top of certificate charges if the certificate is not validated within 5 days of the onboard date. The fine is 50% of the original certificate cost.
Yes, they are two different countries, and their system is different.
The URN number on the ECTN Congo certificate is provided as ‘Visum Reference No’. The URN usually consist of a mixture of numbers and letters and begins with an exporter country code. The position of this number on Congo ECTN is in the top-right corner.
Republic of the Congo ECTN Sample
There are two GUOT documents DI (Douane d’importation) and TI (Transport d’importation). The Importer in Rep Congo has to issue both certificates.
For the ECTN certificate, Only TI (Transport d’importation) has to be declared by the applicant.
Goods value and freight value has to be the same on GUOT document and the invoice.
No, ECTN is unique and reserved only for one shipment. Every shipment must have a validated ECTN number.
No. The Equatorial Guinea ECTN certificate number is not required to show on the Bill of Lading.
A shipment going to Chad as a final destination in transit through Cameroon only needs to be accompanied by an ECTN certificate for Chad.
Yes, all shipments including personal effects, NGO shipments, and Diplomat household goods must obtain an ECTN certificate.
Yes, you can apply for the Republic of Congo ECTN certificate after the departure. However, please note that authorities imposed a penalty on top of certificate charges if the certificate is not validated within 5 days of the on-board date. The fine is 50% of the original certificate cost.
No. The values and Incoterm on CI and TI documents must match for the ECTN certificate to be validated. You may prefer to change the Invoice according to the TI document. Because Amending TI is much more cumbersome.
General FAQs
GetCTN is an independent consulting firm that helps clients obtain CTN certificates in many African countries. It is an international company with offices in the USA, UK, and UAE, and its sole business is CTN certification; it is not a freight forwarder, importer, or exporter.
The hard copy of the certificate isn’t necessary at all. Instead, the whole process is completed online.
A bill of lading (BL or BoL) is a legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper that details the type, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried.
A commercial invoice is a required document for the export and import clearance process. It is sometimes used for foreign exchange purposes. In the buyer’s country, it is the document their customs officials use to assess import duties and taxes.