Certificate of origin
template & guide.
Organize shipment facts for an origin document before requesting any required certification. This guide and marked PDF show a draft layout, with the exporter’s declaration and certification steps kept separate.
Create origin draft free ↗What this document is for
An origin document identifies the claimed country of origin of goods. A buyer or destination authority may require a particular format or certification process. Tradocket prepares a draft from information you enter; it does not establish origin, issue a chamber certificate, obtain a stamp or certify a shipment.
Fields to review
- Exporter and consignee
- Use full party names and addresses matching the actual shipment. Review the applicant or producer details requested by the receiving party.
- Document date and invoice reference
- Link the draft to the relevant invoice and goods. A draft reference generated by software is not an official issuing-body certificate number.
- Country of origin and supporting evidence
- Confirm the origin of each product from production and other applicable evidence. The country of dispatch, exporter address and country of manufacture are not automatically interchangeable.
- Goods, product codes and HS references
- Describe the goods clearly enough to identify them against the invoice. Any HS codes in an example are illustrative and must be checked separately.
- Marks, packages and gross weight
- Keep package descriptions and shipping marks consistent with the packing list. State the measurement unit and separate product quantity from package count.
- Declaration, signature and certification
- The responsible person must review any declaration before signing. If chamber or other certification is required, obtain it through the appropriate process outside Tradocket.
A worked example
| Goods | Shipping marks | Packages | Gross weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB-500 — stainless steel bottle, 500 ml | HSC / 1–12 | 12 cartons | 240 kg |
| HB-TOTE — cotton canvas tote | HSC / 13–20 | 8 cartons | 156 kg |
| Shipment total | 20 cartons | 396 kg | |
The worked PDF records a fictional exporter claim of United States origin and invoice INV-2026-001. No origin analysis, official signature or chamber certification is supplied. Replace every sample detail with verified shipment information.
Download a worked PDF example
Free download; no signup or payment. All parties and figures are illustrative. This is a static layout example, not an editable form, official certificate or proof of origin. The PDF uses a separate illustrative shipment from any small calculation above.
About the sample
The downloadable PDF is an illustrative layout for review. Figures and party names are fictional. It is not an editable form, proof of payment, or official certification.
How to prepare it in Tradocket
- Ask the buyer, forwarder or receiving authority which origin document and certification process they require. A generic draft may not satisfy their requirements.
- Select Certificate of Origin in the workspace, enter the shipment parties, goods, origin and invoice reference, then check against your evidence and packing list.
- Save a PDF for review. Arrange the required declaration, authorized signature and any issuing-body certification separately before presenting a final document.
The free trial works in your browser. You can edit shared shipment data, review the live preview and use your browser’s print dialog to save a PDF. Save a JSON backup before changing computers or clearing browser data.
Before you send it
A general certificate of origin is different from a USMCA certification used to support a preference claim. USMCA has its own origin rules and minimum data requirements. Selecting a country or printing a form does not establish eligibility for lower duties.
Check destination and transaction requirements with your buyer or freight forwarder. For an official overview of document purposes, see Common Export Documents from the U.S. International Trade Administration.
Common certificate of origin draft checks
- Treating the draft as a certified original
- Tradocket prepares a draft from the data you enter. Chamber stamps, notarization or other external certification are separate steps when required.
- Assuming country of dispatch equals country of origin
- Origin depends on production and applicable rules. Confirm origin from your evidence before signing any declaration.
- Using a USMCA preference claim on a generic form
- USMCA has its own certification data set. A general certificate of origin draft is not a USMCA preference claim.
Certificate of origin draft questions
Is this an official certificate of origin?
No. It is a draft template for organizing shipment facts. It may need external certification (for example a chamber) depending on the buyer or destination.
Does Tradocket certify origin or issue a stamp?
No. Select the document type your counterpart requires, fill the draft, then arrange any required signature and certification outside Tradocket.
Can I open the origin draft from this guide?
Yes. Use Create origin draft free to open /?document=origin#workspace after the workspace loads.
Prepare your certificate of origin draft
Online access is currently free for a limited time, with unlimited shipment sets. Drafts stay in this browser; export JSON backups regularly. The Windows offline edition is sold separately.
Related documents and tools
Check the commercial invoice and packing list alongside the origin draft. See the official U.S. export-document overview and USMCA resources before deciding which process applies.
Further reading: International Trade Administration: common export documents; ITA: USMCA overview. Requirements vary by transaction and destination.
Prefer to prepare documents offline?
The Tradocket Windows desktop app includes this document and the shared shipment workspace. After activation, edit drafts and export PDFs offline, with data stored in the app’s local profile. A paid license is required.