Cargo Tracking Certificate — Required Documents by Country
The core documents are the same across most African countries — but several have specific additional requirements that catch shippers off guard. This is the complete reference.
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The standard document set for a cargo tracking certificate is: Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice, Packing List. That covers most of the 30+ countries we work with.
But some countries have additional requirements that aren’t obvious until you’re in the middle of an application and we’re asking you for something you weren’t expecting. This guide is meant to prevent that.
The standard set
For the majority of African and MENA destinations, the documents required are:
1. Bill of Lading
Draft copy is accepted for the initial application. You do not need to wait for the original or telex-released copy before starting. The ECTN reference number goes on the draft B/L — you can then issue the final B/L with the number already included.
2. Commercial Invoice
Must show the full FOB or CIF value of the goods clearly. Many countries also require HS (Harmonised System) codes per line item. If your invoice doesn’t have HS codes, add them before submitting — it avoids back-and-forth.
Important on value: Under-declared cargo values are one of the main reasons certificates are flagged for review. Use the correct declared value. Authorities compare the certificate value against actual landed duty calculations and discrepancies create problems at the destination.
3. Freight Invoice
Required if freight cost is not explicitly shown on the Commercial Invoice. Some shippers include freight in the invoice total (CIF); others keep them separate (FOB + separate freight invoice). Either is fine — but if the freight amount isn’t visible on the commercial invoice, we’ll need a separate freight invoice.
4. Packing List
Basic cargo description, package count, weights, and dimensions. Usually straightforward.
Country-specific requirements
Angola (ARCCLA / CNCA certificate)
Angola has the most additional requirements of any country we process:
- D.U. (Documento Único) — the mandatory import licence issued by the Angolan Ministry of Commerce. The Angolan importer must provide this before the certificate can be issued. The exporter usually cannot obtain this on behalf of the importer.
- Phytosanitary Certificate — required for food products, plants, agricultural goods, and certain machinery. Issued by a competent authority in the country of origin.
- Angola Loading Certificate from country of shipment — required for certain cargo categories.
Angola also requires hard copies of the final certificate to be couriered to the Angolan agent at the port — digital delivery alone is not sufficient for final customs clearance.
Processing time for Angola is approximately 4 days from full document submission to validated certificate. Factor this into your timeline.
Djibouti (ECTN certificate)
No additional document types, but Djibouti has strict timing requirements: Djibouti authorities recommend initiating the ECTN process at least 5 days before vessel departure. This is substantially more lead time than most other countries. Don’t treat Djibouti like a same-day application.
Madagascar (BSC certificate)
The Madagascan importer must be registered on the national cargo tracking platform before the BSC can be issued. If the importer hasn’t done this, the application cannot be processed. This registration is done on the importer’s side in Madagascar — the exporter cannot do it.
If you’re shipping to Madagascar for the first time with a given consignee, check whether they’re registered before starting the application. Delays caused by unregistered importers are common.
Additionally, Madagascar is one of the few countries that returns cargo to origin if it arrives without a valid BSC. There is no post-arrival resolution path. The certificate must be in place before the vessel sails.
Cameroon (BESC certificate)
No additional document types, but the certificate must be fully validated at least 48 hours before vessel arrival at the Cameroonian port. “Submitted” is not enough — it needs to be through the approval process with Cameroonian authorities.
For vessels arriving on Fridays, that means validated by Wednesday. Build this into your planning from the booking stage.
Nigeria (CTN certificate)
Nigeria requires the certificate but also has its own National Single Window (NICIS-2) system. Ensure your freight forwarder or agent in Nigeria is using the correct platform. Some agents in Nigeria operate older or unofficial processes — verify before shipping.
Egypt (ACID certificate)
Egypt uses a different system — the ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) — which is managed through a national platform and covers both sea and air freight. The process and timeline differ from other African certificate types. The application needs to be submitted before loading.
Benin (BESC certificate)
Benin’s BESC must include reference to the final destination if the cargo is in transit to a landlocked country (Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali). For transit cargo, additional documentation confirming the inland destination is required.
Democratic Republic of Congo (FERI certificate)
DRC requires a FERI (Fiche Electronique de Renseignement à l’Import) for all sea freight. DRC also requires a separate Certificate of Destination (COD) for certain cargo categories — particularly second-hand goods, vehicles, and industrial equipment. If you’re shipping any of these, check whether the COD applies before starting the application.
A note on cargo value
One thing that trips up otherwise smooth applications: the cargo value shown on the Commercial Invoice doesn’t match what the importer has declared to their local customs authority. This happens more often than you’d expect when importers try to reduce their import duty liability by declaring a lower value locally.
The issuing authority will cross-reference against the value on the certificate. If there are discrepancies, the certificate can be flagged, the shipment can be held, and the importer faces an audit. This isn’t something we can protect against — and it’s not a risk worth taking.
Use the correct declared value on all documents.
If you’re not sure, ask before submitting
We’d rather answer a question before an application than fix a problem after. If there’s any doubt about what’s required for your specific shipment and destination, send us the details and we’ll confirm the exact document checklist before you start.
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +971 56 470 4833