Who issues a certificate of origin?

For non-preferential origin, usually a chamber of commerce: in the EU, chambers normally issue them, and Dubai Chambers charges AED 100. Preferential proof comes from customs, as with an EUR.1, or from the exporter itself under an agreement that allows it.

What is the difference between a certificate of origin and an EUR.1?

An EUR.1 is one kind of certificate of origin: a preferential movement certificate that lets goods claim a reduced duty under an EU trade agreement. A chamber's normal certificate proves origin but claims no preference.

Is a certificate of origin always required?

No. It depends on the destination and the goods. Saudi Arabia asks for one unless origin is already clear, and many agreements accept the exporter's own origin statement instead of a certificate.

Term

Certificate of origin

A certificate of origin is a document that states the country where goods were produced, so customs can apply the right duty and trade rules. A non-preferential one, usually issued by a chamber of commerce, simply proves nationality; a preferential one, or an origin statement allowed by a trade agreement, lets the goods claim a reduced or zero duty.

Also called CO, COO, origin certificate, EUR.1, proof of origin, statement on originUpdated 13 October 2026

Two kinds

	Non-preferential	Preferential
Proves	The goods' nationality	That the goods meet a trade agreement's origin rules
Used for	Customs clearance, trade measures, import rules	A reduced or zero duty rate
Usual issuer	A chamber of commerce	Customs, or the exporter's own statement
Examples	The ICC's 'normal CO'	EUR.1; a statement on origin; a USMCA certification

The International Chamber of Commerce says a CO confirms the 'nationality' of a product. Its accreditation chain covers more than 800 chambers in 40 countries, which issue 9 million certificates a year to a common standard. In the EU, non-preferential certificates are normally issued by chambers of commerce, while preferential proof depends on the agreement: an EUR.1, or a statement on origin by a registered exporter. An unregistered exporter may make out a statement on origin for consignments up to EUR 6,000 of originating goods. The UK requires approved exporter status for origin declarations on consignments over £5,400 under some agreements.

The USMCA works without certificates at all: a certification of origin need not follow a prescribed format, carries a minimum set of data elements, and may be made on an invoice or any other document — but not on a commercial document issued in a country outside the agreement. Saudi Arabia's ZATCA asks for a certificate of origin with each import, unless the country of origin is already clearly established.

Worked example: fees in the UAE

Dubai Chambers CO: AED 100 · invoice of 7 pages: pages 6–7 at AED 5 = AED 10 · packing list of 3 pages at AED 5 = AED 15 · total AED 125

For a GCC certificate from the UAE Ministry of Economy, the fee is set by invoice value instead: AED 40 for an invoice of AED 20,001–40,000, rising to AED 200 above AED 500,000.

The mistake people make

Sending a chamber certificate where a preferential proof is needed, or the reverse. A normal CO proves where the goods come from but claims no tariff preference; to pay a lower duty under a trade agreement, the importer needs the proof that agreement names — and under the USMCA, a certification typed onto an invoice issued outside the region is not valid.

FAQ