United Kingdom Certificates of Origin
A UK Certificate of Origin is issued for goods that are being sold and permanently exported to non-Arab countries as well as Egypt and Iran.
In addition to these certificates, LCCI can process any other commercial document required for international trade, either alongside your Certificate of Origin or as a separate document.
What is a UK Certificate of Origin
The certificate of origin is a document stating where the goods you’re shipping were grown, manufactured or produced. It’s needed to confirm the goods being shipped can enter a country and/or potentially be eligible for relief or reduction in duty.
You can usually state where the goods were grown, manufactured or produced on the commercial invoice. However, some countries require a specific certificate confirming the origin of the goods. This document also needs to be signed by the relevant government department, chamber of commerce or embassy of the exporting country.
How to Apply For a UK Certificate of Origin
Apply online at essCert.com, to register click on your chosen office below:
- City of London - Formal Undertaking
- Hounslow - Formal Undertaking
Complete the formal undertaking and send to register@esscert.com and formalundertaking@londonchamber.co.uk, in turn the primary contact will receive log-in details from essCert to apply online. If you are registered and have forgotten your password please retrieve your details here.
Apply via DIY service if you have a colour printer, you can print the certificate on plain paper. If you require LCCI to print, please select Chamber-Print. LCCI will issue in colour and post the document for an additional fee of £5.40.
How Much Does It Cost
| London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Member | Non-member | |
| UK Certificate of Origin with Chamber Printed Service | £37.20 | £69.00 |
| UK Certificate of Origin with DIY Service | £31.80 | £63.60 |
| Express Fee | + £16.80 | + £16.80 |
Please email edocuments@londonchamber.co.uk to enquire. See here the full trade documentation price list.
Processing Options
How Do You Make Payment?
Once the online application has been approved you will be invoiced and then you can make payment by card/transfer/bacs/cheque.
If you are an LCCI Member you can manage outstanding payments on LCCI's Online Account, you can also sign up to the London Chamber Community Network to manage payments on LCCI's Online Account.
How Long Does The Process Take?
For online applications on essCert we aim to approve DIY applications (printed by yourself in colour) within 24 hours and Chamber printed applications within 48 hours. These are guidelines and may vary.
If you would like to request an express service for an essCert application for an additional £16.80 (inc VAT), please reply accepting the additional fees and adding your agent reference number. We aim to action these requests within 2 hours.
What Supporting Documents are Required?
- Commercial/sales invoice
- Packing list/delivery note/waybill if packing details are not shown on the invoice.
- Proof of origin
- Letter of Authority if applying on behalf or another company.
- A valid Formal Undertaking and essCert account.
What Counts as Proof of Origin?
For goods manufactured outside of the UK, there are multiple documents the applicants can provide to confirm the evidence of their goods:-
- A manufacturers invoice for the goods on their company letterhead clearing showing their factory address.
- A manufacturers declaration on their company letterhead, signed, confirming the origin and they manufacturer the said goods.
- A list of items and the country of origin from the manufacturer on company letterhead, signed.
- A certified and signed Certificate of Origin from an overseas issuing body, clearly showing the description of the goods so we can match this to your sales invoice.
*The following origin declarations from a supplier or 3rd party require supporting evidence such as an internet link/screenshot from the manufacturers website or photographic proof of the item or packaging that show the origin*
- A suppliers/3rd party declaration on company letterhead stating the manufacturer name and address
- A suppliers/3rd party invoice showing the origin of each item. If the manufacturer is not disclosed, then on the reverse of the application state as follows “Vietnamese proof of origin supplied by…. (enter suppliers name and address)”
What Other Documents Do LCCI Certify?
- Invoices and packing lists, any other commercial or legal documents required for international trade such as: Power of Attorney, Distributor Agreement, Health Certificate, Certificate of Free Sale, Trademark Certificate, Commercial Contract, Article of Association, Certificate of Incorporation etc.
- Saudi Business Visa Invitation Letter
- Exporter Registry Form (Turkey)
The UK Certificates are processed while you wait when submitted over the counter. Electronically we will usually process them within 24 hours (DIY service). Postal applications are usually processed and posted within 24 hours.
Yes. Arab Certificates of Origin cover Arab League States and United Kingdom the rest of the world (please note that Egypt, Iran and Turkey use UK Certificates of Origin).
Their purpose remains the same but their requirements, price and processing times are different, for example, whilst the UK Certificate of origin can be certified only, some Arab League Contries require the Arab Certicates to be fully legalised by their corresponding Consulate, which increases the cost and the timeframe.
Yes, as long as you submit a signed Letter of Indemnity on your company headed paper with your application. You must confirm with your client whether a UK Certificate of Origin will be sufficient for their needs (as Arab CO should be used for Arab League destinations). It is advisable that you obtain any such confirmation in writing to minimize any disputes (with your client) if the goods fail to clear Customs at the destination.
View price guide.
Yes – if the document (other than a C/O) is to be Certified we will require an extra copy of the document. If the document is to be legalised (i.e. by an embassy) we will require three copies of the document. Please note that we are unable to make any photocopies for the customers.