What is a certificate of origin?
A certificate of origin (CoO) states the country where goods were produced. There are two kinds:
- Preferential CoO, issued under a free trade or preferential trade agreement (FTA/PTA), so the importing country can charge the lower agreed duty. The goods must meet that agreement's rules of origin.
- Non-preferential CoO, which only certifies origin, for example when the buyer, a bank under a letter of credit, or the importing country's customs asks for it.
How do Indian exporters get a certificate of origin?
DGFT issues certificates of origin electronically:
- Preferential CoOs have been filed and issued online since 2019 (DGFT Trade Notice 34/2019-20), starting with the India–Chile PTA and extended agreement by agreement.
- Non-preferential CoOs moved online from 15 April 2021 (Trade Notice 48/2020-21), and online filing became mandatory after the transition period ended on 31 January 2022.
- Exporters register with a digital signature (DSC) linked to their IEC, apply against the export invoice and shipment details, and the issuing agency for that agreement issues the certificate.
India–UK CETA: from 15 July 2026, certificates of origin for exports to the UK are issued through DGFT's Trade Connect e-platform. Both self-declaration and issuance by an authorised agency are supported. Self-declared certificates need a valid DSC linked to the IEC and an uploaded scanned ink signature, carry a QR code and digital signature, and can be checked on Trade Connect (Trade Notice 11/2026-27).
Can certificates of origin be applied for from an ERP?
Yes. DGFT Trade Notice 25/2026-27 of 7 September 2026 introduced an Open API for certificates of origin on the Trade Connect e-platform. Exporters can connect their ERP, accounting or other systems to DGFT's CoO system instead of re-entering data on the portal. The API:
- covers both preferential and non-preferential certificates;
- validates each application against the selected agreement's mandatory fields, origin criteria, shipment requirements and declarations;
- keeps a ledger of each application's status (draft, in process, approved, certificate issued, rejected) with its acknowledgement ID, file number and certificate number.
The notice lists these agreements and schemes:
| Agreement or scheme | Type |
|---|---|
| India–Japan, India–Korea, India–UAE, India–Oman | CEPA |
| South Asian Free Trade Area | SAFTA |
| South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement | SAPTA |
| ASEAN–India Free Trade Area | AIFTA |
| India–Singapore, India–Malaysia | CECA |
| India–Chile, India–Mercosur | PTA |
| India–Australia | ECTA |
| India–EFTA | TEPA |
| India–UK | CETA |
| Generalized System of Preferences | GSP |
| Non-preferential certificate of origin | — |
What do importers need to claim an FTA duty rate in India?
Under section 28DA of the Customs Act and the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020 (CAROTAR), in force since 21 September 2020, an importer claiming a preferential rate must:
- declare origin details in the bill of entry, including the certificate of origin reference, the originating criteria and whether the goods were shipped directly;
- produce the certificate of origin for each item claimed;
- possess the origin information in Form I (how the goods meet the rules of origin, including regional value content and product-specific criteria) and give it to customs when asked;
- keep the supporting documents for five years from the date of the bill of entry.
A certificate alone may not be enough: customs can deny the claim without verification if the certificate is incomplete, altered without authentication, produced after its validity, or issued for an item not covered by the agreement (CAROTAR rule 3(2)).
What goes wrong in practice?
- Exporters: the HS code or product description on the CoO application differs from the invoice and shipping bill, so the buyer's customs rejects the preference.
- Exporters: origin criteria (regional value content, change in tariff heading) are not worked out from the bill of materials before applying.
- Importers: the FTA rate is claimed with a certificate but without the Form I information from the supplier.
- Importers: records are not kept for five years, or cannot be traced back to the bill of entry.
How do OptiEXIM and OptiEXIMc handle certificates of origin and FTA benefits?
- Certificate of origin filing with DGFT through DGFT integration, for Indian exports, from the SAP export invoice and shipment data.
- Certificates of origin are generated as part of the export document set from SAP SD data.
- FTA benefits on imports are handled on SAP import transactions, as at a consumer electricals manufacturer on RISE with SAP.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of origin?
A document stating the country where goods were produced. A preferential certificate lets the buyer claim a lower duty under a trade agreement; a non-preferential one only certifies origin.
How do I apply for a certificate of origin in India?
Online through DGFT, after registering with a digital signature linked to your IEC, or by DGFT's Open API from your ERP; the issuing agency for the agreement issues it.
Can an ERP apply for certificates of origin directly?
Yes. Since DGFT Trade Notice 25/2026-27 (7 September 2026), an Open API on the Trade Connect e-platform lets exporters' ERP and accounting systems submit certificate of origin applications and track their status.
Is online filing mandatory for non-preferential certificates?
Yes. Non-preferential CoOs moved online from 15 April 2021, and online filing became mandatory after 31 January 2022.
What is CAROTAR 2020?
The Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020, which set what an importer must declare, hold and produce to claim an FTA duty rate in India.
Is a certificate of origin enough to claim an FTA rate in India?
Not always. Under CAROTAR the importer must also hold the origin information in Form I and produce it when asked.
How long must importers keep origin records?
Five years from the date of filing the bill of entry.
How are certificates of origin issued for exports to the UK?
Under the India–UK CETA, from 15 July 2026, through DGFT's Trade Connect e-platform, by self-declaration or by an authorised agency.
Sources
This guide summarises the rules for general information and is not legal advice. Check the current notifications before acting on them.