Last Updated: October 5, 2026 by Pratham Agarwal, Rasp International
📌 Quick Definition & Key Takeaway
What is a Certificate of Origin (eCOO) in DGFT?
A Certificate of Origin (eCOO) is an official trade document issued through the DGFT portal certifying the country where exported goods were produced. It enables overseas buyers to claim preferential customs duty tariffs under FTAs like India-UAE CEPA and India-UK CETA.
Position as on 5 October 2026.
Short answer. A Certificate of Origin (CoO) proves that your goods originate in India. Your buyer needs it to claim a lower or zero customs duty under a trade agreement, or to satisfy a non-preferential origin requirement at destination. In India, Certificates of Origin are now applied for and issued electronically on the Trade Connect ePlatform at trade.gov.in. Public Notice No. 01/2026-27 dated 7 April 2026 requires authorised agencies to issue them only through that platform, and Notification No. 05/2026-27 of the same date requires the invoice number on the CoO to match the shipping bill.
The certificate is not a formality. A wrong form, a wrong HS code or an origin claim that fails the rules can cost your buyer the duty saving after the goods have landed, and that cost usually comes back to you.
What Is a Certificate of Origin
A Certificate of Origin is a document that certifies the country where goods were wholly obtained or substantially produced. The importing country’s customs use it for two things:
- To grant preference. Under a free trade agreement, goods of Indian origin may enter at a reduced or zero duty, but only if origin is proved in the form that agreement prescribes.
- To apply trade measures. Anti-dumping duties, quotas, sanctions, labelling rules and trade statistics all depend on origin, even where no preference is claimed.
Origin is not the same as the country of shipment. Goods that contain imported materials are of Indian origin only if they meet the rules of origin in the relevant agreement, usually a change in tariff classification, a minimum regional value content or a specific processing step.
Preferential and Non-Preferential CoO
| Point | Non-preferential CoO | Preferential CoO |
|---|
| Purpose | Proves Indian origin without claiming a duty concession | Claims reduced or zero duty under a specific trade agreement |
| When used | No agreement applies, or the buyer, bank or destination rules ask for proof of origin | Destination has an agreement with India covering your product |
| Rules applied | General origin rules | Product-specific rules of origin of that agreement |
| Issued by | Authorised agencies such as chambers of commerce and export promotion councils | Agencies notified for that agreement, or the exporter where the agreement allows self-certification |
| Where you apply | trade.gov.in | trade.gov.in |
What Is a CEPA Certificate of Origin
A CEPA certificate is simply a preferential Certificate of Origin issued under a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, such as the India-UAE CEPA, India-Korea CEPA or India-Japan CEPA. It carries the origin criterion the agreement requires for your product and lets your buyer clear the goods at the preferential rate.
Each CEPA has its own certificate format and its own rules of origin. A certificate issued under the wrong agreement, or for a product that does not meet that agreement’s rule, gives the buyer nothing. For destination-specific detail, see our guides to the India-UAE CEPA and the India-Oman CEPA.
Which Agreement Applies to Your Destination
| Destination | Agreement | Proof of origin |
|---|
| UAE | India-UAE CEPA | Preferential CoO under the CEPA |
| ASEAN members | ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AIFTA) | AIFTA CoO, often called Form AI |
| South Asian neighbours | SAFTA, and the India-Sri Lanka FTA | Agreement-specific CoO |
| Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia | Bilateral CEPA or CECA | Agreement-specific CoO |
| Australia | India-Australia ECTA | Agreement-specific proof of origin |
| United Kingdom | India-UK CETA | eCoO on trade.gov.in, see our India-UK CETA certificate of origin guide |
| European Union (GSP) | EU Generalised System of Preferences | Statement on origin by a REX-registered exporter, not a CoO form |
| Countries with no agreement | None | Non-preferential CoO if the buyer or destination needs it |
Two checks before you apply. First, confirm your 8-digit HS code is covered by the concession at destination, not just the agreement in general. Second, confirm your product meets the product-specific rule of origin. The EU-India FTA was concluded on 27 January 2026 but is not yet in force, so EU shipments still rely on GSP and REX. For GSP more generally, see our GSP guide.
How to Apply for a Certificate of Origin on trade.gov.in
- Register on Trade Connect. Log in at trade.gov.in with your Importer Exporter Code. You need an active IEC and a Class 3 digital signature certificate linked to it.
- Choose the certificate type. Select preferential or non-preferential, the agreement and the destination.
- Enter the shipment details. Exporter, consignee, transport details, invoice number and date, HS code, description, quantity and the origin criterion. Use the same invoice number as on the shipping bill.
- Attach the documents. Commercial invoice, packing list and, where the agency asks, the bill of lading or air waybill and origin working such as a cost sheet.
- Select the issuing agency and submit. The agency checks the application, may raise a query, and approves it.
- Download the eCoO. The approved certificate is generated electronically with a QR code and digital signature. Send it to your buyer with the shipping documents.
Exporters with high volumes can now file without retyping each certificate. Trade Notice No. 25/2026-27 dated 7 September 2026 added a CoO Open API on Trade Connect, so an ERP system can push the data directly. Older bookmarks to coo.dgft.gov.in still open, but trade.gov.in is the current platform.
Retrospective (Retroactive) CoO
A retrospective, or retroactive, Certificate of Origin is one issued after the goods have been shipped. Most trade agreements allow it in limited cases, such as an error at the time of export or a certificate that was not issued in time. The certificate is marked as issued retroactively, and each agreement sets its own time limit and conditions. Under AIFTA, for example, a certificate can be issued retroactively within one year of shipment.
A normal CoO is issued before or at the time of export. A retrospective CoO is a fallback, and some importing customs scrutinise them more closely. Apply on time wherever you can.
Common CoO Mistakes
- Invoice number mismatch. Since Notification No. 05/2026-27, the invoice number on the CoO must match the shipping bill. A mismatch is a common hold.
- Wrong agreement or form. A certificate under the wrong agreement gives your buyer no preference.
- HS code differences. The HS code on the CoO, invoice and shipping bill should tell the same story. Differences invite verification requests from destination customs.
- Origin not actually met. Using imported inputs without checking the product-specific rule. If a verification later finds the goods non-originating, the buyer pays the full duty with interest.
- No origin file. Keep cost sheets, supplier declarations and production records. Verification requests can come long after shipment.
- Using a CoO where REX applies. For EU GSP, the proof is a statement on origin by a REX-registered exporter, not a certificate.
Get your Certificate of Origin checked
Tell us the product, HS code and destination. We will confirm the agreement, the origin rule and the documents you need.
FAQ
How do I get a Certificate of Origin in India?
Apply online on the Trade Connect ePlatform at trade.gov.in using your IEC and a Class 3 digital signature. Select the certificate type and agreement, enter the shipment details, attach the invoice and packing list, and submit to an authorised issuing agency. The approved eCoO is downloaded from the platform.
Is a manual Certificate of Origin still accepted?
No. Public Notice No. 01/2026-27 dated 7 April 2026 requires authorised agencies to issue Certificates of Origin only through trade.gov.in.
What is the difference between preferential and non-preferential CoO?
A preferential CoO claims a reduced or zero duty under a trade agreement and must meet that agreement’s rules of origin. A non-preferential CoO only proves Indian origin, where no preference is claimed or the destination simply requires proof of origin.
What is a CEPA certificate?
It is a preferential Certificate of Origin issued under a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement such as the India-UAE CEPA. It lets the buyer clear the goods at the agreement’s preferential duty rate.
What does trade.coo or trade.gov.in mean?
trade.gov.in is the Trade Connect ePlatform, the government portal where Indian exporters now apply for electronic Certificates of Origin. The older coo.dgft.gov.in address leads to the same service.
What is a retrospective CoO?
A Certificate of Origin issued after shipment, marked as issued retroactively. Agreements allow it in limited cases and within set time limits, for example within one year of shipment under AIFTA.
Do I need a Certificate of Origin for exports to the EU?
Not for GSP preference. For consignments above EUR 6,000 the EU requires a statement on origin made out by a REX-registered exporter. Smaller consignments can carry a statement on origin without registration.
Which agency issues a Certificate of Origin?
Agencies authorised by DGFT for each type of certificate, such as the Export Inspection Council, export promotion councils and chambers of commerce. You select the agency on trade.gov.in when you apply.
Get your Certificate of Origin right the first time
Rasp International has advised Indian exporters on DGFT and trade agreement compliance for over 20 years. We check whether your product qualifies under the agreement, prepare the origin working, file the eCoO on trade.gov.in and keep the origin file ready for any verification. Talk to our DGFT consultants before the next shipment.
Book a free consultation or WhatsApp +91 8218043048.
| Reference | What it establishes |
|---|
| DGFT Public Notice No. 01/2026-27 dated 7 April 2026 | Certificates of Origin issued only through trade.gov.in |
| DGFT Notification No. 05/2026-27 dated 7 April 2026 | Invoice number on the CoO must match the shipping bill |
| DGFT Trade Notice No. 25/2026-27 dated 7 September 2026 | CoO Open API on the Trade Connect ePlatform |
| DGFT Trade Notice No. 11/2026-27 | Preferential CoO under the India-UK CETA on trade.gov.in |
| DGFT brief on REX, Public Notice No. 51/2015-20 | EU GSP self-certification by REX-registered exporters from 1 January 2017 |
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