Republic of Congo ECTN Certificate

TI is part of the GUOT documentation system and serves as an Import Declaration for shipments to the Republic of Congo. A valid TI document is mandatory to apply for the ECTN certificate.
The URN (Unique Reference Number) is the identifier assigned to a validated Republic of Congo ECTN certificate and can be found on the certificate itself.

Yes, you can submit an ECTN application after the container has been loaded and the vessel has departed. However, if the certificate isn’t validated within 5 days of the on-board date, a penalty—equal to 50% of the original certificate fee—will be charged.

No. These are two separate countries with different customs systems, documentation processes, and ECTN requirements.

The URN is listed as the ‘Visum Reference No.’ on the Republic of Congo ECTN certificate. It typically appears in the top-right corner and begins with the exporter’s country code.

Republic of the Congo ECTN Sample

GUOT includes two types of documents:

• DI (Douane d’importation) – Import Customs Declaration

• TI (Transport d’importation) – Import Transport Declaration
  Only the TI document is required for the ECTN application. Also, the values on the TI must match those on the commercial invoice in terms of freight and goods value.

No. Each shipment must have a separate and validated ECTN number. Reusing ECTNs for different shipments is not allowed.

No. The ECTN number for Equatorial Guinea or Chad does not need to be printed on the Bill of Lading.

Yes. If the shipment’s final destination is Chad—even if it transits through Cameroon—an ECTN certificate for Chad is required.

Yes. All cargo types, including personal effects, NGO cargo, and diplomat consignments, must be covered by a valid ECTN certificate.

No. The goods and freight values on the TI document and commercial invoice must match. If they differ, it is recommended to revise the invoice to align with the TI document, as modifying a TI is more complex.

No. The values and Incoterms on the commercial invoice and TI document must be identical. If there’s a mismatch, it’s advised to adjust the invoice to match the TI document, as modifying the TI is a more complicated process.

ctnstashipping is an independent consulting firm specializing in assisting clients to obtain CTN certificates for shipments to various African countries. As an international company with offices in the USA, UK, and UAE, ctnstashipping focuses exclusively on CTN certification services. It is important to note that ctnstashipping is not a freight forwarder, importer, or exporter.

A hard copy of the CTN certificate is generally not required, as the entire process is completed online. Digital validation and electronic submission suffice for customs and regulatory purposes.

A Bill of Lading (BoL) is a legal shipping document issued by the carrier to the shipper. It outlines the type, quantity, and destination of the cargo.

A Commercial Invoice is an essential document for export and import clearance. It may also serve currency exchange purposes and is used by customs to calculate import duties and taxes.