A certificate of origin (COO) is a trade document that states the country where goods were made. In Australia it matters in two ways: importers use it to claim lower duty under free trade agreements, and exporters often need one for their buyer's customs.
Certificates of origin for importers
If your goods come from a country with a free trade agreement and meet its rules of origin, you can claim a preferential duty rate, often 0%. To do that you need proof of origin when the goods are entered. Depending on the agreement, that is either a certificate issued by an authorised body in the exporting country, or an origin declaration made by the exporter or producer.
- ChAFTA (China): certificate of origin issued by an authorised Chinese body
- AUSFTA (USA): no certificate needed, but the importer must hold documents proving origin
- AI-ECTA (India): certificate of origin issued by an authorised Indian body
- RCEP, JAEPA, KAFTA, A-UKFTA: certificates or origin declarations, depending on the agreement
See how much a valid certificate can save with our import duty calculator.
Certificates of origin for Australian exporters
Australian exporters get certificates of origin from authorised issuing bodies, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), state chambers of commerce and the Australian Industry Group. You'll need the commercial invoice, details of the goods, and evidence that they meet the origin rules.
Common mistakes
- The description or HS code on the certificate doesn't match the commercial invoice
- The certificate is issued after the goods are entered, so the preferential rate is missed
- Goods are transhipped or processed in a third country, breaking the origin rules
- The certificate is for the wrong agreement
Our trade documents team checks certificates of origin before your goods ship, and our customs brokers claim the right rate when the goods arrive.
Related service
Trade Documents Consultation →