The Government of India has mandated the electronic issuance of all Certificates of Origin (CoO), including non-preferential, from 1 January 2025. These are now issued exclusively via the Trade Connect ePlatform at www.trade.gov.in. Preferential CoOs have also been issued electronically on this platform since 17 January 2025.
Please find attached DGFT Trade Notices No. 36/2023-2024 (dated 26 Dec 2023) and No. 24/2024-25 (dated 20 Dec 2024) for reference:
Rescheduling of Launch Date for Preferential eCoO 2.0 System-reg. (1)
It has come to our notice that some customs authorities continue to request paper-based CoOs, unaware of the transition.
We kindly request that you disseminate this information across all relevant departments and organizations under your purview.
Key features of the Indian eCoO system include:
- Image Seal and Signature:
All eCoOs include electronically affixed image seals and signatures of the issuing authority. - Real-time Verification Capabilities:
a. QR Code Scanning: Each eCoO features a QR code that can be scanned for instant verification.
b. Online Verification via Trade Connect:- Visit www.trade.gov.in
- Navigate to: Home Page → Get Certificate of Origin → Verify Certificate
- Enter the CoO Certificate Number and captcha code, then click “Verify Certificate”
- Certificate details will be displayed on-screen