Certificate of origin or IHK certificate for commercial documents; application

Do you export goods and need to prove the origin of your goods when importing them? Then you can apply for a certificate from your Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

If you export goods, in some countries customs authorities, banks or companies in the importing country require you to present certain commercial documents when importing goods. These include

• the certificate of origin, which provides information on the commercial origin of a product,
• certificates of commercial documents, for example a commercial invoice.

You can apply for the issue of such a document at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

• Required Documents

  You need proof of the origin of the goods, for example

  • Certificates of origin from authorized bodies or foreign chambers that are members of the "World Chambers Federation"
  • Declarations-IHK for the non-preferential origin
  • Preferential certificates that are recognized in the EU:
    • Movement certificates (EUR.1, EUR-MED) or preferential declarations of origin
    • Supplier declarations (LE) for preferential goods, e.g. EU or Turkey
    • Declaration of the registered/authorized exporter (REX/EA)
  • Commercial goods - direct or indirect purchase: manufacturer's declaration from the third country, if applicable with procurement documents or customs clearance documents
  • Invoices and delivery notes
    • from manufacturers in the EU, if production takes place in their own company
    • from traders or third-country manufacturers, provided the origin is confirmed by a body authorized to issue them
  • Proof from third country organizations, as long as there is no doubt as to their legality
  • other proof in exceptional cases if none of the above documents are available

  Please contact the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you to find out which documents are specifically required in your case.

You can prove the commercial origin of the goods beyond doubt.

• Objection or
• administrative court action depending on state law

To apply for a certificate of origin or a certificate for a commercial document, you can use an online procedure or a written procedure.

Online procedure:

• Send an e-mail to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) responsible for you with a request to activate you for the eUZweb online application. You will receive a registration code by e-mail.
• Call up the eUZweb online service and log in.
• Complete the application and send it to the IHK.
• The IHK will check that your details are complete and correct.
• The IHK may request additional information and documents from you to prove the accuracy of the information contained in the application.
• After checking the information, the IHK certifies the certificate of origin or the commercial document by means of an electronic signature.
• The IHK will then make the certified document available to you in the online application.
• You can use the document as a fully digital document or print it out if required.

Written procedure:

• You will receive the application form from your local IHK.
• Complete the application and sign it.
• Submit the application either by post or on site at your Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
• The IHK will check that your information is complete and correct.
• The IHK may request additional information and documents from you to verify the accuracy of the information contained in the application.
• After checking the information, the IHK certifies the certificate of origin or the commercial document.

The certified document will then be returned to you by post.

There is no deadline.

• A few minutes by default in the online procedure
• Normally a few days in the written procedure

The fee is based on the fee schedule of the respective IHK. Your IHK will send you a quarterly invoice for the certificates of origin issued during this period.
Fee: 5 EUR - 35 EUR

There are no indications or special features.