Benin BESC Certificate

To ensure a smooth customs clearance process at destination ports, shippers are advised to initiate the Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (BESC) application as soon as the Bill of Lading is obtained.

All documents should be sent by email as clear PDF copies. Hard copies are not required for BESC issuance.

Any amendments requested after a certificate has been validated may incur an amendment fee.

Required Documents - Benin BESC

• Bill of Lading - a draft copy may be used to begin the application
• Commercial Invoice
• Freight Invoice - required when freight charges are not clearly shown on the Commercial Invoice
• Export Customs Declaration
• Packing List

Bill of Lading

The Bill of Lading (BL) serves as the primary cargo receipt for all maritime shipments bound for Cotonou.

• The destination on the Bill of Lading must clearly state Cotonou or Benin transit.
• For LCL shipment applications with the House BL (HBL), the Master BL (MBL) may also be required if deemed necessary.
• For containerized vehicle shipments, chassis numbers should be accurately matched to their respective containers.

Commercial Invoice

All items shipped must be backed by a clear commercial transaction document showing value breakdowns.

• The commercial invoice must contain the HS code (Harmonized System code) for each category of goods shipped.
• Values must match the customs declaration form exactly.
• The Incoterm must be clearly stated and the value breakdown must correspond properly.

Example: if the Incoterm is CFR, the following values should be clearly indicated: FOB and freight.

Freight Invoice

A separate Freight Invoice is required if the freight value is not indicated in the Commercial Invoice.

Export Customs Declaration

Beninese customs authorities require the export declaration from the loading country to verify the declared transaction values.

All information contained in the Export Customs Declaration must correspond to the relevant details in the other documents.

Benin Transit Shipments

Cargo discharged at Cotonou and moving onward to a landlocked country normally requires two certificates:

• Benin BESC / ECTN
• The final destination country’s ECTN / BSC

For example, Benin transit shipments to Niger or Burkina Faso require both the Benin certificate and the certificate for the final destination.

Vehicle Shipments

For containerized vehicle shipments, chassis numbers should be accurately matched to their respective containers. If the shipment is not properly declared as containerized cargo, it may need to be processed as a RoRo shipment.

RoRo vehicle shipments without the required certificate may be treated as a compliance breach and may trigger penalties at destination.

Critical notes

• An application form must be completed to initiate the certification process. You may either complete the form yourself using this link, or our team can complete it on your behalf for a service fee.
• Any amendments to a validated certificate will incur an amendment fee.
• For non-containerized (RoRo, general cargo or bulk) shipment tariff, please contact our support team.

One BESC certificate is issued per BL, in soft copy, and the BESC number will be issued along with the draft.

For further information please contact our support team.

Regulations are subject to change, we recommend confirming the latest country-specific requirements with our team via email.

Required documents for the Benin BESC

How the Benin BESC is issued

1. Send the documents. PDF copies to sck@scktr.com; a draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
2. Pre-screen. We reconcile the invoice values, the Incoterm breakdown and the export declaration before filing — those three disagreeing is the usual reason a Benin file stalls.
3. Draft issued for your confirmation, with the BESC number.
4. Validation. After confirmation and payment the certificate goes to the Benin authorities. Usually a few days; allow up to one week when planning.
5. Number onto the Bill of Lading before the vessel departs.

When to apply — the deadline that matters

As soon as the Bill of Lading is obtained. The BESC must be paid for and validated at the port of loading before the vessel departs; a file left until after departure is what causes the clearance delays at Cotonou.

How long a Benin BESC is valid

One validated BESC covers one Bill of Lading and one shipment. Each cargo movement needs its own certificate.

Who files the Benin BESC

The shipper. Responsibility for obtaining the BESC / ECTN sits on the shipper’s side, and the shipper carries any resulting loss.

What happens if cargo arrives without one

Cargo cannot be cleared through Beninese customs without a valid ECTN, and clearance is seriously delayed while the file is regularised. RoRo vehicle shipments moved without one are treated as a regulatory breach.

What a Benin BESC costs

Two parts: the tariff set by the issuing authority, which varies with cargo type, container count and tonnage, and our fee for preparing and filing the declaration. Amendments to a validated certificate carry a separate amendment fee. We quote the whole thing as one figure once we have seen the shipment details — email sck@scktr.com. For non-containerised RoRo, general cargo or bulk tariffs, ask our support team.

Which port it covers

Cotonou is Benin’s main and only seaport. If the Bill of Lading shows Cotonou as the port of discharge, a Benin BESC is mandatory.

Other names for this document

BESC, ECTN, BSC and CTN all name the same declaration. Along the same corridor it appears as an ECTN in Togo, an ECTN / URN in Burkina Faso, a BSC in Niger, a CTN in Ghana, a BSC in Ivory Coast and a CTN in Nigeria.

SCK Representation is an authorized ECTN, BESC, CTN and cargo tracking note provider for shipments to African countries, filing from Istanbul since 2001.