Benin BESC Certificate

Last Updated: 29 December 2025 – Regulations are subject to change.

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.