West Africa · Official cargo tracking document Burkina Faso ECTN Certificate
The Burkina Faso ECTN is a mandatory cargo tracking note for every shipment to Burkina Faso, transit included. Its URN - Unique Reference Number - has had to appear on the Bill of Lading since 20 April 2023.
Validate before the vessel sails
Issue and validate the certificate before the vessel loads, so the URN can go on the Bill of Lading.
No ECTN = fines & demurrage
Cargo without a valid ECTN may be refused clearance and charged extra fees. Amendments after validation can carry penalty charges.
Required Documents - Burkina Faso ECTN
Burkina Faso ECTN - short explainer
Burkina Faso ECTN: full requirements
Burkina Faso ECTN / URN Certificate Requirement
The ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a mandatory cargo tracking document required for all shipments destined to Burkina Faso, including shipments transiting through other countries.
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What is the URN Number?
URN stands for Unique Reference Number.
It is written at the top of a validated ECTN certificate and must be indicated on the description section of the Bill of Lading.
What is CTN?
CTN stands for Cargo Tracking Note.
It is also referred to as Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison (BSC) or a Loading Certificate, depending on the country.
CTN certificates are recognized maritime documents that detail cargo information and transportation between ports. Each CTN must be submitted and verified at the loading port and is essential for customs clearance at the port of entry.
Required documents for the Burkina Faso ECTN
| Document | What it proves |
|---|---|
| Bill of Lading | The contract of carriage. The ECTN Reference Number (URN) must be written in its description section. |
| Commercial Invoice | The declared value and the HS codes customs assess the cargo against. |
| Freight Invoice | The freight amount, required when the commercial invoice does not state it. |
| Pink Slip / Grey Slip | RoRo shipments only - the vehicle registration document behind the declared units. |
PDF copies by email are enough; hard copies are not required for ECTN issuance.
How the Burkina Faso ECTN is issued
- Send the documents. A draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
- Pre-screen. We check values, weights, container and vehicle details against each other before filing.
- Draft ECTN issued for your confirmation.
- Validation. After confirmation and payment the certificate is submitted for approval. With complete, consistent documents the validated certificate is ready in 1 to 24 hours.
- URN onto the Bill of Lading - written in the description section before the cargo moves.
When to apply
Before shipment. The certificate is a legal prerequisite for cargo entry and must be issued and validated before the vessel loads; since 20 April 2023 the reference number also has to be on the Bill of Lading, which means it has to exist before the Bill of Lading is finalised.
One ECTN per shipment
Each ECTN number is unique and applies to one shipment only. Every shipment needs its own individually verified number.
Who files the Burkina Faso ECTN
The shipper or freight forwarder at the port of loading, before the cargo moves.
What happens if cargo arrives without one
What a Burkina Faso ECTN 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 after validation are charged separately. We quote it as one figure once we have seen the shipment details - email sck@scktr.com.
Which ports it covers
Burkina Faso is landlocked, so the ECTN follows the discharge port. Cargo routed through Lomé (Togo) or Cotonou (Benin) needs two certificates: the Togo BESC or Benin BESC, plus the Burkina Faso ECTN. Cargo transiting Ghana or Ivory Coast needs only the Burkina Faso ECTN; the Ghana SPN is suspended.
Other names for this document
ECTN, URN, CTN, BSC and Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison all describe this paperwork. In the neighbouring landlocked markets the same declaration appears as a BESC in Mali and a BESC in Niger.
For the certificate family as a whole, SCK Representation is an authorized ECTN, BESC, CTN and cargo tracking note provider for shipments to African countries, filing from Istanbul since 2001.
Regulations are subject to change, we recommend confirming the latest country-specific requirements with our team via email.
What a validated Burkina Faso ECTN looks like
A certificate we filed, with the customer fields masked. Use it to check the layout, where the authority stamp sits and where the reference number is printed.
Burkina Faso ECTN: the complete guide
Issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply - in one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the shipment is in transit to Burkina Faso via another country, is an additional certificate required?
If the shipment travels from Ivory Coast to Burkina Faso, do two ECTN certificates apply?
If the shipment is in transit through Ghana to Burkina Faso, is an ECTN required for Ghana?
Can the same ECTN number be used for multiple shipments?
Also shipping to other African ports?
Each destination has its own cargo tracking note. The countries below share this document family or this corridor.
Trusted by exporters and freight forwarders shipping from around the world to Africa
A few of the brands that rely on us for the ECTN, BESC and CTN documents their cargo needs.
DHL 
Maersk 
CMA CGM 
APL 
CEVA Logistics 
Bolloré Logistics 
Aramex 
SGS 
Nestlé 
Danone 
TotalEnergies 
Heidelberg Materials 
Arkas Lojistik 
Horoz Lojistik 
Mutlu Makarna 
Nuh'un Ankara Makarnası 
Oba Makarna 
Pakmaya 
Remant Logistics 
OCETRA 
Africa Global Logistics 
Naxco 
CCIS 
Gulf First Shipping & Logistics 
Globelink West Star Shipping