Burundi BESC Certificate

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

The BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is a mandatory cargo tracking document required for all shipments destined to Burundi, including commercial, personal, and diplomatic cargo.

If you need a BESC, look no further than SCK. Their service is the best. This is our countless time obtaining from SCK.

Mandatory BESC Certificate for Burundi Shipments

Burundi Customs authorities require a valid BESC certificate for cargo entering the country.The certificate must be issued through an authorized representative and is essential for compliance and customs clearance.

Obtaining the BESC is the shipper’s responsibility, and penalties apply in cases of non-compliance.

How long does receiving a validated copy of the BESC certificate take?

The validation process usually takes around one week, as the regulations applied by the authorities in Burundi are strict.

All submitted documents must be coherent and consistent in order for the final certificate to be validated.

After pre-validation, the BESC reference number is created.Any change to information or documentation after pre-validation results in a penalty fee.

What happens if the certificate is not validated within five days?

After receiving the BESC reference, you have five days to submit the original Bill of Lading, including:

• Place and date of issue
• Shipped-on-board date
• Signature and stamp

If these requirements are not fulfilled within five days, the system will automatically cancel the certificate, and a penalty fee will apply to recover it.

Required Documents to Obtain a Burundi BESC Certificate

The following documents are required:

• Bill of Lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Freight Invoice
• Customs Declaration

PDF copies of the documents should be shared by email.Hard copies are not required for BESC issuance.

Final documents must be submitted without pending amendments.Changes made after validation result in penalty charges.

Can the process be completed if there is a mismatch in shipment documents?

No.All document details must be identical to obtain a validated BESC certificate.

If discrepancies are found, the certificate will be rejected after pre-validation, and documents must be revised.No refund is issued until coherent documents are provided.

Can validation be obtained if the final destination on the export declaration is changed to Burundi?

If the shipment’s destination is changed after vessel departure, confirmation from the authorities is required.

Such cases are generally treated as special cases, and approval may be granted, provided that all other shipment details—such as package quantity and weight—remain unchanged.

What is BESC?

BESC stands for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons.

It is also referred to as a Loading Certificate.

BESC certificates are recognized maritime documents used to monitor, control, and manage cargo movements and are required for customs clearance at the port of entry.

Responsibility

Responsibility for obtaining the BESC certificate lies with the shipper.

Shipments transported without a valid certificate are subject to penalties, and the shipper is responsible for any resulting losses.

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

Verified Compliance Review

This content is reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency with BESC (BESC, BESC, BESC, BIETC, FERI, ACID, ACD) procedures, based on current operational practices and applicable regulatory frameworks at the time of the last update.