Central African Republic BESC Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the Central African Republic BESC certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the BESC certificate for shipments to Central African Republic — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Central African Republic BESC.
Overview
The BESC — Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Central African Republic. Requirement status: Mandatory.
Sample BESC certificate
A Central African Republic BESC 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.
Required documents
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Customs Declaration
Application process
1. Send your documents
Share PDF copies of the required documents via sck@scktr.com, or upload them through the application form. There is no need to send hard copies for the issuance of BESC certificates.
2. Draft is prepared
Once complete, consistent documents arrive, a draft is prepared for your confirmation. A file specialist checks the shipment details against the documents before anything is filed.
3. Confirm the draft
Check every field on the draft — consignee, ports, weights, values and container references. Final documents must be submitted without further amendments; corrections after validation are charged separately.
4. Filing and validation
The confirmed file is submitted to the issuing authority for validation. The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be shown on documents prepared before that point.
5. Certificate delivered
The validated certificate is sent to you and can accompany the cargo to the destination port.
Timeline
- Processing time: about a week
- Validity: One validated BESC per Bill of Lading.
The exact cut-off depends on the destination and the vessel schedule; confirm the deadline for your shipment with our team before filing.
Special rules
Validation deadline. Documents must be submitted before arrival at the port of discharge. You have five days after receiving the BESC reference to forward the original Bill of Lading (with place and date of issue and shipped-on-board date), signed and stamped.
Non-compliance. Shipments not covered by a valid BESC may be prohibited and subject to fees. Missing certification deadlines may result in penalties and non-issuance of the BESC, and if the original Bill of Lading is not forwarded within five days the system cancels the certificate and a penalty fee applies to recover it. Amendments after validation also incur a penalty fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can the validation be issued if the final destination is changed to the Central African Republic?
Yes, but authorities’ confirmation is required if the destination is changed after the vessel’s departure. Other details such as package amount and weight must remain consistent with the previous submission. Each shipment requires its own unique, verified BESC number.
Can an export declaration be used for multiple shipments?
The same declaration may only be used if all applications and submissions are completed simultaneously. Otherwise, validation will not be issued.
Is it possible to complete the process if there is a mismatch in shipment documents?
No. All document details must match. If inconsistencies are found during pre-validation the certificate is rejected and you must revise the documents. There is no refund until coherent documents are supplied, and a penalty fee may apply for uploading new documents.
Who is responsible for obtaining the BESC certificate?
The responsibility lies with the shipper. Shipments without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper is responsible for any resulting losses.
How long does it take to receive a validated BESC certificate?
The process typically takes around one week due to strict regulations. The documents supplied must be coherent to obtain final validation. The BESC number is created after pre-validation. Any change in information or documentation after pre-validation will result in a penalty fee.
Ready to file? Apply for a BESC certificate or go back to the Central African Republic BESC procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.