Equatorial Guinea ECTN Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the Equatorial Guinea ECTN certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the ECTN certificate for shipments to Equatorial Guinea — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Equatorial Guinea ECTN.
Overview
The ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Equatorial Guinea. Requirement status: Mandatory.
Sample ECTN certificate
A Equatorial Guinea ECTN 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 ECTN 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 ECTN 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
- Validity: One validated ECTN 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
Non-compliance. Freight not covered by a loading certificate will be penalized at the destination port, and failure to present the ECTN upon shipment arrival can lead to severe penalties. A penalty fee also applies for modifications made after the certificate has been validated.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same ECTN number for various shipments?
No, the ECTN is unique and reserved for only one shipment. Every shipment must have a validated ECTN certificate of its own.
How can I get an Equatorial Guinea ECTN certificate?
Submit PDF copies of the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice (if not on the Commercial Invoice), and Export Customs Declaration. There is no need to send hard copies.
Since when has the ECTN been required for Equatorial Guinea?
Equatorial Guinea Customs Officials have mandated the ECTN, also referred to as the BSC (Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison), for all imports since 2000.
Which shipments require the ECTN?
Every shipment imported into Equatorial Guinea for commercial, business, diplomatic, or personal purposes is required by law to have an ECTN loading certificate.
Ready to file? Apply for a ECTN certificate or go back to the Equatorial Guinea ECTN procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.