Gabon BIETC Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the Gabon BIETC certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the BIETC certificate for shipments to Gabon — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Gabon BIETC.
Overview
The BIETC — Bordereau d’Identification Électronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Gabon. It is issued by Conseil Gabonais des Chargeurs (CGC). Requirement status: Mandatory.
Sample BIETC certificate
A Gabon BIETC 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 (Draft copy for application, Original for validation)
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice (Not required if freight is indicated on the Commercial Invoice)
- Export 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 BIETC 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 BIETC 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: Usually a few days, but a week should be expected in planning.
- Validity: One validated BIETC 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. The BIETC certificate must be fully validated before the vessel departs; CGC does not allow post-departure validations. African shipments must be validated within 5 days of departure, European within 10 days, and American & Asian within 14 days.
Non-compliance. Exports completed without a validated BIETC certificate are subject to a customs penalty of 100% of the freight manifest value plus additional demurrage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same BIETC number for multiple shipments?
No, each BIETC is unique and strictly limited to a single Bill of Lading.
When must the BIETC be validated?
It must be fully validated before the vessel departs. Validation deadlines apply by origin: 5 days for African shipments, 10 days for European, and 14 days for American & Asian shipments.
What happens if there is a mismatch in documents?
If details such as weights, values, or container numbers do not match across all files, the Gabon CGC authorities will reject the certificate request. Coherent documents must be supplied before the validation deadline.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Exports completed without a validated BIETC are subject to a customs penalty of 100% of the freight manifest value plus additional demurrage.
How long does it take to get approval?
Our team should be informed as soon as the shipment details are clear to let them release the Invoice. The payment must be completed in advance for the release of the BIETC reference. The certificate will be reserved for shipment. Once all required documents are provided, a draft of the BIETC certificate will be shared with the applicant. First, our team needs confirmation on the draft and original bill of lading copy. Afterwards, the certificate will be submitted for the approval of the Gabon CGC authorities. This process usually takes a few days, but a week should be expected in planning.
Ready to file? Apply for a BIETC certificate or go back to the Gabon BIETC procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.