West Africa · Official cargo tracking document Senegal BSC Certificate
Get your Senegal BSC tracking note from SCK Representation. Send us your documents and we handle validation with the shippers' council.
Validate before the vessel sails
No BSC = fines & demurrage
A penalty fee will apply for any modifications requested after the certificate has been validated.
Required Documents — Senegal BSC
Senegal BSC — short explainer
If your cargo transits another country
Dual Certificate Requirement: If cargo is in transit through the Port of Dakar to landlocked countries (such as Mali or Burkina Faso), a certificate is required for both countries. For example, cargo bound for Bamako via Dakar requires a Senegal BSC and a Mali BSC.
Senegal BSC: full requirements
Last Updated: 18 December 2025 – Regulations are subject to change.
To ensure a smooth customs clearance process at Dakar, shippers must obtain a Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison (BSC) certificate.
Senegal is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. It also has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The capital and largest city is Dakar. The official language is French, and the population is around 17 million. Senegal has a diverse culture with influences from the indigenous tribes, European colonizers, and the African diaspora.
How to Get a Senegal BSC Certificate
You must submit PDF copies of the documents. Please ensure all documents are finalized before submission. A penalty fee will apply for any modifications requested after the certificate has been validated.
Consignee & Single-Counter Requirements
To initiate the Senegal BSC process, the following importer credentials are strictly required:
- Consignee NIF: Importer’s Fiscal Identification Number (Número de identificación fiscal).
- Consignee Contact: Valid email address and phone number.
[!IMPORTANT] Orbus Number Requirement: The Customs Bureau of Senegal runs a single-counter declaration platform. The BSC is automatically matched against the importer’s local Orbus declaration. Therefore, the Orbus number is mandatory on all BSC registrations.
Landlocked Country Transit Regulations
[!WARNING] Dual Certificate Requirement: If your cargo is in transit through the Port of Dakar to landlocked countries (such as Mali or Burkina Faso), you must get a certificate for both countries. For example, cargo bound for Bamako via Dakar requires a Senegal BSC and a Mali BSC.
What a validated Senegal BSC 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.
Senegal BSC: the complete guide
Issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply — in one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for LCL shipments?
Can I use the same BSC number for multiple shipments?
Is the Orbus number required?
What importer credentials are needed to start the BSC process?
How long does it take to get approval?
A draft copy of the certificate will be issued in a day if all mandatory documents are provided and coherent. The certificate will be submitted for validation once we receive your confirmation on the draft and the payment. The approval for verification is usually received in a day. However, as all the approvals are handled in the main office in Dakar, the process may take about a week.
Are there any additional requirements for the issuance of a BSC certificate?
Below are details of the consignee that need to be provided to start the Republic of Senegal BSC process.
Consignee details; phone number, e-mail address and NIF – Número de identificación fiscal
Customs Bureaus of Senegal implement a single-counter procedure; import and export declarations are completed on a single platform. The certificate issued for shipment and the declaration is compared with the Orbus declaration of the importer. Therefore, the Orbus number is mandatory in all BSCs.
For more information and document samples, please contact our team via sck@scktr.com.
Do we need a BSC certificate if the shipment is in transit to a landlocked country?
If your freight is in transit to another landlocked country (such as Burkina Faso or Mali) through Dakar port (Senegal), you must get an ECTN certificate for both countries. For instance, a shipment transferred to Mali via Dakar would require the certificates for Mali and Senegal. You can reach the procedures by clicking on the name of countries if your cargo is in transit to a landlocked destination:
Burkina Faso
Mali
Which name should be indicated on the bill of lading as a discharge port?
Dakar is the leading and only port of Senegal. This port handles all maritime traffic of Senegal, and it is an essential waypoint for Burkina Faso and Mali. Therefore, if the port of discharge is indicated as Dakar on the bill of lading, you need to issue an ECTN certificate for Senegal.
Do I need to get a BSC certificate if my shipment is in transit through Senegal to Mali?
A shipment with a final destination of Mali in transit through Senegal only needs to get a BSC certificate for Mali.
How do I apply for a BSC document for Senegal If I have an LCL shipment?
You can apply for a certificate with a Master Bill of Lading if you are shipping LCL to Senegal. A House Bill of Lading cannot be used to apply for a Senegal certificate.
Also shipping to other African ports?
Each destination has its own cargo tracking note. We handle them all under one roof.
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