South Sudan ECTN Certificate — The Complete Guide
How the South Sudan ECTN certificate works: issuing authority, required documents, application process, timeline and the rules that apply.
This guide covers the ECTN certificate for shipments to South Sudan — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see South Sudan ECTN.
Overview
The ECTN — Electronic Cargo Tracking Note — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to South Sudan. Requirement status: Mandatory.
For goods arriving at transit ports such as Mombasa, Massawa, Port Sudan, Dar es Salaam, or Djibouti en route to South Sudan, an ECTN certificate for South Sudan suffices, as these ports do not require a BESC certificate for transit freights.
Sample ECTN certificate
A South Sudan 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.
Discharge ports
- Mombasa
- Massawa
- Port Sudan
- Dar es Salaam
- Djibouti
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
- Processing time: about a week
- 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
Validation deadline. Documents must be submitted before the cargo reaches the port of discharge. You have 5 days after receiving the ECTN reference to forward the original Bill of Lading with place and date of issue and shipped-on-board date, signed and stamped.
Non-compliance. If you miss the certification deadline your cargo will suffer penalties and you will not receive an ECTN. If the original Bill of Lading is not forwarded within 5 days the system automatically cancels the certificate and a penalty fee applies to recover it.
Frequently asked questions
How can you get the South Sudan ECTN certificate?
Share PDF copies of the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Customs Declaration, and Freight Invoice (unless the freight value is on the commercial invoice) via sck@scktr.com.
How long does receiving a validated ECTN certificate take?
Usually around a week, as South Sudanese regulation is strict. The supplied documents must be coherent for the certificate to be validated.
What happens if the certificate cannot be validated within five days of receiving the ECTN reference?
You have 5 days to forward the original signed and stamped Bill of Lading. Otherwise the system automatically cancels the certificate and a penalty fee applies to recover it.
Can I have validation if the final destination is changed to South Sudan?
Authorities’ confirmation is required if the destination is changed after the vessel’s departure; their approach is generally positive as this is a special case. Other details such as package amount and weight must remain the same as the previous submission.
Who is responsible for obtaining the ECTN/BESC certificate?
The responsibility lies with the shipper. Transports without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper is responsible for the loss.
Ready to file? Apply for a ECTN certificate or go back to the South Sudan ECTN procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.