A Certificate of Origin (CoO) is a shipping document that states where goods were manufactured, produced, or substantially transformed. Customs authorities, banks, and trading partners may use it to determine tariff treatment, verify eligibility under a trade agreement, or satisfy import paperwork requirements.
The document is usually prepared by the exporter or its agent, then certified when the destination country or a buyer requires formal proof of origin. In some transactions, a chamber of commerce or other authorized body may validate it; in others, a self-certified origin statement may be accepted instead, depending on the agreement and country rules.
A CoO does not prove shipment route or ownership, and it is not the same as a bill of lading, commercial invoice, or packing list. Its value is mainly in origin claims: for example, a product assembled in one country from components sourced elsewhere may need origin support to show whether it qualifies as originating under the applicable rules.