A USMCA certificate of origin (officially a certification of origin) is the document that lets goods qualify for duty-free treatment under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. If your goods originate in the US, Mexico, or Canada and meet the rules of origin, this certification is how you claim the preferential tariff.
There is no official USMCA form
Unlike the old NAFTA Certificate of Origin (CBP Form 434), USMCA has no prescribed government form. Instead, CBP accepts any document — an invoice, a separate sheet, or the template below — as long as it contains the nine required data elements. CBP even publishes an optional suggested certification template and guidance you may use.
The 9 required data elements
- Certifier type — importer, exporter, or producer
- Certifier — name, address, phone, email
- Exporter — if different from the certifier
- Producer — if different (or "Various")
- Importer — name and address
- Description and HS classification of the goods
- Origin criterion (A, B, C, or D)
- Blanket period — if the certification covers multiple shipments over up to 12 months
- Authorized signature and date, with the certification statement
Free USMCA Certificate of Origin Template
Below is a free USMCA certification of origin template containing the nine required data elements. There is no official government form, so any format with these elements is accepted. Download it in Word or PDF.
- 1. Certifier type (importer, exporter or producer)
- 2–5. Certifier, exporter, producer and importer details
- 6. Description of goods and 6-digit HS classification
- 7. Origin criterion (A, B, C or D)
- 8. Blanket period of up to 12 months
- 9. Authorized signature, date and certification statement
Preview:
Who can certify and who completes it
Under USMCA, the importer, exporter, or producer can complete the certification — a change from NAFTA, which required the exporter/producer. A single certification can cover one shipment or a blanket period of up to a year of identical goods.
USMCA vs. NAFTA and the general certificate of origin
For background, see USMCA vs. NAFTA and what the USMCA agreement is. Note this preferential certification is different from a general, non-preferential certificate of origin issued by a chamber of commerce — the USMCA version is specifically to claim the trade-agreement tariff.
FAQ
Is there an official USMCA certificate of origin form? No. USMCA does not require a specific government form. CBP accepts any document — including an invoice or a template — as long as it contains the nine required data elements.
What are the nine required data elements of a USMCA certification of origin? Certifier type; certifier; exporter; producer; importer; description and HS classification; origin criterion; blanket period; and the authorized signature, date, and certification statement.
Who can complete a USMCA certification of origin? Under USMCA the importer, exporter, or producer can complete the certification — unlike NAFTA, which required the exporter or producer.
What is a blanket period on a USMCA certification? A blanket period lets one certification cover multiple shipments of identical goods over a span of up to 12 months, instead of certifying each shipment separately.
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