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What Countries Require the ECTN Certificate?

Contents

An ECTN is required by the following countries:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Republic of Congo, Republic of Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Togo, Yemen.

When shipping goods to Africa a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) is required, it is also known as an ECTN, BESC, BSC, FERI, BIETC or ACD depending on the destination country. Failing to secure a CTN can lead to heavy penalties and delays.

This guide provides a complete country-by-country breakdown of CTN requirements including required documents, timelines and deadlines. Whether you’re a freight forwarder, customs broker or shipper, use this page as your reference to ensure full compliance and avoid penalties.

Standard Procedure – How to Get an ECTN?

While the core CTN process is similar across all destinations, each country has specific requirements, documents and regulations that must be followed. Below, you will find both the standard universal CTN procedure and detailed country-specific instructions for each country where a CTN is required:

  1. Submit the required documents to AfricaCTN via email or our via our secure CTN dashboard.
  2. The draft CTN and invoice will typically be ready within two hours*
  3. Confirm all the information is correct and then approve the draft
  4. Pay the invoice
  5. Once the draft is approved and the invoice is paid we will submit the ECTN to the relevant authorities
  6. The final validation will be available within 24-48 hours*

Angola CNCA / ARCCLA

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Same day once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Angola CNCA / ARCCLA

Angola CNCA / ARCCLA Example Document

Benin BESC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Benin BESC

Benin BESC Example

Burkina Faso ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Burkina Faso ECTN

Burkina Faso ECTN Example

Burundi ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Burundi ECTN

Burundi ECTN Example

Cameroon BESC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Cameroon BESC

Cameroon BESC Example

Central African Republic ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Central African Republic ECTN

Central African Republic ECTN Example

Chad ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 24 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-72 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Chad ECTN

Chad ECTN Example

Djibouti ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Djibouti ECTN

Djibouti ECTN Example

Democratic Republic of the Congo FERI

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Same day once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Democratic Republic of the Congo FERI

Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC ECTN Example

Equatorial Guinea ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Equatorial Guinea ECTN

Equatorial Guinea ECTN Example

Gabon BIETC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Mandatory Deadline: The prior agreement must be validated prior to vessel departure

Example Gabon BIETC

Gabon BIETC Example

Guinea Bissau ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Guinea Bissau ECTN

Guinea Bissau ECTN Example

Ivory Coast BSC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-72 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Ivory Coast BSC

Ivory Coast BSC Example

Liberia CTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-72 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Liberia CTN

Liberia CTN Example

Madagascar BSC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Will vary based on the shipping documents
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Madagascar BSC

Madagascar BSC Example

Mali BESC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Mali BESC

Niger ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Niger ECTN

Niger ECTN Example

Republic of Congo ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Same day once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Republic of Congo ECTN

Republic of Congo ECTN Example

Republic of Guinea BESC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Same day once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Republic of Guinea BESC

Republic of Guinea BESC Example

Senegal BESC

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Senegal authorities will not validate the BESC until 48 hours prior to vessel arrival
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Senegal BESC

Senegal BSC Example

Sierra Leone ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: Will vary based on shipping documents
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Sierra Leone ECTN

Sierra Leone CTN Example

Somalia ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Somalia ECTN

Somalia ECTN Example

South Sudan ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example South Sudan ECTN

Togo ECTN

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Togo ECTN

Togo ECTN Example

Yemen ACD

Required Documents

Timeline

  • Documents to Draft: Typically issued within 2 hours of receiving the documents
  • Approval to Validation: 24-48 hours once the draft is approved and payment is received
  • Mandatory Deadline: The CTN must be validated prior to vessel arrival at destiantion

Example Yemen ACD

Yemen ACD Example

Final Thoughts

Staying compliant with CTN regulations is essential for smooth international shipping. Requirements may change without notice, and port authorities can request additional documents depending on the shipment and consignee profile.

If you are unsure which documents you need or want a fast, compliant CTN, our team can assist you from start to finish.

* The timeline of validation can vary by country. Once we submit the ECTN to the port authorities it is up to their discretion how long it will take until the validation is released.

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