The Equatorial Guinea ECTN is a mandatory document required for customs clearance for all sea shipments arriving in Malabo or Bata, Equatorial Guinea. It will contain information from the bill of lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and customs declaration.
Without a valid ECTN certificate your consignee will face penalties and delays from the customs authorities in the destination port.
ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note and can also be known as CTN Certificate, BESC, Waiver, BIETC or FERI depending on the African country / final destination.
Getting an ECTN for Equatorial Guinea
First, you should gather the required documents:
- Bill of Lading: Draft BL is sufficient to begin the process
- Commercial Invoice: Showing incoterm, commercial value and date
- Freight Invoice: Not required if freight value is shown on the commercial invoice
- Customs Declaration: All information must match between the other required documents
Once you have all the specific requirements you are ready to begin:
- Submit: Email the required documents to AfricaCTN (or use our CTN Dashboard)
- Draft & Invoice: Receive a draft copy of the ECTN document and your invoice
- Approve: Check and confirm all the details of the draft ECTN
- Pay: Make payment of the invoice so validation can begin
- Validation: Receive the final validation and ECTN number ready for Equatorial Guinea customs clearance (online only, no hard copies required)
Important Information for Equatorial Guinea
- Responsibility: Shipper, freight forwarder or exporter
- Issuance: Required to be issued at the country of origin
- Necessary Documents: BL, commercial invoice, freight invoice, customs declaration, packing list (optional)
- In Transit: Required for shipments in transit to Cameroon, Gabon or Central African Republic
Why Shippers Choose AfricaCTN for Equatorial Guinea ECTN
Shippers around the globe trust AfricaCTN to handle the ECTN for all their shipments because:
- Authorized Agent: AfricaCTN is the authorized agent for Ghana ECTN issuance
- Rapid Response: AfricaCTN responds to all emails within just a few hours
- Accuracy: AfricaCTN has 99% accuracy across all ECTNs issued
- Personal Service: Our team of experts are available to answer questions on the phone, WhatsApp or by email whenever you need us
Summary
The Equatorial Guinea ECTN is required for all ocean shipments entering EQ. Guinea regardless of final destination. To get one with AfricaCTN you will need the BL, commercial invoice, freight invoice and customs declaration. Quickly submit your documents online or via email and you will receive your draft ECTN in just a few hours.
To learn more about the Equatorial Guinea ECTN, check out our full guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Cargo Tracking Number CTN?
It is a mandatory document when shipping to 25+ African countries.
How do I apply for an ECTN for shipping to Equatorial Guinea?
- Submit: Email the required documents to AfricaCTN (or use our CTN Dashboard)
- Draft & Invoice: Receive a draft copy of the ECTN document and your invoice
- Approve: Check and confirm all the details of the draft ECTN
- Pay: Make payment of the invoice so validation can begin
- Validation: Receive the final validation and ECTN number ready for Equatorial Guinea customs clearance (online only, no hard copies required)
Is there a restriction on the number of containers per ECTN/BESC?
No, Equatorial Guinea requires the ECTN per bill of lading. So the ECTN will cover all the containers on 1 BL regardless of how many there are.
Why is the Equatorial Guinea ECTN necessary for my shipment?
Equatorial Guinea requires the ECTN for all imports because:
- Port Security
- More Efficient Customs Clearance
- Monitor Cargo Before Arrival
