ECTN Certificate
The ECTN Certificate is a mandatory loading document required for 25+ countries in Africa.
ECTN Certificate for Shipments From India to Africa
ECTN requirements, required documents, and application guidance for Indian exporters and freight forwarders shipping to Africa.
Select your destination country to learn more
Angola
CNCA 
Benin
BESC 
Burkina Faso
ECTN 
Burundi
ECTN 
Cameroon
BESC Central African Republic
ECTN Chad
BESC Djibouti
CTN 
DR Congo
FERI Equatorial Guinea
ECTN Gabon
BIETC 
Guinea Bissau
ECTN Ivory Coast
BSC Kenya
ACD 
Liberia
CTN Madagascar
BSC Mali
BESC 
Niger
ECTN Republic of Congo
ECTN Republic of Guinea
BESC Senegal
BESC Sierra Leone
CTN Somalia
CTN South Sudan
ECTN Sudan
ACD 
Togo
ECTN Yemen
ACD What is CTN Certificate?
Start Your CTN Required Documents
Each shipper should provide the bill of lading, commercial invoice and freight invoice.
25+
Countries that require the electronic cargo tracking note as a loading certificate for customs clearance.
KenyaACDTogoECTNGhanaECTNBeninBESCSenegalBESCIvory CoastBSCGuineaBESCCameroonBESCAngolaCNCASierra LeoneCTNLiberiaCTNRepublic CongoECTNIndia to Africa ECTN Application Process
5 steps to process and obtain your ECTN number, ECTN, BESC, BSC, CNCA, FERI for international trade.
- Submit documentsSend the required shipment documents to AfricaCTN.
- Review draft and invoiceReceive the draft certificate details and service invoice.
- Approve detailsCheck the draft against the BL, invoice and freight values.
- Complete paymentMake payment so the application can move to validation.
- Receive validationGet the final validated certificate for customs clearance.
Major Ports in India and Timelines to Destination
Key ECTN requirements, major loading ports, typical transit times, and when to start the application.
Ports & Rules
Final destination determines the certificate, not the Indian loading port.
- Common ports: Mundra, JNPT, Hazira, Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata, Haldia, Visakhapatnam.
- Certificate types: ECTN, BESC, BSC, CNCA, FERI, ACD, ENS, CTN.
Timing & Filing
Start before arrival to avoid corrections at discharge.
- East Africa: 12-22 days average transit.
- West Africa: 30-55 days average transit.
- Best time to file: Once BL, invoice and freight details are ready.
ECTN Number
File your application early so you can get the ECTN number and avoid delays and demurrage in the discharge port.
Destination Requirements
AfricaCTN ensures all shipments loading in India meet the necessary destination requirements for customs clearance.
Filing Timeline
Since shipments loading in India have quick transit times, it's important to file your application early to avoid delays in the discharge port.
Start Your CTN
CTN Dashboard Destination Requirements Filing Timeline
Ready for review Certificate match Before sailing
Draft Bill of LadingCheckedReady
Commercial invoiceMatchedReady
Freight detailsNeededOpen
Importer documentsPendingOpen
AngolaCNCAReview
BeninBESCConfirm
CameroonBESCConfirm
TogoECTNReview
Booking confirmedDay 1Done
Draft BL readyDay 2Open
Submit CTN docsDay 3Next
Approve certificateBefore ETAPlanned
Why Shippers Choose AfricaCTN
AfricaCTN helps Indian exporters, freight forwarders and shippers prepare destination cargo tracking certificates before the shipment reaches Africa.
Expert Support
Dedicated specialists for each country ensure compliance with local regulations.
Rapid Service
Most certificates are processed within hours, not days.
Never Miss a Deadline
We track your shipment daily to ensure your CTN is validated on time, preventing costly delays.
Start Your CTN
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CTN certificate?
A CTN certificate is a cargo tracking document used by certain African destination countries to monitor import shipments before arrival. It links the shipment details, bill of lading, invoice and freight information to a validated tracking number.
What does CTN stand for?
CTN stands for Cargo Tracking Note. Depending on the destination country, the same requirement may also be called ECTN, BESC, BSC, CNCA, FERI or ACD.
How to get a CTN number in shipping?
To get a CTN number, submit the required shipment documents for the destination country, receive the draft and invoice, approve the draft details, complete payment and wait for final validation.
Why is the CTN Certificate required?
The CTN certificate is required by destination authorities to pre-register cargo, support customs control, confirm shipment data and reduce clearance delays at the discharge port.
What is a Cargo Tracking Note?
A Cargo Tracking Note is the official tracking reference for a shipment entering a country that requires cargo pre-registration. It is usually validated before arrival and may be required for customs clearance.
How do I get a ECTN number?
You can get an ECTN number by applying through AfricaCTN with the bill of lading, commercial invoice and freight invoice. Some countries will additionally require the certificate of origin and packing list. AfricaCTN reviews the documents, prepares the draft and supports validation with the destination authority.