Knowledge Base / Liberia CTN Comprehensive Guide

Liberia CTN Comprehensive Guide

Last Updated: March 19, 2026

The Liberia CTN is required for all ocean shipments destined for Liberia. It is obtained through AfricaCTN, a Global ECTN Provider.

For additional inquiries please contact us at info@africactn.com.

Getting Started

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the shipper or freight forwarder to obtain the validated CTN and provide it to the importer.

Validation Deadline

The CTN Certificate must be validated prior to vessel arrival in the discharge port.

Key Information

  • During the validation process, Liberian authorities have a dedicated team that will asses the value of your goods and assign them a ‘fair market value’. The only way to prevent the value of the goods from being changed during validation is to have the customs declaration sent to Liberia directly from the issuing authority

In Transit Shipments

In transit refers to a shipment that discharges in one country and its final destination is in another country.

  • Liberia does not requires an ECTN for in transit shipments

Common discharge ports for these shipments include:

  • Monrovia
  • Buchanan

Required Documents

  • Bill of Lading
  • Commercial Invoice
  • Freight Invoice
  • Export Declaration or Customs Declaration

Application Process

First, you must gather digital copies of the required documents as mentioned above. Then you can proceed with the application process:

  1. Submit: Send all the necessary documents to AfricaCTN via email or online
  2. Draft & Invoice: You will receive a draft copy of your ECTN and invoice
  3. Approve: Check and confirm all details on the draft ECTN
  4. Pay: Make payment of the invoice so validation can begin
  5. Final Validation: Receive your final validated ECTN ready for customs clearance

Validation & Approval Process

Validation of a CTN certificate is the process in which the certificate moves from a draft copy to a final copy. In order to begin validation two things must happen:

  • Approval: The customer must check and confirm all details on the draft copy, ensure they match the shipping documents provided and notify AfricaCTN that the draft has been approved.
  • Payment: The invoice must be paid before validation can begin.

Once these two steps are complete, AfricaCTN will release the final validated CTN certificate ready for customs clearance.

Timeline

Step of the ProcessHow Long it Takes
1. Submit Customer Action
2. Draft & Invoice 2-4 business hours
3. Approve Customer Action
4. Pay Customer Action
5. Final Validation 24-72 business hours

Special Cases & Regulations

  • Without a valid export declaration or customs declaration the LRA (Liberia Revenue Authority) will adjust the value of the goods you are shipping to what they deem is market value.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the CTN required for shipments to Liberia?

Yes, the CTN is required for all ocean freight shipments with a final destination in Liberia.