Sierra Leone CTN Comprehensive Guide

The Sierra Leone CTN is required for all ocean shipments destined for Sierra Leone. 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

• The incoterm must be mentioned on the commercial invoice
• The Chassis Number must be mentioned on the bill of lading when shipping vehicles

In Transit Shipments

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

• Sierra Leone does not require in transit ECTN

Common discharge ports for these shipments include:

• Port of Freetown

---

Required Documents

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

---

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 Process	How Long it Takes
1. Submit	Customer Action
2. Draft & Invoice	24-48 business hours
3. Approve	Customer Action
4. Pay	Customer Action
5. Final Validation	3-5 business days

---

Special Cases & Regulations

• If a shipment is not accompanied by a valid ECTN prior to vessel arrival there will be a $1000 penalty applied that must be settled in the destination port

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)