Certificate of Origin for Algeria

Certificates of Origin for Algerian Customs

A certificate of origin tells Algerian customs where goods were made, which is not always where they were shipped from. Customs uses that information to apply the correct duty rate, to check whether any import measures apply to goods of that origin, and for trade statistics. For U.S. exporters, the certificate is issued on the exporter’s declaration and certified by a chamber of commerce. Like the commercial invoice, it is a customs document, so it is excluded from the Apostille Convention and never apostilled, even now that Algeria accepts apostilles for other documents.

Non-preferential origin

Algeria grants tariff preferences under certain agreements, notably its Association Agreement with the European Union and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. Those preferences use their own certificates and rules, and goods of U.S. origin do not qualify for them. Shipments from the U.S. therefore use a standard non-preferential certificate of origin, the general chamber form recognized worldwide.

“Made in USA” or not?

The certificate must state the real country of origin. Goods manufactured or substantially transformed in the United States are U.S. origin. Goods made abroad and resold or re-exported from the U.S. keep their foreign origin, and the certificate should say so. A chamber can still certify a certificate showing another country of origin, provided the exporter supports it with the supplier’s documents. Declaring U.S. origin for imported goods is a serious error that Algerian customs can penalize.

Supporting documents for the chamber

To certify origin, the chamber reviews the certificate together with the commercial invoice for the same shipment and, where needed, evidence of manufacture, such as a manufacturer’s declaration or the supplier’s own certificate. The descriptions, quantities, marks and consignee must match the invoice exactly. Our review takes place before the stamp, so the certificate is right before it reaches Algeria.

Timing with the shipment

Certify the certificate of origin together with the invoice once the shipment details are final, ideally before the vessel or flight leaves, so the documents can travel with the bill of lading or through the bank. Certification is $35 per document, normally the same business day. If your Algerian buyer or bank asks for Algerian Embassy legalization as well, we arrange it after the chamber certification.