The document provides an overview of common export documents required for international trade. It discusses documents like the shipper's export declaration, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading, temporary import certificate, insurance certificate, export packing list, import license, consular invoice, inspection certification, dock receipt, and warehouse receipt. It also summarizes specific documents required for exporting goods via post like the customs declaration form, dispatch note, commercial invoice, consular invoice, customs invoice, legalized/visaed invoice, certified invoice, packing list, certificate of inspection, and black list certificate. The document outlines various certification documents that may be needed depending on the good and destination like manufacturer's certificate, certificate of chemical analysis, certificate of

1. Common Export Documents
The following documents are commonly used in exporting, but specific requirements vary by
destination and product. For assistance with country-specific documentation requirements,
please contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRADE.
Shipper’s Export Declaration
Commercial invoice
Certificate of Origin
Bill of Lading
Temporary Import Certificate / ATA CARNET
Insurance certificate
Export Packing List
Import License
Consular Invoice
Inspection Certification
Dock Receipt and Warehouse Receipt
Destination Control Statement
Shipper’s Export Declaration
The SED is the most common of all export documents. It can be electronically filed using the
AESDirect online system.
Commercial invoice
A bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by
governments to determine the true value of goods when assessing customs duties.
Governments that use the commercial invoice to control imports will often specify its form,
content, number of copies, language to be used, and other characteristics (see Sample).
Certificate of Origin
The Certificate of Origin is only required by some countries. In many cases, a statement of
origin printed on company letterhead will suffice (download generic certificate or see Sample with
explanation). Special certificates are needed for countries with which the United States has
special trade agreements, such as Mexico, Canada and Israel (see more information on Free
Trade Agreements).
Bill of Lading
A contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier (as with domestic shipments). For
vessels, there are two types: a straight bill of lading which is non-negotiable and a negotiable
or shipper's order bill of lading. The latter can be bought, sold, or traded while the goods are
in transit. The customer usually needs an original as proof of ownership to take possession of
the goods (see Sample Short Form Bill of Lading and Sample Liner Bill of Lading).
Temporary Import Certificate / ATA CARNET

2. An ATA Carnet (a. k. a. "Merchandise Passport") is a document that facilitates the temporary
importation of products into foreign countries by eliminating tariffs and value-added taxes
(VAT) or the posting of a security deposit normally required at the time of importation.
Insurance certificate
Used to assure the consignee that insurance will cover the loss of or damage to the cargo
during transit (see Sample). These can be obtained from your freight forwarder.
Export Packing List
Considerably more detailed and informative than a standard domestic packing list, it itemizes
the material in each individual package and indicates the type of package, such as a box,
crate, drum, or carton. Both commercial stationers and freight forwarders carry packing list
forms.
Import License
Import licenses are the responsibility of the importer. Including a copy with the rest of your
documentation, however, can sometimes help avoid problems with customs in the destination
country.
Consular Invoice
Required in some countries, it describes the shipment of goods and shows information such
as the consignor, consignee, and value of the shipment. If required, copies are available from
the destination country's Embassy or Consulate in the U.S.
Air Way Bills
Air freight shipments are handled by air waybills, which can never be made in negotiable
form (see Sample).
Inspection Certification
Required by some purchasers and countries in order to attest to the specifications of the goods
shipped. This is usually performed by a third party and often obtained from independent
testing organizations.
Dock Receipt and Warehouse Receipt
Used to transfer accountability when the export item is moved by the domestic carrier to the
port of embarkation and left with the ship line for export.
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Destination Control Statement
Appears on the commercial invoice, and ocean or air waybill of lading to notify the carrier
and all foreign parties that the item can be exported only to certain destinations.
Introduction
An exporter without any commercial contract is completely exposed of foreign exchange risks

3. that arises due to the probability of an adverse change in exchange rates. Therefore, it becomes
important for the exporter to gain some knowledge about the foreign exchange rates, quoting of
exchange rates and various factors determining the exchange rates. In this section, we have
discussed various topics related to foreign exchange rates in detail.
Export from India required special document depending upon the type of product and destination
to be exported. Export Documents not only gives detail about the product and its destination port
but are also used for the purpose of taxation and quality control inspection certification.
Shipping Bill / Bill of Export
Shipping Bill/ Bill of Export is the main document required by the Customs Authority for
allowing shipment. A shipping bill is issued by the shipping agent and represents some kind of
certificate for all parties, included ship's owner, seller, buyer and some other parties. For each
one represents a kind of certificate document.
Documents Required for Post Parcel Customs Clearance
In case of Post Parcel, no Shipping Bill is required. The relevant documents are mentioned
below:
• Customs Declaration Form - It is prescribed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and
international apex body coordinating activities of national postal administration. It is
known by the code number CP2/ CP3 and to be prepared in quadruplicate, signed by the
sender.
• Despatch Note- It is filled by the exporter to specify the action to be taken by the postal
department at the destination in case the address is non-traceable or the parcel is refused
to be accepted.
• Commercial Invoice - Issued by the exporter for the full realisable amount of goods as
per trade term.
• Consular Invoice - Mainly needed for the countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Mauritius, New Zealand, Burma, Iraq, Ausatralia, Fiji, Cyprus, Nigeria, Ghana, Zanzibar
etc. It is prepared in the prescribed format and is signed/ certified by the counsel of the
importing country located in the country of export.
• Customs Invoice - Mainly needed for the countries like USA, Canada, etc. It is prepared
on a special form being presented by the Customs authorities of the importing country. It
facilitates entry of goods in the importing country at preferential tariff rate.
• Legalised / Visaed Invoice - This shows the seller's genuineness before the appropriate
consulate or chamber or commerce/ embassy.
• Certified Invoice - It is required when the exporter needs to certify on the invoice that
the goods are of a particular origin or manufactured/ packed at a particular place and in
accordance with specific contract. Sight Draft and Usance Draft are available for this.
Sight Draft is required when the exporter expects immediate payment and Usance Draft
is required for credit delivery.
• Packing List - It shows the details of goods contained in each parcel / shipment.
• Certificate of Inspection – It is a type of document describing the condition of goods
and confirming that they have been inspected.

4. • Black List Certificate - It is required for countries which have strained political relation.
It certifies that the ship or the aircraft carrying the goods has not touched those
country(s).
• Manufacturer's Certificate - It is required in addition to the Certificate of Origin for
few countries to show that the goods shipped have actually been manufactured and is
available.
• Certificate of Chemical Analysis - It is required to ensure the quality and grade of
certain items such as metallic ores, pigments, etc.
• Certificate of Shipment - It signifies that a certain lot of goods have been shipped.
• Health/ Veterinary/ Sanitary Certification - Required for export of foodstuffs, marine
products, hides, livestock etc.
• Certificate of Conditioning - It is issued by the competent office to certify compliance
of humidity factor, dry weight, etc.
• Antiquity Measurement – It is issued by Archaeological Survey of India in case of
antiques.
• Shipping Order - Issued by the Shipping (Conference) Line which intimates the exporter
about the reservation of space of shipment of cargo through the specific vessel from a
specified port and on a specified date.
• Cart/ Lorry Ticket - It is prepared for admittance of the cargo through the port gate and
includes the shipper's name, cart/ lorry No., marks on packages, quantity, etc.
• Shut Out Advice - It is a statement of packages which are shut out by a ship and is
prepared by the concerned shed and is sent to the exporter.
• Short Shipment Form - It is an application to the customs authorities at port which
advises short shipment of goods and required for claiming the return.