The document that proves where your goods were made — and unlocks reduced or zero import duties under EU trade agreements.
A certificate of origin (COO) is an official document that certifies the country in which a product was manufactured. It is used by customs authorities at the destination to determine whether the goods qualify for preferential tariff rates under a free trade agreement (FTA) between the exporting and importing countries. For exporters shipping from Portugal, the most common certificates are EUR.1 (used for EU trade agreements with third countries like Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon), A.TR (the movement certificate for Turkey under the EU customs union), and REX (Registered Exporter system for self-certification). Since Brexit, shipments from Portugal to the UK also require proof of origin to benefit from the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement zero tariff rate.
Full name, address, and contact of the exporting company in Portugal. Must match the EORI registration.
Name and address of the importer at the destination country.
The country where the goods were produced or sufficiently processed. Not the country they are being shipped FROM — this is a common mistake.
The means of transport (road, air, sea) and the country of destination.
Detailed description of the goods, HS code, and the gross weight or other quantity measure.
The rule under which the goods qualify as originating — e.g. 'wholly obtained' (manufactured entirely in the EU) or 'sufficient processing' (meets transformation rules).
A signed declaration confirming the information is accurate and the goods meet the origin criteria of the relevant trade agreement.
For EUR.1 and A.TR forms, the issuing customs authority (in Portugal, Autoridade Tributária) must stamp and sign the document to validate it.
A COO is only needed when the destination country has a preferential trade agreement with the EU AND you want the importer to claim a reduced duty rate. Research the EU's trade agreement with your destination country.
Your goods must meet the 'rules of origin' for the specific trade agreement. This means they must be either wholly produced in the EU, or sufficiently processed here (meet specific transformation requirements).
EUR.1 for most EU FTA partners; A.TR for Turkey; Statement on Origin (self-certified) for small shipments or registered exporters (REX); Form A (GSP) for developing country preferences.
For EUR.1 and A.TR, apply to the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (Câmara de Comércio) or submit to Autoridade Tributária (AT) who will validate and stamp the form. Bring supporting documentation proving origin.
The original COO must accompany the shipment. The consignee presents it to customs at the destination to claim the preferential tariff rate when clearing the goods.
If you import goods from China and re-export from Portugal, the country of origin is China — not Portugal. You cannot use an EU preferential certificate of origin for non-EU origin goods. This is a serious customs offence.
Using an EUR.1 for Turkey (which requires A.TR) or vice versa will result in the importer's duty preference being refused. Always check which form applies to your specific trade agreement and destination.
EUR.1 and A.TR forms must be stamped by the relevant authority to be valid. A self-printed form without official endorsement will be rejected at destination customs.
COOs should be obtained before the goods are exported. Retrospective certificates can be obtained in some cases but require additional documentation and explanation and may be rejected.
You need a COO when you are shipping to a country that has a preferential trade agreement with the EU (or Portugal as an EU member state) AND you want the importer to benefit from reduced or zero import duties under that agreement. Common examples: Portugal to UK (EU-UK TCA), Portugal to Morocco (EU-Morocco Association Agreement), Portugal to South Korea (EU-Korea FTA).
EUR.1 is a physical movement certificate issued and stamped by customs authorities. A Statement on Origin (formerly known as the supplier's declaration) is a self-certified statement that can be added directly to the commercial invoice by an approved exporter (REX registered) for shipments up to €6,000, or any value if the exporter is REX-registered.
No. There are no customs checks between EU member states, so no certificate of origin is required for intra-EU shipments. COOs are only needed for exports to non-EU countries under trade agreements.
Yes. Since January 2021, shipments from Portugal to the UK require proof of EU origin to benefit from the zero tariff rate under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This can be a Statement on Origin on the commercial invoice (for REX-registered exporters) or a EUR.1 form.
REX stands for Registered Exporter. It is a system that allows approved EU exporters to self-certify the origin of their goods with a Statement on Origin on their commercial invoice, without needing a EUR.1 for each shipment. Register via the Portuguese Autoridade Tributária to obtain a REX number.
A EUR.1 certificate is typically valid for 4 months from the date of issue. A.TR certificates are valid for 4 months. Statements on Origin are valid for 12 months for goods with an identical origin. The importer must present it to destination customs before it expires.
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