Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
World Trade Center Northern California issues official export documents digitally using the globally recognized Swiftdox platform — typically delivered within 1 business day.
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Business Day
Member COO Price
Digital Process
Definition
A Certificate of Origin (COO) is an official export document that certifies the country where a product was manufactured or produced. It is required by foreign customs authorities to determine applicable duty rates, and verify free trade agreement eligibility.
What We Issue
Every document is digitally processed and certified — no paper forms, no office visits, no delays.
Certifies your product is legally manufactured and freely sold in the US. Required for cosmetics, supplements, food products, and medical devices in most export markets.
Verifies manufacturing according to Good Manufacturing Practice standards. Required for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food manufacturers exporting to the EU, Middle East, and Asia.
Some countries require an additional authentication layer — either an Apostille or full embassy legalization. WTC Northern California handles the complete process end-to-end.
The Platform
A purpose-built platform for export document processing. Fast, secure, and built for exporters.
Submit documents and check status securely from anywhere — no office visits, no phone calls.
Our team reviews every application for completeness and compliance before certification.
Available in English-Spanish and English-Arabic for international regulatory requirements.
Download your certified document immediately — no waiting for physical mail.
Why Digital
WTC Northern California delivers in as little as 1 business day — no paper, no office visits.
Pricing
Competitive with — or below — most California Chambers. Members save on every order.
Most commonly required export document. Essential for FTA benefits and customs clearance.
Member price
$50
Non-member
Member price
$150
Non-member
For pharma, medical devices, and food manufacturers in regulated markets.
Member price
$175
Non-member
Pricing varies — contact us for a quote.
Save on every order as a member. Learn about membership →
Process
The entire process happens online through SwiftDocs. Fast, secure, and straightforward.
Your certified COO is issued within 1–3 business days and available for immediate download.
A Certificate of Origin is required for each export shipment to prove the country of origin to the importing country. Therefore, it must be obtained for every shipment.
A COO is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. However, a good business practice is to have a COO less than 6 months old to clear customs of the importing country. This will avoid having to pay demurrage if foreign customs ask you to provide a more current certificate or there are issues with the shipment documentation.
The most common documents required to apply for a COO in the US are:
Typically, an exporter or the manufacturer of the goods applies for the COO. Authorized representatives, such as freight forwarders or logistics companies, can also apply on behalf of the exporter with an authorization letter.
Yes, you can list multiple products in a Certificate of Origin with different countries of origin on a single COO, provided each product’s origin is clearly indicated.
Depending on the importing country, some nations, particularly those in the Middle East, require a Certificate of Origin (COO) to be legalized. The most common countries that mandate document legalization are Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, and Qatar.
A Certificate of Free Sale (CFS), also known as a Certificate of Export (COE), certifies that products being exported are freely sold in the country of origin or country of export and consumed by local consumers. It assures the government of the importing country that the imported products comply with their safety and regulatory standards, hence can be consumed by local consumers.
The CFS provides foreign governments with assurance that the products being shipped are consumed in the exporting country, ensuring safety for their consumers. The certificate is mainly used to register products with foreign regulatory authorities so that the goods can be imported into a new market. Companies planning to export products need to obtain a CFS to ensure smooth customs clearance and regulatory compliance in the importing country.
The certificate is a regulatory requirement by the importing country. Depending on the country, different authorities require this certificate.
Yes, the product names intended for export must be listed in the certificate. It is best to list the product names exactly as on the product label, including specifications like ounces (e.g., 1 oz, 2 oz).
You can add as many products as needed to the certificate.
Yes, Swiftdox platform issues multi-language certificates, such as English-Spanish and English-Arabic.
A current bill of sale (less than a year old) showing the products sold to a US buyer (consumer or wholesale). The bill of sale should itemize the product names.
Yes, a CFS is issued for a specific country and must mention the country explicitly, for example, “This certificate is for China or Saudi Arabia.”
The certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, so it is best to plan accordingly when applying for it.
US manufacturers, brand owners, or authorized company representatives such as freight forwarders, logistics companies, or regulatory companies can apply for the certificate.
Products such as food, vitamins, supplements, juices, beverages, seafood, exempt medical devices, dietary supplements, soft drinks, CBD products, cosmetics, beauty and wellness products, gummies, and general manufactured goods require a CFS. Essentially, if the product is consumed on the body or in the body, you need a certificate of free sale to meet foreign government regulation requirements.
Enhance product reputation, improve consumer confidence, facilitate international trade, and comply with regulatory standards.
For assistance or questions, contact our Trade Services Team at trade@norcalwtc.org or call (916) 447-9827.
Get Started
California exporters trust NorCal WTC for fast, official, digital export documentation.
Apply in minutes — receive your certificate in 1–3 business days.