₹0 or ₹600? Two routes to an India-UK CETA certificate of origin, and when you need neither

Since 15 July 2026, Indian exporters get CETA certificates of origin on DGFT's Trade Connect, self-declared or agency-issued. How each route works, what the form needs and how your UK buyer uses it.

By Rahul, Director30 October 202612 min read

On this page

Is a certificate of origin mandatory for exports to the UK under CETA?
How much duty does a valid proof save your UK buyer?
What is the difference between a self-declared and an agency-issued CETA certificate?
What do you need before you apply on Trade Connect?
How do you apply for a self-declared DGFT certificate of origin on Trade Connect?
Which agency can issue a CETA certificate for your product, and what does it cost?
What goes in each box of the CETA origin declaration?
How does your UK buyer use the certificate to claim 0%?
How is a CETA certificate verified, and how long must you keep records?
Questions exporters ask
Sources

At a glance

Government fee to file a self-declared CETA eCoO on Trade Connect: ₹0
Appendix 2K fee for an agency-issued preferential certificate: ₹600
Validity of a CETA proof of origin from completion or issue: 12 months
UK customs value at or below which no proof of origin is needed: £1,000

Bottom line: The UK accepts a certificate, an exporter's origin declaration or the importer's knowledge. Agree the proof and the customs code with your buyer's agent first, then file on Trade Connect and keep the origin file for five years.

In short

A certificate of origin is one of three proofs the UK accepts under CETA, and no proof at all is needed at a customs value of £1,000 or less.
DGFT Trade Notice 11/2026-27 put both Indian routes on Trade Connect from 15 July 2026: a self-declared electronic certificate (eCoO) with no filing fee, or an agency-issued one at the Appendix 2K fee of ₹600.
The self-declared route needs a digital signature certificate (DSC) linked to your Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and a scanned ink signature, and the file is approved automatically.
No official text yet says whether a UK broker should declare a self-declared eCoO under code 9001 or N954, so agree it with your buyer's customs agent before shipping.
Proofs are valid for 12 months and exporters keep origin records for five years. HMRC's standard request to India must come within two years of a claim, but later requests remain possible (Article 3.25.5).

Is a certificate of origin mandatory for exports to the UK under CETA?

No. The UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has been in force since 15 July 2026. Under Article 3.15.1(a), a UK importer can claim preferential duty on any one of three proofs of origin. A certificate issued by an Indian authority is only one of them. This guide covers the preferential certificate for UK-bound goods; for a non-preferential certificate, see preferential vs non-preferential certificates of origin.

Proof of origin	Who makes it	UK customs code
Origin declaration (Annex 3B)	The Indian exporter or producer	9001
Certificate of origin (Annex 3C)	An Indian issuing authority, on the exporter's application	N954
Importer's knowledge	The UK importer, from documents it holds	U112

Goods going into India are different: Indian importers may rely only on an origin declaration (Article 3.15.1(b)). For UK-bound goods all three proofs work.

Small consignments need no proof at all. The UK grants preference without any proof of origin when the customs value is £1,000 or less (Article 3.18). The goods must still be originating and declared as such, and the waiver does not cover a series of imports planned to evade the rules. The importer remains responsible for the claim.

Above £1,000, a buyer without a valid CETA proof pays what it would pay without the deal: the standard rate, or the DCTS rate where India still qualifies and the buyer holds a DCTS proof. It can still make a late claim within one year of import (Article 3.20.3). The choice of proof sits with the buyer and its customs agent, so ask them before you apply for anything.

How much duty does a valid proof save your UK buyer?

On most Indian tariff lines the CETA rate is 0%, shown as preference code 300 on the UK Trade Tariff. The saving depends on what India paid before. Many lines already had a reduced rate under the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), and some were already duty-free.

Product (UK code)	India paid just before 15 July 2026	With a CETA proof	Why
Natural honey (0409000090)	16%	0%	No DCTS Standard rate
Hand-made wool shawls (6214200010)	8%	0%	DCTS 6.4% closed to India
Knitted bed linen (6302100000)	12%	0%	DCTS 9.6% closed to India
Cotton T-shirts (6109100010)	9.6% (DCTS; standard rate 12%)	0%	DCTS rate paid
Earthenware tableware (6912002510)	4.5% (DCTS; standard rate 8%)	0%	DCTS rate paid
Fresh mango (0804500040)	0%	0%	Already 0%
Turmeric (0910300000)	0%	0%	Already 0%

India lost the DCTS rate on chapter 62 from 1 January 2026, so the 8% shawl rate applied from that date. Bed linen (chapter 63) has had no DCTS rate for India since the scheme began on 19 June 2023. Where the line was already at 0%, as for fresh mango and turmeric, the proof adds nothing to the duty bill. Check your own line on the UK Trade Tariff first. A DCTS proof cannot support a CETA claim, and the reverse is also true.

What is the difference between a self-declared and an agency-issued CETA certificate?

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Trade Notice 11/2026-27 on 13 July 2026. It rolled out preferential certificates of origin for UK exports on the Trade Connect ePlatform at trade.gov.in from 15 July 2026. Its 'Certificate of Origin' service offers two routes to an electronic certificate of origin (eCoO).

Point	Self-declared eCoO	Agency-issued eCoO
Option to select	India UK CETA (Self-Declaration)	India-UK CETA (Agency Issued)
Who signs	You, with a digital signature certificate (DSC) linked to your Importer Exporter Code (IEC), plus a scanned ink signature	The agency approves and adds its officer's signature image and stamp
Government fee to file or issue	None	₹600 (Appendix 2K, item 15)
Approval	Automatic: 'Auto Approved Pending Issuance'	By the agency, due within 24 hours or 1 working day
Output	Electronic and Physical copies, each with QR code and digital signature	Electronic copy with QR code and digital signature
Checked later in India by	DGFT regional authority or special economic zone (SEZ) office mapped from your branch	The issuing agency
Legal basis in India	Handbook of Procedures (HBP) para 2.91(e)	HBP paras 2.88 and 2.90; Appendix 2B

Self-declaration rests on HBP para 2.91(e), as rewritten by Public Notice 09/2026-27 on 11 May 2026. The government says the first CETA certificates, handed out on 15 July 2026, were issued on a self-certification basis.

The no-fee rule applies only to self-declaration. DGFT has not published whether agencies add GST or service charges to the ₹600. A ₹200 non-preferential certificate is not a CETA proof, because CETA proofs must follow Annex 3B or 3C: see preferential vs non-preferential certificates of origin.

Filing and issue fees are not the only possible cost. HBP para 2.88(d) also applies Appendix 2K fees as a verification fee for origin certificates under free trade agreements. Item 16 lists a 'verification fee under FTAs' of ₹7,500 for a single unit or ₹12,000 for multiple units, and agencies may add travel and daily allowance. DGFT has not said how this applies to a CETA check, so ask coo-dgft@gov.in if a request reaches you.

Which route suits you? Self-declaration is free and issues as soon as you sign. An agency certificate costs ₹600 and adds the authority's certification 'on the basis of control carried out' (Annex 3C, box 12). On either route you certify the origin, keep the evidence for five years (Article 3.24.2) and answer any verification. Ask your buyer which one its customs agent wants.

How do you apply for a self-declared DGFT certificate of origin on Trade Connect?

1
Log in to Trade Connect
Go to trade.gov.in and sign in with your existing dgft.gov.in credentials.
2
Choose the self-declaration option
Open the 'Certificate of Origin' service and select 'India UK CETA (Self-Declaration)'.
3
Pick your branch
Select the branch address from your IEC details. Trade Connect maps the DGFT regional authority or SEZ that handles any later verification.
4
Enter the shipment details
Add the importer, producer, invoice, products with HS codes, origin criterion and transport details.
5
Submit without a fee
Submit using your DSC or Aadhaar authentication. The status changes to 'Auto Approved Pending Issuance'.
6
Generate and sign
Click 'Generate Self-Declared CoO', upload the scanned signature on first use, and sign with the DSC linked to your profile.
7
Download both copies
The Electronic Copy carries your scanned signature. Print the Physical Copy and sign it in ink. Both carry a QR code and digital signature.
8
Send it with the invoice
Send the proof with the commercial invoice to your buyer's customs agent in time for the import declaration. The proof must be issued or completed before or at import (Article 3.15.6) and go with an invoice (Article 3.15.2(e)).

High-volume exporters can use the Open API launched by Trade Notice 25/2026-27 on 7 September 2026. It lets ERP or accounting systems file applications on Trade Connect, and India-UK CETA is a supported agreement. Access is through 'API Management for Exporters' on the Trade Connect certificate of origin page.

Which agency can issue a CETA certificate for your product, and what does it cost?

Appendix 2K fee per preferential certificate of origin: ₹600
DGFT delivery rule for an agency certificate (or 1 working day): 24 hours
Agencies authorised for CETA certificates (10 bodies, 7 SEZ offices): 17

Public Notice 10/2026-27, dated 11 May 2026, added India-UK CETA to Appendix 2B and authorised 17 agencies. To apply:

On Trade Connect, open 'Certificate of Origin' and select 'India-UK CETA (Agency Issued)'.
Choose the agency for your product from the list shown.
Enter the shipment and origin details. The agency issues on information from the exporter or producer that the goods are originating (Article 3.16.4), so have your evidence ready.
Pay the ₹600 Appendix 2K fee.
After approval, download the Electronic Copy, which carries a QR code, a digital signature, the issuing officer's signature image and the agency's stamp.

Agency	Products covered	Examples
DGFT and its regional offices	All products	Kitchenware, stationery, electronics, tea
Export Inspection Council and Agencies	All products	Any product, including honey
APEDA	Agricultural products	Fresh fruit and vegetables, grocery staples
Spices Board	Spices and cashew nuts	Whole and ground spices
Textiles Committee	Textiles and clothing	Home textiles, garments, shawls
Development Commissioner (Handicrafts)	Handicrafts	Terracotta, Jaipur crafts, brass art-ware
Central Silk Board; Coir Board	Silk products; coir products	Silk textiles; coir mats
Seven SEZ offices	Goods made by SEZ units and export-oriented units (EOUs) in their zone	Only for SEZ or EOU units

MPEDA and the Tobacco Board complete the list. The Tea Board is not on it; DGFT and EIC cover all products, including tea. Black tea already enters the UK at 0%, so a CETA proof saves no duty on it. The examples column is our reading of each scope; for borderline goods, DGFT and EIC cover everything.

HBP para 2.88(d) says certificates are delivered within 24 hours or one working day, and ends the Tatkal service. Since 7 April 2026, HBP para 2.90(d) has barred agencies from issuing certificates outside trade.gov.in or any other platform DGFT designates.

What goes in each box of the CETA origin declaration?

An origin declaration follows the Annex 3B template and a certificate follows Annex 3C (Article 3.15.2). DGFT has not published a sample, so which layout its self-declared eCoO uses is not confirmed. The boxes still show the data you need.

Box	What to enter	Rule
1 to 3	Signatory's details; exporter's name and address in India; producer, or 'various'	Annex 3B, notes 1 and 2
4	UK importer, if known	Annex 3B, note 3
5	Reference number: for India, the IEC	Annex 3B, note 4(b)
6	6-digit HS code, description, invoice number and date	Article 3.15.2
7	WO, PE or PSR, naming the Annex 3A rule; tick if the invoice is issued in a non-Party or by someone other than the exporter or producer	Articles 3.2, 3.15.5
8 and 9	Transit or storage in a non-Party; roll-up used	Articles 3.14, 3.6
10	Single shipment, or identical shipments over up to 12 months (UK only)	Article 3.15.3
11	Signature and date; 'Completed retrospectively', with a reason, if after import	Article 3.15.7

Box 7 takes the most work. Common Annex 3A rules, covered in the guide to CETA product-specific rules:

Natural honey (heading 0409), fresh fruit including mango, and spices: WO, wholly obtained.
Shawls, bed linen and other Chapter 62 and 63 goods: CTH (a change of tariff heading) and Standard QVC (qualifying value content).
Terracotta and other ceramics (Chapter 69): CC, a change of chapter.
Copper and brass articles (Chapters 74 and 83): CTSH (a change of tariff subheading) and Standard QVC.
Standard QVC: at least 40% of ex-works price or 45% of FOB value (build-down), or 35% (build-up).

Annex 3C adds box 12, the issuing authority's certification with its seal. In both annexes, note 5 refers to paragraph 8 of Article 3.15; the rule on completing a proof retrospectively is paragraph 7, and paragraph 8 protects the late claim. Under Article 3.22, minor errors that raise no doubt about origin are no ground for rejection.

Prefer Trade Connect to a home-made form. The treaty lets an exporter complete an origin declaration in writing to the Annex 3B structure (Article 3.15.2), and HBP para 2.90(d) binds agencies, not exporters. But DGFT presents Trade Connect as the platform for all Indian electronic certificates of origin, and India's 2025 rules-of-origin FAQ said self-certified declarations would be generated on DGFT's platform. Before using any other route, check with DGFT (coo-dgft@gov.in) and your buyer's customs agent.

How does your UK buyer use the certificate to claim 0%?

Your buyer, or its customs agent, claims preference on HMRC's Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Three entries carry the claim:

Data element 4/17: a preference code in the 300 series. DCTS claims use the 200 series.
Data element 2/3: 9001 for an origin declaration (with the invoice number), N954 for a certificate (with its reference) or U112 for importer's knowledge, plus a status code such as AE or JP.
Origin country: IN.

The open question: 9001 or N954? DGFT calls both outputs a certificate of origin. The treaty reserves that term for a document issued by an issuing authority, while a self-declared eCoO is signed by the exporter. India's 2025 FAQ called the self-certified document an origin declaration. No HMRC or DGFT text settles the code, so agree it with your buyer's customs agent. Questions can go to HMRC or coo-dgft@gov.in.

The proof must exist before or at import (Article 3.15.6) and is valid for 12 months from completion or issue (Article 3.15.2). For the UK only, one proof can cover identical shipments over a stated period of up to 12 months (Article 3.15.3). DGFT has not said whether Trade Connect offers this.

If no proof existed at import, the importer can make a late claim within one year of import, or longer if UK law allows (Article 3.20.3). It needs a proof completed after import and marked 'completed retrospectively' with a reason (Article 3.15.7). Whether Trade Connect can produce one is not published, so get the proof issued before the goods land.

How is a CETA certificate verified, and how long must you keep records?

Exporters and producers keep origin records (Article 3.24.2): 5 years
Minimum record-keeping period for UK importers (Article 3.24.1): 4 years
Deadline for HMRC's standard request to India (Article 3.25.4); later requests remain possible (Article 3.25.5): 2 years

Authorities can check a DGFT eCoO at trade.gov.in under Certificate of Origin, then Verify Certificate, using the certificate number. If HMRC doubts a claim, Article 3.25 sets the order:

HMRC first asks the UK importer in writing.
If the importer's information is not enough, it writes to India's Department of Commerce, no later than two years after the claim (Article 3.25.4). Later requests can still come under the 2021 UK-India customs assistance agreement, and in suspected fraud, collusion, wilful misstatement or suppression of facts, India must answer a request made within five years of the claim within 12 months (Article 3.25.5).
The DGFT regional authority, SEZ or issuing agency follows up with you, and you produce the records.
For importer's-knowledge claims, the UK does not ask India at all.

The five-year rule also binds the Indian issuing authority. The CETA origin verification guide covers what a sound origin file holds.

You do not need HMRC registration or a URN for UK shipments. Those steps are for UK exporters sending goods to India (Article 3.16.6 and Annex 3D), as the rules-of-origin guide explains. Makers who prefer a merchant exporter to handle UK paperwork can contact Britbasket; the producer's origin information is needed either way.

Questions exporters ask

Is a certificate of origin mandatory for exports from India to the UK?

No. The UK accepts an exporter's origin declaration, a certificate from an Indian issuing authority, or the importer's knowledge (Article 3.15.1(a)). No proof is needed at a customs value of £1,000 or less, though the goods must still be originating and declared as such.

What are the DGFT certificate of origin charges for India-UK CETA?

A self-declared eCoO is filed without any fee under Trade Notice 11/2026-27. An agency-issued preferential certificate costs ₹600 under Appendix 2K, item 15; any agency add-ons are not published. A ₹200 non-preferential certificate is not a CETA proof. If India is asked to verify a certificate, Appendix 2K item 16 lists a verification fee under FTAs of ₹7,500 for a single unit or ₹12,000 for multiple units, plus travel costs; DGFT has not said how this applies to CETA.

Which digital signature do I need for a self-declared eCoO?

A DSC linked to your IEC profile on dgft.gov.in, with the profile name matching the DSC exactly. DGFT lists accepted types under IEC Profile Management in its help pages. The DSC is mandatory to generate the eCoO, even if you submitted with Aadhaar.

Do Indian exporters need to register with HMRC or get a URN?

No. Those steps apply to UK exporters sending UK goods to India. Indian exporters shipping to the UK file on Trade Connect, and UK authorities can check the result at trade.gov.in.

Can a CETA certificate of origin be amended after issue?

DGFT has not published an amendment process for CETA eCoOs, so ask coo-dgft@gov.in. Minor typing or formatting errors that raise no doubt about origin are no ground for rejection. If HMRC finds a proof illegible or defective on its face, the importer has 30 days from HMRC's notice to supply a corrected one (Article 3.22).

Can one certificate cover several shipments?

The treaty allows it for UK imports, for identical goods over a stated period of up to 12 months (Article 3.15.3). DGFT has not said whether Trade Connect supports it, so check before relying on it.

Rahul

Director, BRITBASKET PRIVATE LIMITED

Britbasket exports from India to UK wholesale, retail and foodservice buyers, and has cleared shipments into the UK by air and by sea. Registered in India: CIN U47220HR2025PTC128831, GSTIN 06AANCB2770Q1Z2, IEC AANCB2770Q. About the company

Sources

Last reviewed 30 October 2026. Border, tariff and plant-health rules change. Check the sources above before relying on this guide for a specific consignment.

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