Certificate of origin Kenya: 5 types and simple steps to apply

Updated 12 November 2026

A certificate of origin Kenya exporters attach to a shipment proves where the goods were made, and it decides whether the buyer pays full duty or a preferential rate. Who issues it depends on the market: the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) issues the ordinary certificate, while the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) issues the preferential certificates for COMESA, the East African Community (EAC), the EU and the United States. This guide explains each type, the documents KRA asks for, the origin tests and the fee.

Updated 12 November 2026. Sources: the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) page on certificates of origin and KRA’s published procedure on preferential tariff treatment. The KRA procedure is undated, so confirm fees and forms with the Rules of Origin office before you ship.

Why a certificate of origin in Kenya matters

KEPROBA describes the certificate of origin as an international trade document certifying that goods in a shipment were wholly obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in a given country. Customs in the importing country uses it to decide the tariff. Without the right preferential certificate, a buyer in Uganda, Egypt or Germany may pay the full duty even if your goods qualify for a lower rate, which can make your price uncompetitive. With it, the goods can enter duty-free or at a reduced rate under the trade agreement.

There are two families. A non-preferential (ordinary) certificate simply states origin for customs or a buyer’s paperwork. A preferential certificate claims a lower tariff under a trade agreement and is checked against that agreement’s rules of origin.

The 5 types of certificate of origin Kenya exporters use

For the ordinary certificate, KEPROBA lists three steps with KNCCI: apply with details of the goods, origin and destination; KNCCI verifies the claim; and KNCCI issues the certificate for clearance. For the preferential certificates, the steps run through KRA, as below. US trade preferences depend on decisions in Washington, so check current AGOA eligibility before relying on it.

How to register and apply for a certificate of origin with KRA

KRA’s procedure says companies wishing to export under COMESA, EUR 1, GSP or AGOA must first be registered with the Rules of Origin office of the Customs department, and that applications should be made in advance of any intended export. KEPROBA describes the same steps for EAC and EU-EPA certificates.

1. Register as an exporter. Make a written application on the Exporter’s Registration Form to the Commissioner of Customs. Attach certified copies of your certificate of incorporation, KRA PIN certificate, VAT registration certificate or exemption letter, and, for horticultural produce, an export licence from the horticulture regulator.
2. Plant verification. For manufactured goods, KRA’s Rules of Origin office visits your plant to confirm the goods meet the origin criteria of the agreement you want to use. You then receive a unique registration number.
3. Pay. Pay the certification fee using a KRA payment slip.
4. Get and fill the forms. Submit the payment receipt and Form F147 to the Rules of Origin staff to be issued the certificate forms. Fill the certificate (typed) in triplicate and attach the export invoice.
5. Authentication. KRA stamps and signs correct certificates. You keep the original and duplicate; KRA keeps the triplicate and the invoice. The original travels with the goods.

Your customs entry itself is lodged through KRA’s customs system and the trade single window; see our iCMS customs declaration guide and the KenTrade Single Window guide. Many exporters hand the paperwork to a licensed agent; see how clearing and forwarding licences work.

Origin rules your goods must pass

A preferential certificate of origin in Kenya is only valid if the goods meet the agreement’s rules. KRA’s procedure lists the five COMESA criteria; goods qualify if they meet any one:

• wholly produced in a member state; or
• produced in member states with the CIF value of foreign materials no more than 60% of the total cost of all materials; or
• produced in member states with value added of at least 35% of the ex-factory cost; or
• classified under a different tariff heading from the non-originating materials used (a “change of tariff heading”); or
• designated by the COMESA Council of Ministers as goods of particular importance, with at least 25% value added.

For the EU, KRA’s procedure describes goods as originating if they are wholly obtained or sufficiently processed, judged by a change in four-digit tariff heading, a value-added limit on non-originating materials that differs by product, or a specific process test (for woven garments, for example, manufacture from yarn). GSP rules are set by each donor country, and every article in a consignment must qualify on its own.

A worked example: a Nairobi juice maker that imports concentrate and packaging worth KSh60 for every KSh200 of total material cost uses 30% foreign materials, well inside COMESA’s 60% limit, so it can register for a COMESA certificate. A trader who only repacks imported rice into smaller bags would usually fail, because repacking does not change the tariff heading or add enough value.

Fees, offices and common mistakes

KRA’s procedure states a uniform certification fee of two hundred shillings (KSh200), paid into a KRA account before the forms are issued. KRA lists Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret as the stations that issue certificates of origin; see our list of KRA offices and service centres. KNCCI sets its own charges for ordinary certificates, so ask its nearest branch.

Common mistakes that delay shipments:

• applying for the certificate only when the truck is loaded, instead of registering in advance;
• using an ordinary KNCCI certificate when the buyer needs a preferential one to claim lower duty;
• goods descriptions on the certificate that do not match the invoice;
• claiming origin for goods that are only repacked or relabelled.

Misleading entries carry penalties. KRA’s procedure says an exporter found to have made misleading entries or obtained a certificate fraudulently faces an offence under section 203(b) of the EAC Customs Management Act. Importing countries can query certificates, and KRA then runs a post-verification audit of your export documents.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues a certificate of origin in Kenya?

KNCCI issues the ordinary (non-preferential) certificate. KRA’s Rules of Origin section issues the preferential certificates for COMESA, EAC, the EU under the EPA, AGOA and GSP.

How much is a certificate of origin in Kenya?

KRA’s published procedure sets a uniform certification fee of KSh200 for preferential certificates. KNCCI charges its own fee for ordinary certificates. Confirm current amounts before paying.

What documents do I need to register as an exporter with KRA?

Certified copies of your certificate of incorporation, KRA PIN certificate, VAT registration certificate or exemption letter, and a horticulture export licence if you export fresh produce, attached to the Exporter’s Registration Form.

Do I need a certificate of origin to export to Uganda or Tanzania?

To claim EAC preferential treatment, yes: KRA issues the EAC certificate of origin, which must accompany the goods so the importing country can apply the EAC rate.

Where can I get a COMESA certificate of origin?

From KRA’s Rules of Origin office after registering as an exporter. KRA lists Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret as issuing stations.