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Build a compliant USMCA / CUSMA / T-MEC certificate of origin in minutes. Enter your shipment details and get a customs-ready document for duty-free trade between Canada, the US, and Mexico, with a step-by-step guide below.
Don't risk a denied claim over a missing field or the wrong origin criterion. Use the free generator to build a compliant USMCA / CUSMA certificate of origin in minutes, then have it reviewed if you want certainty before you sign.
Generate your certificate of origin using the tool above. Need help qualifying your goods or classifying HS codes? Get a customs quote from BorderBuddy, trusted by importers across Canada and the US.
It's the document that proves your goods qualify for duty-free or reduced-duty treatment under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. Without it, customs treats your shipment as a standard dutiable import, and you pay the full tariff.
The agreement goes by three names for the same thing:
The certificate replaced the old NAFTA Certificate of Origin in 2020. Unlike NAFTA, there's no government-mandated form. Any document works as long as it contains the nine required data elements. That flexibility is why a generator helps: it guarantees every required field is present and correctly labeled.
You need one whenever an importer wants to claim preferential (duty-free or reduced-duty) tariff treatment under USMCA/CUSMA. The certificate supports that claim.
You generally do not need one when:
A certificate can cover a single shipment or act as a blanket certificate for multiple identical shipments over a period of up to 12 months. Blanket certificates save repeat exporters from re-issuing paperwork on every order.
Who can complete it? Under USMCA/CUSMA, the importer, exporter, or producer can certify origin. This is a key change from NAFTA, where only the exporter or producer could. The party who signs takes legal responsibility for the claim's accuracy.
The Certification of Origin is a document used to certify that a product meets the specific rules of origin under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), or the Tratado entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC). This certification is essential for claiming preferential tariff treatment, ensuring that goods can enter the member countries duty-free or at reduced tariff rates. To obtain one:
The origin criterion tells customs why your product qualifies under the agreement. Choosing the wrong one makes the claim inconsistent on its face, so this field matters. There are four criteria:
Most manufactured goods fall under Criterion B, which means confirming the product-specific rule for your HS code. If you are unsure which criterion applies, have a licensed broker confirm it before you certify. The certifier is legally responsible for the claim.
Filling out the Certification of Origin accurately is crucial to avoid delays and ensure compliance. Here are the detailed steps to complete this document:
An EIN is a unique number assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity. It is required for all businesses that file taxes or conduct business in the U.S. Your EIN can be your 3PL warehouse if necessary.
Include the complete name, address, and contact information of the exporter.
Provide the exporter’s tax identification number.
The certifier can be the exporter, producer, or importer. Include their complete name, address, and contact details.
A declaration stating that the information provided is accurate and that the goods qualify for preferential treatment under CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC.
Provide the importer’s complete name, address, and contact information. This section may be left blank if unknown at the time of certification.
Describe the goods in sufficient detail to relate to the invoice and the Harmonized System (HS) code.
Include the HS code for each good. This code helps determine the applicable tariff.
Indicate the applicable rule of origin for each product (e.g., wholly obtained, produced entirely, regional value content, etc.).
If the certification covers multiple shipments of identical goods, specify the period the certification covers (up to 12 months).
The certifier must sign and date the document. The signature certifies that the goods qualify as originating and that the information provided is accurate.
Prefer to fill it in yourself? Generate a blank USMCA/CUSMA certificate of origin template with the tool above and save it as a PDF, then complete it by hand or type into it later.
A blank template helps when you certify the same goods repeatedly or want to share a standard form with your team. Remember that a blank form is only a starting point: every one of the nine required data elements still has to be completed correctly for the certificate to be valid.
Yes. CUSMA, USMCA, and T-MEC are three national names for the same agreement and the same certificate of origin. A certificate completed correctly is valid in all three countries.
No. Unlike the old NAFTA certificate, there is no required template. The certificate can take any format as long as it includes the nine required data elements.
A blanket certificate can cover shipments for up to 12 months. A single-shipment certificate applies only to that import. Keep records supporting your claim for at least five years in both Canada and the US.
Yes. As the importer, exporter, or producer, you can complete and sign your own certificate. The generator above ensures it contains everything customs requires.
Customs can deny the preferential claim, which means you pay full duty. Repeated or significant errors can also trigger an origin verification audit, so accuracy protects you on both fronts.
Filling out the Certification of Origin accurately can be complex and time-consuming. BorderBuddy offers expert assistance to ensure your certification is completed correctly and efficiently. Our services include:
By ensuring your Certification of Origin is filled out accurately and completely, you can take full advantage of the benefits offered by CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC and streamline your import processes. BorderBuddy is here to help you every step of the way.