What is a Commercial Invoice?
In foreign trade, a commercial invoice (also known as C/I) is a required document for the export and import clearance process. It is sometimes used for foreign exchange purposes. In the buyer’s country, it is the document that is used by their customs officials to determine the true value of the imported goods and assess import duties and taxes.
Before completing a commercial invoice for a new export destination, it is advisable to consult reliable sources for country-specific requirements. A few countries require the invoice to be on a specific form, but for most countries, the seller or exporters version is acceptable as long as all the pertinent information is included.
A commercial invoice (in addition to other information), must identify the buyer and seller, and clearly indicate the date and terms of sale, quantity, weight or volume of the shipment, type of packaging, complete description of goods, unit value and total value, and insurance, shipping and other charges.
Step 1: Obtain a stamped Commercial Invoice.
Usually, the commercial invoice must be filled out completely and notarized. Then it is submitted to an authorized entity or organization, such as the local Chamber of Commerce, State, Federal Government, or Company Representative. The competent authority will stamp, issue and validate the commercial invoice.
Step 2: Obtain Apostille or Authentication from related government authorities.
The destination country of your document will decide which certificate you should obtain.
An Apostille is for documents to be used in countries that participated in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. Once complete, no more steps are needed.
Authentication certificates are for documents to be used in countries that do not participate in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. The documents undergo an additional step for obtaining Authentication certificates from the US Department of State and that country's embassy in DC.
If the destination country is a member country/region (such as Germany, Spain, France, etc.)
Get an Apostille from the Secretary of State in your state. No further certification is needed.
If the destination country is NOT a member country/region :
Get an Authentication from the Secretary of State in your state.
Get an Authentication from the U.S. Department of State. (if required)
Get a Legalization from the Embassy.
Please note that if US exporters ship products and goods to Arab countries, the commercial invoice needs additional certification from NUSACC before presenting it to an embassy.
After you place the order, then please mail us the original documents for further processing based on the instructions you received from our team.
That's it. Once the apostille or authentication process is completed, we will mail it to your mailing address, either domestically or internationally. Shipping costs apply.
We provide apostille, authentication, and embassy legalization services for other personal documents and corporate documents issued in 50 states and DC.
If you have any questions and do not know which service to order, please contact us by describing ① the type of the document, ② which state the doc is from, and ③ in which country the doc will be used, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.