What is a EUR.1 certificate?
Key Points
- The EUR.1 certificate attests to the European origin of goods and allows for preferential customs duty rates in countries that have concluded trade agreements with the EU.
- This document contains the contact details of the exporter and the consignee, a description of the goods, the country of origin, the country of destination, and shipping information.
- In France, the EUR.1 certificate falls under the jurisdiction of the customs authorities. While chambers of commerce and industry can assist companies with certain formalities, they do not constitute the issuing authority in a customs sense.
- In certain cases, it can be replaced by an invoice declaration (for example, for goods valued at less than €6,000 or when the exporter has 'approved exporter' status).
What is the EUR.1 certificate?
It is proof of origin for goods transported from the EU to countries that have signed a trade agreement with the Union. The role of the EUR.1 certificate is simple: to prove to the customs authorities of the destination country that the product originates from the European Union and can therefore benefit from preferential treatment. Where can you request it? What information does it contain? Find out in this article.
EUR.1 Movement Certificate: What is it?
The EUR.1 certificate is a document used to export goods outside the EU to countries that have signed trade agreements with the European Union. It serves as proof of origin, certifying that the product in question has been wholly manufactured, processed, or transformed in an EU member state.
Why is the EUR.1 certificate important? Because it allows you to obtain preferential or zero customs duties, depending on the applicable trade agreement. You must therefore check, for each destination, whether the agreement in force requires a EUR.1 certificate or provides for another method of proof of origin, such as a statement on origin.
What does the EUR.1 export certificate contain?
After a brief description of this certificate, let's examine it in more detail. What information does it contain?
- Address and name of the exporter.
- Address and name of the consignee.
- Description of the goods: comprehensive details regarding the type, quantity, and value of the goods.
- Country of origin.
- Territory or country of destination.
- Gross weight.
- Information relating to the shipment.
For which countries is the EUR.1 export certificate necessary?
As previously indicated, the EUR.1 export certificate is necessary for customs clearance in countries that have concluded a valid trade agreement with the EU. Here is a brief overview of the most important countries:
Europe
- Iceland
- Faroe Islands
- Liechtenstein
- Ukraine
- Albania
- Georgia
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Serbia
Middle East
- Israel
- Syria
Africa
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Tunisia
North and South America
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
The list of countries benefiting from preferential treatment may evolve. In 2026, we strongly recommend systematically checking the trade agreements in force prior to export via the official European Union databases (Access2Markets).
Since 1 February 2025, the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement has been fully applicable. As of 2026, EUR.1 certificates are no longer recognised as proof of preferential origin for trade with Chile. Operators must use either a statement on origin made out by an exporter registered in the REX system, or the "importer's knowledge" mechanism, in accordance with the new rules of origin.
In this context, the use of the REX system may be required depending on the exporter's profile and the conditions set out in the applicable agreement.
The REX system (Registered Exporter System)
The REX system is a self-certification system that allows registered exporters to declare the preferential origin of their goods themselves. Instead of obtaining a EUR.1 certificate from the customs authorities, exporters registered in the REX system can issue statements on origin directly on their commercial invoices or other commercial documents.
To use the REX system, exporters must:
- Register with the competent customs authorities in their country.
- Obtain a unique REX number.
- Include this REX number in their statements on origin for consignments over €6,000.
- Retain the supporting documentation to prove preferential origin in the event of an inspection.
The REX system applies across several EU preferential regimes. However, it does not uniformly replace the EUR.1 certificate in all trade agreements. Depending on the partner country, the proof of origin can take the form of a EUR.1 certificate, an origin declaration, a "statement on origin," or another mechanism provided for by the relevant agreement.
You will find the complete list of countries benefiting from preferential customs treatment for products originating in the EU on the official EU website.
How to obtain a EUR.1 certificate?
Are you exporting your goods to one of the countries on the list? If so, you probably want to know how to obtain the EUR.1 certificate. The procedure is simple.
First of all, you can obtain the certificate either in hard copy or in digital format. In France, the application is made as part of customs formalities, and the EUR.1 certificate is issued or endorsed by the competent customs authorities. After obtaining the form, remember to present it during customs clearance and have it stamped, where required. This will help you avoid additional duties, delays, or any other inconvenience when selling your products abroad.
Since 1 January 2026, trade covered by the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention must be assessed in light of the revised PEM Convention, which is now applicable between the EU and most of the contracting parties. The EUR.1 certificate can be issued retrospectively (after export) in certain cases, particularly in the event of errors, if the certificate was not accepted for technical reasons, or if the destination was unknown at the time of export. Versions issued retrospectively must bear the phrase "ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY" in box 7 of the certificate.
Who issues the EUR.1 certificate?
One question often comes up amongst exporters: who actually issues the EUR.1 certificate? In practice, this document is issued by the customs authorities of the exporting country, at the request of the exporting company or its representative. In France, the form can be obtained as part of customs procedures and then validated by the competent services before or at the time of export. While chambers of commerce and industry can assist companies with certain administrative formalities, the official issuance of the EUR.1 certificate remains the responsibility of the customs authorities.
Need help with customs clearance and the procedures related to obtaining and managing the EUR.1 certificate? Choose Landmark Global as your logistics partner and benefit from the presence of our customs agents at the airports from which we ship your goods. With us, customs clearance will not be a problem, and your products will arrive on time, every time. Contact us to find out more!
Do you always need the EUR.1 certificate to benefit from duty reductions or exemptions?
If you are planning to ship your products outside the EU to one of the partner countries, we have some good news for you: you do not have to worry about the EUR.1 certificate every single time.
There are two exemptions to this obligation—situations where you do not need the certificate to benefit from preferential treatment. What are they?
- The value of the goods is less than €6,000.
- As a shipper, you have obtained 'approved exporter' status from the customs authorities.
Depending on the applicable trade agreement, it may then be sufficient to use an invoice declaration, an origin declaration, or a "statement on origin". The exact type of proof to use must always be verified within the text of the agreement concerned or via Access2Markets. Furthermore, this invoice declaration will not need to be endorsed by the customs authorities when the applicable rules allow it, saving you time and effort in gathering the required documents. However, there are still a few rules regarding the information that must be included in such a statement.
What must an invoice declaration contain?
The exact wording of the declaration depends on the applicable trade agreement. It is therefore advisable to use the official wording provided for the specific destination country.
- The place and date.
- The name of the exporter and, where the applicable rules require it, their signature or their registered exporter identifier.
EUR.1 certificate – key takeaways
While obtaining and presenting a EUR.1 certificate may seem like an additional administrative burden, remember that it is in your best interest—allowing you to obtain a reduction or exemption from customs duties where applicable. Therefore, despite the extra steps, this requirement is ultimately highly beneficial. Furthermore, if you choose us as your logistics partner, we will assist you with this (and many other aspects) of customs clearance, greatly streamlining the process.
Essential information on the EUR.1 certificate:
- Definition and importance: The EUR.1 certificate is a document that certifies the origin of goods exported from the EU to countries with trade agreements with the Union, thus allowing for preferential customs duties.
- Content of the certificate: It includes information such as the names and addresses of the exporter and consignee, a description of the goods, their origin, their destination, and shipping information.
- Countries requiring the certificate: The EUR.1 certificate may be required for certain exports to countries having a trade agreement with the EU, such as Switzerland, Israel, Mexico, or Egypt, but its use always depends on the specific rules set out in the relevant agreement.
- Procedure for obtaining it: In France, the EUR.1 certificate is requested as part of customs formalities and falls under the responsibility of the competent customs authorities. It must be presented during customs clearance when required to benefit from customs duty reductions.
Did you find this article helpful? You can also consult our other guides, such as:
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The EUR.1 certificate is a document attesting to the origin of EU goods, required when exporting to countries that have concluded trade agreements with the Union in order to benefit from reduced or zero customs duties.
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In France, while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) can assist, the certificate is officially issued and endorsed by the customs authorities. The document can be obtained in hard copy or digital format, and must then be presented at the customs office.
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No. If the value of the goods does not exceed €6,000, or if the exporter has 'approved exporter' status, an invoice declaration is sufficient instead of a EUR.1 certificate.
