Botswana - Obtain a Preferential Certificate of Origin

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Procedure

Apply In Person

1. Botswana traders/exporters exporting under Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or Market Access Regulation (MAR) and want to pay zero-duty, will required need a certificate of origin proving that the export product complies with the European Union’s (EU’s) rules of origin from the Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS). BURS Regional Office Locations & Contact Details
2. Prior to exportation, traders are required to register with the nearest BURS – Regional Office (Customs and Excise Division). Registered Traders should obtain a certificate of origin and a movement Certificate EUR 1 (if applicable) for every export consignment.
3. If the consignments to be exported is valued at 71,744 pulas or less, or the trader is an approved exporter (for consignments of any value), then the exporter just need an invoice Declaration that shall serve as a certificate of origin
4. To make an invoice declaration:
   • Type, stamp or print the following declaration (in the appropriate language) on the invoice, delivery note, or other commercial documents: " The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorization No ... ) declares that except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... preferential origin".
   • the exporter can find the different language versions together with explanatory notes on the second page of the invoice declaration. If the exporter writes the declaration by hand, he/she must do so in ink using printed characters.
   • The exporter should sign the invoice declaration by hand.
   • When filling in an invoice declaration, the exporter should be prepared to submit documents proving the originating status of the products, and fulfill the other requirements of the Protocol on Rules of Origin.
5. If the consignments to be exported are valued at more than 71,744 pulas, the exporter will need to fill in an EPA EUR.1. It is issued by BURS.
6. Download the application form sample EUR1 Form to see what information will the applicant need to provide to complete the form. Note: Only an original EUR1 certificate should be attached to export documentation. Contact BURS in Botswana to get an original EUR1.
7. Submit the completed form together with documents proving the origin of the products to be exported and that they meet the EU Rules of Origin.
8. If the products to be exported are exempted from payment of Customs duties, before exporting, the exporter will need prior approval by BURS and a relevant Exemption Certificate. Check the BURS for further information on taxation, customs, and excise landscape in Botswana.
9. For frequent exporters, the exporter can register as an authorized exporter by the customs authority. Then, the exporter can use invoice declarations in place of EUR1 regardless of value. These are declarations on the commercial paperwork raised by the business from which the exporter is importing the goods - a stamp by customs in the EU is no longer required.
10. To become an approved exporter, the exporter must be able to prove to the customs authorities that he/she is able to prove the originating status of the export products. The customs may require the exporter to present or submit other documents to support their application.
11. where the applicant is an approved exporter, he/she is exempt from signing the invoice declaration by hand provided he/she gives the customs authorities a written undertaking that he/she accepts full responsibility for any invoice declaration identifying him/her.

NOTE: Please refer to link below to view International Trade Agreements/treats that Botswana has signed and partnered International Trade Agreements

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Required Documents

Invoice Declaration

• Documents proving the originating status of your products
• Signed declaration
• Other requirements under the Protocol on Rules of Origin

Form EUR1

• Completed EPA EUR 1
• Documents proving the origin of your products and that they meet the EU Rules of Origin.

Approved Exporter

• The exporter must be able to present documents that can prove the originating status of their products, and other documents to support the application.

Office Locations & Contacts

Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)
Head Office
Address: Plot 54379 Central Business District (CBD), Gaborone
Botswana
Telephone: +267 3638000
Fax: +267 3639999
BURS Regional Office Locations & Contact Details
Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) Website

Eligibility

Botswana traders/exporters exporting under Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or Market Access Regulation (MAR) and who want to pay zero-duty are eligible to apply.

Fees

• No fee is associated with this service.

Validity

• The validity of the certificate of origin shall be mentioned on the certificate and it shall remain valid for that specified period, unless revoked or cancelled by the Authority.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

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e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

• Full names of the exporter/trader
• Identification document details
• Nationality
• value of consignment to be exported
• Contact details of the exporter
• Country where the consignment is been exported
• Declaration by the applicant

Need for the Document

Botswana traders/exporters exporting under Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or Market Access Regulation (MAR) and want to pay zero-duty, will be required to obtain a certificate of origin proving that the export product complies with the European Union’s (EU’s) rules of origin.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)

Others

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