USMCA certification of origin template: the nine elements to include

A USMCA certification of origin template needs one thing: the nine minimum data elements, written so a supplier can fill in every one. There is no official government form, so any document that carries all nine elements, and the certification statement with a signature and date, is accepted in form. The same applies to a "USMCA certificate of origin template", which is the same document under an older name.

The tool above checks a certification you paste in, element by element, and its page links a blank template listing the nine elements. This guide explains what each element must hold and the mistakes that send a certification back.

What goes in a USMCA certification of origin template?

Nine data elements, as CBP lists them in its USMCA FAQ. Put each one in its own labelled box:

1. Who is certifying: importer, exporter or producer.
2. Certifier: name, title, address, phone and email.
3. Exporter: name, address, phone and email, if different from the certifier.
4. Producer: name, address, phone and email, or "Various" or "Available upon request" where the rules allow it.
5. Importer: name, address, phone and email, if known.
6. Description and HS classification: a description of the goods and their tariff classification to at least six digits.
7. Origin criterion: the letter A, B, C or D.
8. Blanket period: from and to dates, up to 12 months, if the certification covers more than one shipment.
9. Authorized signature and date, next to the certification statement.

Which rules allow "Various" and which party may certify turns on the agreement text and your facts. Where you are unsure, ask your customs broker or counsel; this guide describes what a certification must contain, not whether your goods qualify.

Does the certification need a specific form or layout?

No. CBP states that no particular form is required, as long as the nine data elements are present. You can use a supplier's own invoice language, a letter, a spreadsheet row or a PDF template. The elements matter, not the layout. That is why one importer ends up with forty different documents from forty suppliers, and why checking each one against the same list is most of the work.

What should the certification statement say?

The statement is what the signature attaches to. In plain terms, it says the goods described qualify as originating, the information is true and accurate, and the signer takes responsibility for proving it and keeping or producing the supporting documents on request. Use the wording in the agreement and CBP's guidance in the final template. Keep the statement visible above the signature, so a signature never stands alone on a page.

How do you fill the blanket period correctly?

A blanket certification covers multiple shipments of identical goods over a period of up to 12 months. Fill both dates, check that the end date is after the start, and check that the span is not longer than a year. Leave both blank only when the certification covers a single shipment, and say so. A blanket period that has ended is the most common reason a file that looked complete turns out to be expired at audit.

What mistakes send a certification back?

• No HS classification, or fewer than six digits.
• Origin criterion written as a sentence instead of a letter, or left out.
• A signature with no date, or a date with no signature.
• A blanket period that ends before it starts, or covers more than 12 months.
• Producer or exporter left blank with no "Various" or "Available upon request".
• The certification statement missing from a spreadsheet or email pasted into a form.

Each of these is a completeness problem you can see without judging origin. USMCA Cert Chase's check reads the text, marks each of the nine elements present, missing or "needs a look", and says why.

Where can you download a free template, and what do you send with it?

The blank template is a free download from the tool above: one labelled field per data element, plus the certification statement with a place for the signature and date. It is a form for the certifier to fill in and sign; it does not write the certification for them.

Send it with a short, plain request that puts your company's name first and lists the nine elements. A version you can copy:

Subject: USMCA certification of origin for the goods we buy from you

Hello, [Company] imports goods from you and claims USMCA treatment. Please send a signed USMCA certification of origin for those goods, covering the period [dates]. It needs the nine data elements: who certifies; the certifier; the exporter; the producer; the importer; a description of the goods with the HS code to six digits; the origin criterion (A, B, C or D); the blanket period if it covers more than one shipment; and a signature and date. If you have no form, the attached template has every field.

Send it from a person with a name, not a no-reply address, and check what comes back against the nine elements before you file it.

How does USMCA Cert Chase use the template?

USMCA Cert Chase emails each Mexican and Canadian supplier one request naming your company, listing the nine elements, with a no-login upload link. A supplier with no form of its own can download the blank template from that page, filled in with your company name. The supplier uploads a PDF, Word, Excel or CSV file up to 4 MB. Text PDFs, Excel and CSV files are read automatically; Word files and scanned PDFs are not, so you enter the elements by hand. You approve each certification before it counts.

If a supplier never answers, it sends reminders on day 7, 14 and 21, then stops and lists the supplier in your Monday digest for you to call. It does not write your certification or decide whether goods qualify, and it is not legal advice.

See the full collection process and the nine elements as form fields. To see a whole supplier list checked, run the free sample.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official USMCA certification of origin form?

No. CBP's FAQ lists the minimum data elements and leaves the format open.

Can the importer write the certification?

The importer may certify, using information it has, and you should confirm the details with a broker or counsel. USMCA Cert Chase collects and checks certifications; it does not write yours.

How long do I keep the certification?

The record-keeping rule at 19 CFR 182.15 is five years; check it against your own entries. USMCA Cert Chase keeps each approved certification five years from the day you approve it, and lets you download a ZIP per supplier.