Services
Certificates of origin (FTA and approved exporters)
For companies seeking to export at FTA preferential tariff rates, we determine origin, arrange issuance of certificates of origin, and handle applications for and renewals of approved exporter status.
Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligible applicants | Manufacturers and exporters seeking to export at FTA preferential tariff rates, and companies seeking approved exporter status |
| Issuance method | Depending on the agreement, issuance by an authority (customs or a chamber of commerce and industry) or self-certification (prepared by the exporter or producer) |
| Processing time | Issuance by an authority: within 3 days of receipt of the application (10 days if on-site verification is required); approved exporter approval: within 30 days |
| First issuance | Approximately 2 to 4 weeks to prepare and review origin determination materials. A certificate of origin is issued for each export shipment |
| Costs | Origin determination and issuance fees (fee schedule below) |
Eligibility and requirements
To qualify for FTA tariff rates, export goods must meet the rules of origin of the applicable agreement and be accompanied by the certificate of origin specified in that agreement.
For repeated exports of the same product, product-level approved exporter status is obtained first. Please send the raw material records for the product and designate 1 person responsible for origin management. Approval is valid for 5 years from the date of approval.
Issuance methods
| Category | Issuance by an authority | Self-certification |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Customs or a chamber of commerce and industry | Exporting party |
| Applicable agreements (Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry guidance) | Korea-Singapore, Korea-ASEAN, Korea-India, Korea-Vietnam, Korea-China, Korea-Israel, Korea-Cambodia, Korea-Indonesia, RCEP, Korea-Philippines, Korea-UAE | Korea-Chile, Korea-EFTA, Korea-US, Korea-EU, Korea-Peru, Korea-New Zealand, Korea-Australia, Korea-Canada, Korea-Türkiye, Korea-Colombia, Korea-Central America, Korea-UK |
Procedure
- Check the agreementBased on the agreement with the importing country and the exporter requirements, we check whether issuance by an authority or self-certification applies.
- Origin determination (first time only)We determine compliance with the agreement's rules of origin using raw material records, and prepare a statement of origin justification and an origin confirmation certificate.
- Product-level approved exporter status (first time only)For products exported repeatedly, we apply to customs for approval.
- Apply for issuance for each shipmentFor agreements using issuance by an authority, we apply for issuance once the export declaration is accepted. For agreements using self-certification, the certificate of origin specified in the agreement is completed and signed.
- Approval renewalWe apply for renewal before the approval expires.
Documents to prepare
First time only (origin determination and approved exporter application)
- Evidence for each origin criterion: manufacturing process chart for the change in tariff classification criterion; evidence of raw material unit prices and bill of materials (BOM) for the value-added criterion
- Origin confirmation certificate (if the producer and exporter differ)
- Product catalog and HS code of the export goods (please confirm with the buyer in advance)
- Representative's signature (image of a signature made with a thick pen on white paper) and name in English
For each shipment
- Copy of the certificate of export declaration (not needed if we filed the declaration)
- Invoice or transaction contract
Deadlines and processing times
| Category | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Application for issuance by an authority | Before loading of the export goods is completed |
| Approval renewal application | From 1 year to 30 days before expiry. If no application is made by the deadline, approval ceases to be effective upon expiry |
| Certificate of origin validity | Under most agreements, 1 year from issuance or signature (specified by each agreement, such as 4 years for Korea-US and 2 years for Korea-Chile, Korea-Canada, Korea-New Zealand and Korea-Australia) |
| Document retention | Exporters and producers: 5 years from preparation or issuance of the certificate of origin (3 years for China) |
Our office's processing times from receipt of materials are 5 business days for origin determination (first C/O issuance), 1 business day for applications for issuance of a certificate of origin for products already assessed, and 2 weeks for preparation of approved exporter applications (new applications and renewals).
Services we provide
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin determination | Determination of compliance with each agreement's rules of origin using raw material records, preparation of statements of origin justification and origin confirmation certificates |
| Approved exporter status | Applications for product-level and company-level approval and renewal |
| Certificate of origin issuance | Applications for issuance by an authority for each shipment, preparation of self-certified certificates of origin |
Fees
| Item | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of origin issuance | Per case | KRW 50,000 |
| Preparation of self-certified certificate of origin | Per case | KRW 20,000 |
| Origin determination First C/O issuance | Change in tariff classification criterion KRW 300,000; value-added criterion KRW 500,000; exports to India KRW 600,000 Per agreement and product, up to 50 raw materials | From KRW 300,000 |
| Approved exporter certification New | Product-level: KRW 1,000,000 for the first agreement and product; Product-level: KRW 300,000 per additional agreement for the same product; Company-level: KRW 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 for up to 5 main products Company-level: by agreement for more than 5 products | From KRW 1,000,000 |
| Approved exporter certification Renewal | 50% to 70% of the fee for new certification | From KRW 500,000 |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What changes when we become an approved exporter?
For each shipment, you apply using the approval certificate without attachments such as a statement of origin justification, and customs may also waive on-site verification. Under the Korea-EU and Korea-UK FTAs, you may also prepare certificates of origin yourself for goods with a total price exceeding EUR 6,000.
Q. Can a certificate be issued for goods already shipped?
If you could not apply before shipment due to negligence or error, you may apply within 1 year of shipment.
Consultation
Consult us about certificates of origin
Related laws and resources
- Korea Customs Service FTA Portal: overview of certificates of origin
- Korea Customs Service FTA Portal: origin certification procedures
- Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Certificate of Origin Center: origin supporting documents
- Act on Special Cases of the Customs Act for the Implementation of Free Trade Agreements, Article 11 (Preparation and issuance of certificates of origin, etc.), Article 12 (Approval of approved exporters), Article 15 (Retention of origin supporting documents, etc.)
- Enforcement Rules of the same Act, Article 7 (Methods of issuing certificates of origin), Article 10 (Procedures for issuing certificates of origin for export goods)
Effective dates: Act on Special Cases of the Customs Act for the Implementation of Free Trade Agreements 2026-01-02, Enforcement Rules of the same Act 2026-05-01. Accessed through the National Law Information Center on 2026-10-21.