Togo
Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons
BESCElectronic cargo tracking note, validated before loading
Shipments to Togo need a BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons). Once the BESC reference for Togo is issued, the original bill of lading must follow within 5 days, or the certificate is cancelled.
When is it required?
Once the BESC reference for Togo is issued, the original bill of lading must follow within 5 days, or the certificate is cancelled.
Who applies?
The shipper or the freight forwarder files it.
How long does it take?
Draft the same day once the application is complete.
Togo BESC guide
Who runs it, where the cargo discharges, and the rules your file is checked against.
- Issuing body
- Conseil National des Chargeurs du Togo (CNCT)
- Port of discharge
- Lomé
Rules to know
- One BESC covers at most 5 containers; a larger shipment needs a second certificate.
- The BESC number is issued at validation, so it cannot be given in advance.
- The final, dated master bill of lading is needed before validation.
- Shipper, consignee and notify party addresses must be the same on every document.
- The weight on the export declaration must match the bill of lading.
- The statistical value on the export declaration must match the commercial invoice.
- For shipper-owned containers, the tare weight must be shown on the bill of lading.
- A pre-validated certificate must be completed within its validity period, or it is cancelled.
Documents to prepare for Togo
Tick what you already have. Send them when the list is complete, or send what you have now and we tell you what is missing.
List from our operations team, updated 4 August 2026.
Before you apply
Send your documents, we check them first
Upload the draft bill of lading or invoice. We check the details the BESC needs and tell you what to fix before anything is filed.
- Your files go only to our certificate team.
- You decide whether to apply after our reply.
The Conseil National de Chargeurs Togolais implemented a new regulation in 2000, mandating that all shipments to Togo must have a CTN (Cargo Tracking Note) certificate. The absence of this certificate results in severe consequences and substantial fines. Togo’s ports are frequently utilized for transit purposes. However, irrespective of the reason for using the ports, obtaining a CTN certificate is compulsory. Click here for more information on transit shipments. The CTN requirement applies to all ports in Togo, including Lomé.
Despite being mandatory and critical to the process, the CTN certificate is often one of the most overlooked certificates.
What is Togo CTN?
The name Electronic Cargo Tracking Note or ECTN, for short, explains the purpose of the certificate quite well. It is a certificate that enables authorities to track, manage, and supervise the cargo from loading to discharge. Additionally, it provides information about the shipments before they arrive at the destination. The certificate contains details about the exporter, the importer, the value of the goods, the quantity of the items, and more.
What are the required documents?
- Bill of Lading: It contains details about the exporter, the importer, the weight of the goods, the shipping line, the vessel name, etc.
- Commercial Invoice: It includes details of the goods, the freight cost, the incoterm, and some other charges if there is any, etc.
- Freight Invoice: This is a document only necessary when the freight cost isn’t on the commercial invoice.
- Export Customs Declaration: This document contains information about the goods getting transported and has a detailed description of them.
What are the consequences of not having this certificate?
The ECTN certificate must be validated five days before the vessel arrives at the destination at the latest. If you fail to provide the certificate, you will be facing a fine twice the amount of the ECTN cost plus the regulation charges determined by the Togolese National Port Officials.
Pricing
Certificate cost depends on the number of Bill of Ladings and the containers, the country of origin, the port of discharge, etc. This is why we can’t give you an exact price for the CTN. But if you share your shipment’s details with us we can send you an exact quote for your certificate. We offer free quotation.
Memberships and certifications
Membership
Certifications
- ISO 9001:2015Quality management
- ISO 14001Environmental management
- ISO/IEC 27001Information security management
