What is a EUR.1 origin certificate?
A EUR.1 is a customs document that proves the preferential origin of goods under a trade agreement between the EU and a third country. With a valid EUR.1, your customer pays no or strongly reduced import duties on import in the destination country, instead of the regular third-country tariff. For exporters, this is therefore a hard commercial advantage: you can quote more competitively and your customer keeps more margin.
Important to understand: preferential origin is something different from non-preferential origin (the “made in” indication). Preferential origin is strictly determined by the origin rules in the specific agreement, laid down in a list of operations or processing per HS heading. A product is only of preferential EU origin if it is wholly obtained in the EU, or has been sufficiently worked or processed according to that list rule. Materials from third countries can count, provided the right processing has taken place.
The EU has preferential trade agreements with, among others, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey (industrial goods), Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Chile, Mexico, South Africa and the Western Balkan countries. For more recent agreements such as the UK (TCA), Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea and Canada (CETA), no EUR.1 is used anymore - there a statement of origin on the invoice applies, possibly under a REX registration. We make you familiar with which proof applies for your destination.
When do you need a EUR.1?
You need a EUR.1 (or comparable proof of origin) as soon as:
- You export to a country with which the EU has a preferential agreement, and your customer wants to claim the preferential rate
- Your goods meet the origin rules for that agreement and that HS position
- The invoice value is above the threshold below which a simple statement of origin suffices (€6,000 in most agreements)
- You don’t have an Approved Exporter or REX registration and therefore cannot declare on the invoice yourself
- Your customer explicitly asks for a EUR.1 for their import administration
For regular recurring flows, an Approved Exporter license (so-called “Approved Exporter”) or REX status is often more advantageous - then the individual certificate application becomes unnecessary. We always advise based on your actual export flows which model is most efficient.
What do we need to apply?
For a smooth EUR.1 application at the Chamber of Commerce we’d like to receive:
- Commercial invoice with goods description, HS code(s), value and INCOTERM
- Packing list with packages, weights and pieces
- Origin substantiation: are you the manufacturer? Provide the recipe, materials list and cost price breakdown. Are you a trader? Then you need a supplier’s declaration from your EU supplier
- Exporter and consignee details (name, address, EORI)
- Country of destination and preferably the reference to the applicable agreement
- Waybill or transport details (especially relevant for transit via another country)
- License if you are an Approved Exporter (for reference only)
If there’s doubt whether your product meets the origin rule, we conduct an origin assessment in advance. That’s always wiser than losing a verification afterwards and saddling your customer with a recovery claim.
How does the process work?
1. Document check and origin analysis (1-2 hours) We check whether your product falls under the right list rule and whether the supplier’s declarations are correct. If in doubt we ask additional questions before submitting.
2. Digital application at the KvK We submit the EUR.1 via the KvK portal (CrCloud / certifii), with you as the exporter. The application is digitally assessed.
3. Stamp and issuance On approval, the KvK physically prints the certificate and stamps it. We arrange pick-up or delivery to you or directly to your forwarder.
4. Distribution to the chain You or your consignee submits the EUR.1 to the customs of the destination country together with the import declaration. Only then is the preference definitively applied.
5. Archiving We keep the application and underlying documents for at least 7 years for any origin verification - in line with the retention period under the UCC.
Processing time: with delivery before 12:00 on business days you usually have the certificate in hand the next business day. Rush orders are possible by arrangement.
What does it cost at DouaneDoc?
| Scenario | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard EUR.1 (1 product, clear origin) | on request + KvK fees |
| EUR.1 with multiple HS lines / origin analysis | on request + KvK fees |
| Retrospectively issued EUR.1 | on request + KvK fees |
| Support for Approved Exporter / REX application | custom quote |
| Monthly subscription from 15 certificates | individual rate |
KvK fees are currently approximately €13.75 per certificate (2026 rate, exact rate per KvK).
Example 1 - Aalsmeer-based machine builder delivers installation to a customer in Morocco: on request + fees, EUR.1 in 1 business day.
Example 2 - wholesaler exports a mix of semi-finished goods to Switzerland: origin analysis + multi-line EUR.1 for on request + fees, with supplier’s declarations verified.
Example 3 - exporter with 30 shipments/month to Morocco: we arrange Approved Exporter license, then statements of origin on invoices instead of separate EUR.1s - significant savings.
Common mistakes and how we prevent them
1. Wrongly claiming EU origin A product only assembled in NL from predominantly Asian components often does not meet the origin rule. We calculate value percentages in advance and check for tariff heading changes.
2. Missing supplier’s declarations As a trader you depend on your EU suppliers for the proof. Without a valid supplier’s declaration your EUR.1 is a paper tiger at verification. We make sure you routinely collect long-term supplier’s declarations in the right format.
3. EUR.1 for the wrong agreement For the UK, Japan, Canada and several other countries, no EUR.1 applies. We prevent your customer from standing at the import customs with the wrong document.
4. Discrepancies between invoice and certificate Differences in weight, value or description are standard reasons for refusal. We align all documents before submitting.
Why DouaneDoc?
- Senior origin expertise - we assess origin rules structurally, not as an afterthought
- Support for Approved Exporter license and REX registration application - structural savings for frequent exporters
- Direct line with the KvK for handling and rush requests
- Watertight archiving for 7 years, ready for any verification
- Part of Aircargo Netherlands - one partner for both your export declaration and your origin documents
Call 088 088 2407 or email sales@aircargo.nl. With delivery before 12:00 your EUR.1 is generally with you or your forwarder the next business day.