The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has introduced an Open Application Programming Interface (API) facility for the issuance and verification of Certificates of Origin (CoO) through the Trade Connect e-Platform, allowing eligible exporters to connect their own business software with the government’s CoO system.
The facility, announced on September 7, is designed to reduce repetitive data entry for exporters. Businesses can integrate their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), accounting or other software with the DGFT platform and electronically transfer information already stored in their systems when applying for a Certificate of Origin. The move is expected to help reduce data-entry errors and speed up applications.
The API covers both Preferential and Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin. Preferential certificates are used under Free Trade Agreements, Regional Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements to enable exporters to claim eligible tariff concessions in importing countries. Non-Preferential certificates serve purposes including customs clearance, compliance and trade remedies, without providing tariff benefits.
Exporters can obtain API credentials through the API Management section of the CoO Portal and register the IP addresses that will be used for system access. Three APIs are currently available: an Authentication Token API, a CoO File API for submitting applications and receiving certificates, and a Certificate Verification API.
The system also provides an electronic transaction ledger for tracking applications through stages including Draft, In Process, Approved, Certificate Issued and Rejected. It records identifiers such as acknowledgement ID, file number, file date and certificate number.
DGFT said the framework includes security measures such as digitally signed requests and responses, IP whitelisting and 60-minute access tokens. The facility supports several major trade agreements and certification schemes, with the system applying relevant fields, origin criteria and validation rules based on the selected scheme.
The technical integration process is available through the Trade Connect e-Platform. The facility was detailed in Trade Notice No. 25/2026-27, issued by DGFT on September 7, 2026.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Press Release: Press Information Bureau
