Preferential vs Non-Preferential Origin
The first thing to understand is that "certificate of origin" can mean two very different things, depending on its purpose:
Non-preferential origin simply states where goods were made — for general customs purposes, trade statistics, country-of-origin labelling rules, anti-dumping measures or because the buyer requires it. It does not reduce import duties at the destination. This is the conventional certificate issued by the Cámara de Comercio.
Preferential origin goes further: it demonstrates that goods meet the specific rules of origin defined in a trade agreement between the EU and the destination country, and therefore qualify for reduced or zero import duties. This is established by an EUR.1 movement certificate or an invoice declaration — not by a Chamber of Commerce certificate.
A Chamber of Commerce certificate does not grant preferential duties. If your buyer needs to claim a reduced tariff rate under an EU trade agreement, they need an EUR.1 or an invoice declaration — not a conventional certificate. Mixing these up is one of the most common and costly mistakes in Spanish export documentation.
The Conventional Certificate of Origin (Cámara de Comercio)
The conventional certificate of origin is a general-purpose document issued by the Cámara de Comercio (Chamber of Commerce). It certifies the country of origin of the goods for non-preferential purposes — required by some importing countries for customs clearance or import licensing, or requested by buyers as part of the commercial documentation.
Common situations where it is needed include exports to countries with no EU trade agreement (where the buyer's customs authority requires it for administrative purposes), and exports requiring legalisation or an apostille — for example, some Middle Eastern or Latin American buyers request a legalised certificate of origin alongside the commercial invoice.
The Spanish Chamber of Commerce issues certificates quickly — many chambers offer online applications with same-day or next-day processing.
The EUR.1 Movement Certificate
The EUR.1 is the preferential origin document used under most EU bilateral trade agreements. It is issued by AEAT (Spanish customs) and certifies that the goods meet the rules of origin of the applicable EU agreement — entitling the buyer to claim reduced or zero import duties at the destination.
EU agreements that use the EUR.1 include those with Turkey (A.TR for industrial goods, EUR.1 for agricultural products), Morocco, Tunisia and other Euro-Mediterranean countries, as well as several other bilateral agreements. Notably, some EU agreements do not use EUR.1 — the EU-Korea FTA and the EU-Japan EPA use only invoice declarations, for example.
To obtain an EUR.1, the exporter fills in the certificate form and presents it to their local AEAT customs office together with the export declaration and documentation supporting the EU origin of the goods — manufacturing records, supplier declarations, bills of materials. AEAT reviews and stamps the certificate. Allow at least a few working days.
AJ Logistics · Madrid
Need help with origin documentation?
We advise on the correct certificate for your destination and coordinate EUR.1 applications and invoice declarations as part of our export freight service.
The Invoice Declaration
Under most EU trade agreements, an approved exporter can replace the EUR.1 with a simple origin declaration on the commercial invoice. This is a standardised text statement — defined in the relevant agreement — that the exporter adds to their invoice. It declares that the goods originate in the EU and meet the applicable rules of origin.
Two conditions apply:
- Approved exporter status (exportador autorizado) — granted by AEAT to exporters who regularly export preferential goods and can demonstrate reliable knowledge of origin rules. An approved exporter can self-declare for any shipment value. Their AEAT authorisation number must appear on the declaration.
- Value threshold — exporters without approved status can use an invoice declaration for shipments below a set value (typically €6,000, though the exact threshold varies by agreement). Above that, an EUR.1 is required.
The invoice declaration is the most practical option for frequent exporters. Obtaining approved exporter status from AEAT is worth the administrative effort for any company exporting regularly to countries covered by EU agreements.
Which Document for Which Destination?
A quick guide by trade situation:
- Exporting to a country with an EU FTA (Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Morocco, etc.) → EUR.1 or invoice declaration to claim preferential rates. Check the specific agreement — some use only invoice declarations.
- Exporting to a country without an EU FTA (USA, China, India, Brazil without Mercosur preferences, etc.) → Conventional certificate from the Cámara de Comercio, if the buyer or their customs authority requires it.
- Exporting to Turkey (industrial goods) → A.TR movement certificate for goods in free circulation in the EU, not EUR.1.
- Buyer simply asks for a certificate of origin without specifying type → Clarify whether they need it for preferential purposes or for administrative/customs requirements, then issue accordingly.
