The business of international trade is consistently growing every year. With the recent lifting of trade embargos previously imposed on certain foreign countries by the United States, many U.S. company’s are now benefiting from the business of exporting. The United States is one of the largest exporting countries in the world; however, domestically formed U.S. companies often need a Certificate of Origin in order to become involved in the business of international trade.
A Certificate of Origin which is also referred to as a Declaration of Origin is a document commonly used in international trade transactions which attests that the product listed therein has met specific criteria to be considered as originating in a particular country. Basically, if you’re a U.S. exporter the trade document would certify that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in the United States.
It must be clarified that the country from where the items are being exported and not the country from where they were manufactured, is referred to as the product's place of origin. If the items were manufactured in more than one country, the country where the last considerable economically justified labor or processing was done is where the origin is determined. This article will further discuss Certificates of Origins in relation to Nevada-formed companies and why they must be Apostilled.
So you’ve researched the benefits of exporting, and now feel this is something your company would like to venture into. If your Nevada-formed company is planning on engaging in international trade of domestic goods, you will most likely be required to present a Certificate of Origin to your foreign trade partners. Although your company’s Nevada Certificate of Origin may cover goods imported over not more than a twelve-month period, it remains valid for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) preference claims made up to four years from the date that it was signed.
Your company’s Nevada Certificate of Origin must be signed by you as the exporter, notarized, and then validated by a designated organization such as your local Chamber of Commerce. The document must be notarized before it can be authorized. Obtaining a Nevada Certificate of Origin usually takes 5-7 business days after your request has been submitted and payment has been received (if applicable). Upon completion of processing, your certificate(s) will be sent to the address indicated on your order form.
There’s one final step that is required in order for your Nevada Certificate of Origin to be sufficient for international trade. You must obtain a Nevada Certificat of Origin Apostille. A Nevada Certificate of Origin Apostille is a certificate that’s attached to an official copy of your company’s original document. This one-page document or certificate authenticates the signature of the public official on your company’s Nevada Certificate of Origin for use in foreign countries. The Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document, as well as the capacity in which that public official acted.
As a current or future owner of a Nevada-based company looking to export, you’re probably wondering what is the fastest and most efficient way to obtain a Nevada Certificate of Origin and have it Apostilled. We at American Apostille & Notary Services understand how tedious this process can be, and that’s why we offer professional business services intended to help our clients succeed. We specialize in obtaining and processing the necessary documents required for conducting business abroad. American Apostille & Notary Services is well versed in completing and filing corporate documents including Nevada Certificate of Origin Apostilles. Contact us at 848-467-7740 to discuss your current business needs and how we can help you fulfill them.