Consular Invoice

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A consular invoice is a document certifying a shipment of the commodity. It is requested in some nations and delineates the consignment of goods. It is used by the country's customs of officials to check the face of the shipment and the value amount. Certified by the consular bureaucrat of the overseas country (P.W. Nee 2014, chapter 12). The consular invoice contains the same elements of the specific transaction which can or are easily be shown in the customary commercial bill of the salesman to the purchaser, in addition, the subscription and seal of the consul abroad (United States. Congress. House. Committee on Way and Means. 1953, page 141). It may be requisited to be on a special form and be subject to the remittance of special fees (M. Johnson 2005, page 67). "Consular invoices are normally purchased from the consulate of the country to which the goods are being shipped and usually have to be prepared in the language of that country" (J.J. Capela 2011, page 202).

Elements of the consular invoice

The consular invoice is required to show the following data in the general heading:

  • port of consignment
  • nationality of the vessel
  • estimated date of departure
  • consignee
  • final port
  • name of the vessel

In the body of the invoice the following columnar data shall be provided:

  • description of the goods
  • the country of origin
  • measurement or weight indicated in the bill of lading
  • the net value of the commodity in the currency of the country of origin according to the commercial invoice, specifying the kind of currency used in invoicing the commodity and the total c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) value
  • number, quantity and marks and kind of parcel
  • ’’the manner of payment stating the kind of currency, the amount and the rate of exchange on the date of invoice, this information should be shown only when payment is made in a currency different from that in which the merchandise in invoiced and folio number of the commercial invoice corresponding to the consular invoice’’(J.H. Jones, C.L. Wilson, 1941, page 2).

The verso side of the consular invoice

On the back of the bill the exporter should list the freight charges and other expenses included in the freight charges and other spending included in the c.i.f. or f.o.b. value, shown in the body of the invoice. It is often difficult to ascertain the amount of the freight charges and other incidental costs in advance of actual shipment of the merchandise . In such instances, the consul may legalize the principal consular invoice, noting thereon, in the place where the freight charges and other incidental costs should be shown, that an additional invoice showing these rate will be presented afterwards (J.H. Jones, C.L. Wilson, 1941, page 2).

Examples of Consular Invoice

  • A consular invoice is required for the importing of goods from overseas. It is issued by the consular official of the overseas country and certifies the shipment of the goods. It is then presented to the customs officials to assess the value of the shipment and to check the contents of the shipment.
  • A consular invoice is also necessary for the export of goods to overseas. This document is issued by the consular official of the destination country and verifies the shipment of the goods. It is presented to the customs officials of the destination country to assess the value of the shipment and to check the contents of the shipment.
  • A consular invoice is also required in certain countries when sending money abroad. This document is issued by the consular official of the destination country and certifies the amount of money being sent. It is then presented to the customs officials to assess the value of the money being sent and to check the legitimacy of the transaction.

Advantages of Consular Invoice

A consular invoice is an important document that is used to certify a shipment of goods between countries. It has several advantages, including:

  • It is a required document for many countries, ensuring the legitimacy of the shipment and its value.
  • It allows customs officials to quickly and accurately verify the content of a shipment, so that they can assess duties, taxes, and other charges accordingly.
  • It helps protect against fraudulent activity by providing a document that can be used to trace the origin of the goods.
  • It is an official document that can be used to prove the authenticity and value of a shipment.
  • It can help facilitate the process of customs clearance and reduce the risk of delays.

Limitations of Consular Invoice

A consular invoice has a few limitations that should be taken into consideration when using it. These include:

  • The consular invoice must be completed accurately and completely in order to ensure that the value amount is correct and that all of the necessary information is provided.
  • The consular invoice is only valid in the country where it was issued and may not be accepted in other countries.
  • The consular invoice may not be accepted in some countries due to their own customs regulations.
  • The consular invoice can be time-consuming and expensive to obtain, and must be requested in advance.
  • The consular invoice is not a legally binding document, and does not guarantee the payment of duties or taxes.

Other approaches related to Consular Invoice

In addition to being used as a document certifying a shipment of the commodity, a consular invoice can also be used in the following ways:

  • To verify that the goods declared in the invoice are accurate and conform to the country's laws and regulations.
  • To ensure that the goods are not subject to export restrictions or prohibited by international treaties or conventions.
  • To confirm the origin of the goods and the country of export.
  • To identify the proper tax and duty rate for the goods.
  • To protect the rights of the importer and the exporter.

In summary, a consular invoice is an important document used to certify a shipment of the commodity and provide assurance that the goods are in compliance with the country's laws and international treaties and conventions. It is also used to confirm the origin of the goods and to identify the applicable tax and duty rate.


Consular Invoice — recommended articles
Shipping bill — Export declaration — Import declaration — Dispatch note — Waybill — Acknowledgement of receipt — Cargo manifest — Sea waybill — Dock receipt

References

Author: Edyta Pach

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