How to obtain a Chamber-issued Certificate of Free Sale
Prepare
Make sure you’re registered for Chamber Certification™
Register your Company
Find Chamber in your state
If your company is already registered for Chamber Certification, please contact your company’s primary system user to set up your own user account. Not sure who is the primary user, or unsure of what to do? Contact support@chambercertification.com.
Apply
Confirm CFS requirement
Check buyer, overseas regulatory agency and/or bank requirements
Prepare documents
Supply two commercial invoices showing the sale of goods to two different U.S. buyers.
If you’re not the manufacturer, we will need a Manufacturer’s declaration
Apply online
Submit your Certificate of Free Sale request through Chamber Certification™.
Frequently (in Latin America) an Apostille is required; request this via the Chamber Certification™ portal.Chamber review & certification
Chamber reviews the submission for procedural completeness and certifies the document.Receive certificate
The Certificate of Free Sale is issued and notarized by the Chamber.
Frequently Asked Questions — Certificates of Free Sale
How do exporters or freight forwarders apply for a Certificate of Origin?
Exporters or their authorized freight forwarders submit shipment and product details electronically through Chamber Certification™. Applications are reviewed by the AWTCC and returned as a certified PDF with a QR code for customs verification. New users can register by selecting a participating U.S. Chamber via the map-based directory.
Who issues Certificates of Free Sale?
While applications may be submitted through participating Chambers of Commerce, Certificates of Free Sale are issued by American World Trade Chamber of Commerce (AWTCC), America’s Globally Recognized Export Certification Provider, following standardized chamber certification procedures.
How long does issuance take?
Most Certificates of Free Sale are approved within one business day once a complete application is submitted.
What does a Certificate of Free Sale certify?
AWTCC certifies Certificates of Free Sale as a procedural act based on exporter declarations and supporting information. Certification does not constitute product testing, regulatory approval, or independent verification of compliance.
What other types of Certificates of Free Sale are issued?
In addition to Certificates of Free Sale issued by Chambers of Commerce, U.S. state authorities, or federal regulators such as the FDA, each certifying different facts under different legal authorities.
When would I apply to my home state for a Certificate of Free Sale?
When a U.S. state authority (often a Department of Health, Agriculture, or Commerce) issues a CFS, it is typically an attestation of state-level commercial status, not a trade certification in the chamber sense. This is generally required when a foreign regulator asks if a product is legally sold in the exporter’s home jurisdiction. Check with your state’s international trade office/department.
When would I apply to a U.S. Federal agency for a Certificate of Free Sale?
Certificates that are are similar in nature issued by the US FDA include: Certificate to a Foreign Government (CFG), a Certificate of Exportability, and a Certificate of Free Sale (FDA terminology, but legally an FDA export certificate). These documents are Federal Regulatory instruments, they are product and facility specific, and based on FDA registration, listing, inspection, and compliance history. Often mandatory for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, foods, and biologics. Information is available online from the FDA .
How do I determine what type of Certificate of Free Sale is required?
Please check with your buyer. Foreign authorities may accept any one of these certificates, or require a specific issuing authority, depending on product type and destination. They are legally different instruments, even when they share similar names.