The Chamber Stamp is the physical or digital seal applied by a Chamber of Commerce to export documents, primarily the Certificate of Origin (COO) and occasionally commercial invoices or packing lists. It transforms a company’s internal document into a legally recognized international trade instrument.
Why Stamp Matters
To a Customs Officer in Egypt or Vietnam, a document printed on your office laser jet is just a piece of paper. Anyone can type “Made in USA” on a Word document. The Chamber Stamp adds a layer of authentication. It certifies that:
- The exporter is a registered, real entity.
- The exporter has legally affirmed the origin of the goods under penalty of perjury.
- The document has been reviewed by a neutral third party.
Physical vs. Digital Stamps
Physical Stamp
Historically, this involves an embossed seal (raised paper) or a wet-ink stamp signed by a Chamber official. This is still required by some old school customs authorities (e.g., in parts of South America) that demand to see the indentation on the paper.
Digital Stamp
Modern trade uses the e-Cert. You upload your data, and the Chamber applies a digital version of the seal and a verifiable QR code/verification number. The importer can scan the QR code to confirm the document is not a fake. This is faster, cheaper, and harder to forge.
Legalization and Consularization
Sometimes, a Chamber Stamp is not enough. For countries not part of the Hague Apostille Convention (like many Arab nations), the document goes through a tier of stamps:
- Company signs.
- Notary Public signs.
- Chamber of Commerce Stamps.
- Secretary of State authenticates.
- U.S. Department of State authenticates.
- The Embassy of the destination country (Consulate) applies the final stamp. The Chamber Stamp is the critical gatekeeper step in this chain. Without it, the government bodies will not look at your document.