Registration Requirements
What Documents Do I Need to Register a CoC on CoC Vault?
To register a Certificate of Conformity on CoC Vault, you need the CoC PDF from your SABS-accredited inspection body and a set of metadata fields that describe the shipment. This article lists every required field and explains where to find the information on your CoC document.
The CoC PDF
The Primary Document Required for Registration
The CoC PDF is the Certificate of Conformity issued by your SABS-accredited inspection body (Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, TÜV Rheinland, or another accredited body). This is the document that the inspection body issues after completing the pre-shipment inspection and confirming that the goods comply with the applicable SANS standards.
The CoC PDF must be the original document issued by the inspection body — not a photocopy, scan, or screenshot. The SHA-256 hash is calculated from the PDF file, so the file must be the original unmodified PDF for the hash to be consistent and verifiable.
If the inspection body provides the CoC in a format other than PDF, convert it to PDF before registering it on CoC Vault. Use a reliable PDF conversion tool to ensure the file is a standard PDF that can be hashed consistently. Do not use image-to-PDF converters that may alter the file content.
Required Metadata Fields
What Information to Enter During Registration
The following fields are required during CoC registration: (1) CoC Reference Number — the unique reference number assigned by the inspection body, found on the CoC document. (2) Issuing Body — the name of the SABS-accredited inspection body that issued the CoC (e.g., "Bureau Veritas", "Intertek", "SGS", "TÜV Rheinland"). (3) Issue Date — the date the CoC was issued, found on the CoC document.
(4) HS Code — the Harmonised System tariff code for the goods, found on the CoC document or confirmed with your clearing agent. (5) Importer Name — the name of the South African importer (your company name). (6) Manufacturer Name — the name of the manufacturer of the goods, found on the CoC document.
(7) Country of Origin — the country where the goods were manufactured, found on the CoC document. (8) Applicable SANS Standards — the SANS standard numbers that the goods were certified against, found on the CoC document. (9) CIF Value (ZAR) — the Cost, Insurance, and Freight value of the shipment in South African Rand, used to calculate the minting fee.
Where to Find the Information
Reading Your CoC Document
Most of the required metadata fields are found directly on the CoC document issued by the inspection body. The CoC reference number is typically in the header of the document. The issuing body name and logo are typically in the header or footer. The issue date is typically near the reference number. The goods description, HS code, manufacturer name, and country of origin are typically in the body of the document.
The applicable SANS standards are typically listed in the body of the document, often in a table or list format. If the CoC references IEC or ISO standards rather than SANS standards, enter the IEC/ISO standard numbers — these are the international standards that SANS standards are based on, and they are acceptable for CoC Vault registration.
The CIF value is not typically on the CoC document — it is on the commercial invoice for the shipment. Obtain the CIF value from your commercial invoice or from your freight forwarder. The CIF value must be in South African Rand (ZAR). If the invoice is in a foreign currency, convert it to ZAR using the exchange rate on the date of shipment.
After Registration
What You Receive After Registering a CoC
After completing the registration and paying the minting fee, you receive a confirmation email with the verification URL and a QR code. The verification URL is a permanent link that resolves to the CoC verification page showing all the CoC metadata. The QR code encodes the verification URL.
The verification URL and QR code are also accessible from the dashboard at /dashboard. The dashboard shows all your registered CoCs with their verification URLs and metadata.
Share the verification URL with your clearing agent before the SAD 500 declaration is submitted. The clearing agent includes the URL in the SAD 500 documentation submitted to SARS Customs.
What is the most important document for CoC registration?
The CoC PDF from your SABS-accredited inspection body. This is the original Certificate of Conformity that the inspection body issues after the pre-shipment inspection. All other information is metadata that describes the shipment.
Where do I find the CoC reference number?
The CoC reference number is assigned by the inspection body and is typically in the header of the CoC document. It is a unique identifier for the specific CoC.
What if the CoC is in a language other than English?
CoC Vault accepts CoC PDFs in any language. The metadata fields should be entered in English. If the CoC is in Chinese, for example, enter the metadata in English based on your understanding of the document or with the assistance of a translator.
What if I don't know the CIF value?
Obtain the CIF value from your commercial invoice or from your freight forwarder. The CIF value must be in South African Rand (ZAR). If the invoice is in a foreign currency, convert it to ZAR using the exchange rate on the date of shipment.
Can I update the metadata after registration?
No. The CoC metadata is recorded at the time of registration and cannot be changed after the minting fee is paid. If there is an error in the metadata, contact CoC Vault support immediately.
Continue Learning
CoC Registration Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for registering a CoC.
Step-by-Step CoC Workflow
The complete compliance workflow from supplier to SARS clearance.
Clearing Agent SAD500 Workflow
How clearing agents include CoCs in SAD 500 declarations.
PVoC Approved Bodies
List of SABS-accredited inspection bodies.
Have Your CoC PDF Ready Before You Start
The CoC PDF from your inspection body is the primary document required for registration. Create your CoC Vault account and register your CoC before the 20 September 2026 deadline.
Sources: Government Gazette No. 54374 (20 March 2026); Standards Act 8 of 2008; Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964. Last verified: 3 May 2026. certificatesofconformity.co.za is an independent reference publication operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the SABS, NRCS, SARS, or any agency of the Government of South Africa.