Technical Explainer
What Is the QR Code on My CoC Vault Record For?
The QR code on your CoC Vault record encodes the verification URL — the permanent link to the CoC verification page. BMA officers at border posts can scan the QR code with a smartphone or scanner to open the verification page without needing to type the URL manually. The QR code is included in the confirmation email and is available from the dashboard.
What the QR Code Contains
A Scannable Version of the Verification URL
The QR code on your CoC Vault record is a standard QR code (Quick Response code) that encodes the verification URL. When scanned with a smartphone camera or QR code scanner, the QR code opens the CoC verification page in a browser. The verification page shows all the CoC metadata: the reference number, the issuing body, the goods description, the HS code, the importer name, the manufacturer name, the country of origin, the applicable SANS standards, and the CIF value.
The QR code does not contain any additional information beyond the verification URL. It is simply a convenient way to access the verification page without typing the URL manually. The verification page itself contains all the relevant CoC information.
The QR code is generated server-side using the qrcode npm package and stored as a PNG image on Cloudflare R2. It is included in the confirmation email sent after CoC registration and is available for download from the dashboard at /dashboard.
How BMA Officers Use the QR Code
Border Verification in Practice
BMA officers at land border posts and SARS Customs officers at sea and air ports can use the QR code to verify a CoC quickly. The officer scans the QR code with a smartphone or handheld scanner, which opens the CoC verification page in a browser. The officer can then compare the CoC metadata on the verification page to the goods in the shipment and the SAD 500 declaration.
The QR code can be printed on a physical document and presented to the BMA officer, or it can be displayed on a smartphone screen for scanning. Clearing agents who include the CoC verification URL in the SAD 500 documentation may also include the QR code as a printed attachment.
The QR code verification process is faster than manual URL entry and reduces the risk of transcription errors. A BMA officer who scans the QR code is guaranteed to reach the correct verification page, whereas manual URL entry could result in a typo that leads to a different page or an error.
Where to Find Your QR Code
Confirmation Email and Dashboard
After registering a CoC on CoC Vault, you receive a confirmation email that includes the verification URL and the QR code as an attachment. The QR code is a PNG image that can be printed, forwarded to your clearing agent, or displayed on a smartphone screen.
The QR code is also available from the dashboard at /dashboard. The dashboard shows all your registered CoCs with their verification URLs and QR codes. You can download the QR code for any registered CoC from the dashboard at any time.
Vault subscribers can also download the original CoC PDF from the dashboard. The QR code and the CoC PDF together provide a complete digital compliance package for each shipment.
Practical Tips for Using the QR Code
How to Include the QR Code in Your Compliance Documentation
Include the QR code in the physical documentation that accompanies the shipment. Print the verification page (including the QR code) and include it with the shipping documents. This ensures that the BMA officer at the border post has easy access to the QR code for scanning.
Forward the QR code to your clearing agent along with the verification URL. The clearing agent can include both in the SAD 500 documentation and in the physical shipping documents.
If the QR code is scanned and the verification page shows "Unknown CoC," the CoC has not been registered on CoC Vault or the QR code has been altered. Contact CoC Vault support immediately if this occurs.
What does the QR code on my CoC Vault record contain?
The QR code encodes the CoC verification URL. When scanned, it opens the CoC verification page showing all the CoC metadata.
How do BMA officers use the QR code?
BMA officers scan the QR code with a smartphone or handheld scanner, which opens the CoC verification page in a browser. They compare the CoC metadata to the goods in the shipment and the SAD 500 declaration.
Where can I find my CoC QR code?
The QR code is included in the confirmation email sent after CoC registration. It is also available for download from the dashboard at /dashboard.
Can the QR code be printed and included in shipping documents?
Yes. Print the verification page (including the QR code) and include it with the shipping documents. This ensures the BMA officer has easy access to the QR code for scanning.
What if the QR code scan shows 'Unknown CoC'?
The CoC has not been registered on CoC Vault, or the QR code has been altered. Contact CoC Vault support immediately if this occurs.
Continue Learning
SHA-256 Hashing Explained
What SHA-256 hashing is and why it matters.
Verification URL for SARS Customs
How the verification URL works for SARS Customs.
Clearing Agent SAD500 Workflow
How clearing agents include CoCs in SAD 500 declarations.
CoC Registration Checklist
Step-by-step checklist for registering a CoC.
Your QR Code Is Ready After Registration
The QR code is included in your confirmation email and available from the dashboard. Create your CoC Vault record 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.