QUICK ANSWER
A CAFTA-DR certificate of origin is a self-certification prepared by the exporter in the Dominican Republic — or the producer — certifying that a product meets CAFTA-DR rules of origin. It must be in the U.S. importer’s possession at entry to claim duty-free treatment.
Who Prepares the Certificate
The exporter, producer, or importer may certify origin — provided they have knowledge that the product qualifies. In practice, the DR free zone company prepares and signs the certificate based on a documented rules of origin analysis. No government pre-approval is required, but false certifications carry penalties under U.S. and Dominican law.
Required Content
The certificate must include: certifying party name and address, exporter and importer information, product description and HTS code, applicable rule of origin, statement of CAFTA-DR eligibility, signature and date. No specific form is mandated — the certification can appear on a commercial invoice.
Supporting Records to Retain
Retain for five years: bill of materials with input HTS codes and origins, supplier origin certifications, production records, and regional value content calculations where applicable. CBP may request these during post-entry audit. Unsupported claims result in back-duties and penalties.
Claiming at U.S. Customs
The U.S. importer claims CAFTA-DR preference on the CBP entry summary using the applicable Special Program Indicator code. For manufacturers in Dominican Republic free zones using the Caribbean Corridor, certificate preparation is standard export documentation. See the full CAFTA-DR guide or submit an inquiry.
Continue Your Research
Complete Guide: Manufacturing in the Dominican Republic – Everything foreign manufacturers need to know about production in DR free zones.
How to Set Up Your DR Free Zone Company – Step-by-step company formation, licensing, and compliance.
RELATED: CAFTA-DR
Framework overview: jurisdictions, mechanics, and corridor operating model.
CAFTA-DR Duty-Free Manufacturing GuideFull rules of origin, qualifying sectors, and duty-free structuring.
DR Free Zone Tax IncentivesLaw 8-90 full exemption for income tax, duties, and capital repatriation.
Apply to EGSSubmit a mandate inquiry to assess your corridor eligibility.