Business Canterbury | Manufacturing & Global Trade Bulletin

Update: Certificate of Origin Applications Moving to Chamberdocs

Written by The Business Canterbury Team | Dec 7, 2025 10:31:56 PM

A streamlined, modern platform for easier export documentation

We’re excited to announce that from January 2026, all online Certificate of Origin applications will move from essCert to the enhanced Chamberdocs platform — our existing FTA system, now expanded to manage all your Certificate of Origin needs.

Why this change?

Chamberdocs is owned and operated in New Zealand and was developed with exporters and freight forwarders in mind. The platform is modern, flexible, and easy to use, offering:

  • A single place for all your Certificate of Origin applications

  • Easy duplication of product details, HS codes, and invoice numbers

  • Simple replacement applications

  • The ability to save and maintain a list of your consignees

What you need to know:

  • essCert will go offline, but an update will be provided to give you advanced notice

  • New submissions: Start using Chamberdocs from Thursday 11 December 2025

  • eCert Direct clients: No change — applications automatically process as usual

Existing records: All previously submitted documents remain available in essCert for viewing and download

Migration Notes for essCert Clients Moving to ChamberDocs:

  • Clients who have never had a ChamberDocs login will be migrated automatically, including their username, password, and basic company details.
  • Templates, drafts, and previously certified documents will not be migrated, but will be available to view on essCert. 
  • The migration process will take a few days. If a client has an urgent document submission, they should manually create a company profile in ChamberDocs to avoid delays.

Next steps for users

To help you navigate the new platform, we’ve prepared instructional guides for different application types:

Tip: Bookmark the Chamberdocs login page for convenience and faster access to your applications.

Our team is here to help! For any questions or support, email certs@businesscanterbury.co.nz with your contact details and a brief description of your request.

We appreciate your support as we transition to this new platform and look forward to delivering an even smoother, more efficient Certificate of Origin experience.