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.

LIVE UPDATES: ChamberDocs

  • 02 Feb 2026, 12.00pm: Self-declared FTAs, NZ UAE CEPA FTAs and hand-signed documents to stamp (i.e. invoices, manufacturing declarations etc.) - submit through essCert
  • 02 Feb 2026, 12.00pm: Drafts in ChamberDocs 
    • Do not use drafts created on or before 28 January 2026, as these will not be transmitted for processing.
    • Please create new drafts and applications for non-pref, AANZ and NZCN FTAs
  • 02 Feb 2026, 10.00am: Freight Forwarder issues fixed - applications can be submitted as per usual. 
  • 30 Jan 2026, 04.00pm: We are currently experiencing an error with Resubmissions. Please follow this workaround.
  • 30 Jan 2026, 12.30pm: To view approved goods registrations, clients must click on 'PROCESSED GOODS'. 
  • 30 Jan 2026, 10.20am: Freight Forwarder profiles are still under review. FTA Certificates submitted by Freight Forwarders are still not possible. 

  • 30 Jan 2026, 09.30am: AANZ, NZCN and NP Certificates of Origin are now in orking order. Please make sure to create a new application. 

  • 30 Jan 2026,09.00am: Drafts created on or before Wednesday 28 Jan 2026 are invalid. Customers are asked to create new drafts, do not duplicate earlier created drafts.
  • 29 Jan 2026, 07.00pm: AANZ, NZCN and NP Certificates of Origin testing successful - Exporters can now submit. Freight Forwarder profiles are still being worked on. 
  • 29 Jan 2026, 10.00am: We are aware of some issues submitting NZCN and AANZ FTA certificates as well as issues to submit FTAs as Freight Forwarders.

 

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.
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