I (Meaning and importance of Exports) Unit Structure

13.5 CONSULAR INVOICE 
13.5.1  MEANING
Sometimes, the importer requires the invoice to be certified 
by the 
consulate of his own country stationed at the exporters‟ 
country. The certified copy of the commercial invoice is called 
consular invoice. 
Consular invoice is issued by the council of the importing 
country stationed in the exporting county. This is obtained by the 
exporter to ensure prompt clearance of the goods on the arrival of 
the ship. It is necessary to convince the customs authorities 
desiring to open the packages and scrutinize the goods for the 
purpose of calculating customs duty. If this is done a considerable 
delay will be put many hardship. To avoid this, consular invoice is 

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obtained by applying to the concerned consulate on a prescribed 
form. It is generally prepared in triplicate one copy is sent to the 
customs authorities of the importing country and the third copy is 
given to the exporter to enable him forward to the importer along 
with other documents.
Consular invoice is a certificate issued by the Trade 
Consulate of the importer‟s country stating that goods of particular 
value are being imported from a particular country by a particular 
importer. 
13.5.2 IMPORTANCE 
 
I) Importance of Consular Invoice to the Exporter
a) It facilitates easy clearance of goods from the customs. 
b) When the invoice is signed by the consulate of the importing 
country, it is an assurance to the exporter this his goods will 
enter into the buyer‟s country without any difficulty. 
c) The interest of the exporter is well protected. He can realize 
foreign exchange against shipment without problem. 
II) Importance of consular Invoice to the importer 
a) The importer gets quick delivery of goods and that too 
without opening the containers for verification purpose. 
b) Goods are delivered quickly after the calculation of duty as 
per the consular invoice received. 
c) The importer is rest assured that banned goods are not sent.