Electronic Preferential Certificate of Origin under India-Oman CEPA: Process, Platform & Compliance
From 01 June 2026, exporters sending goods from India to Oman under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (India-Oman CEPA) will have to obtain Preferential Certificates of Origin (CoO) exclusively through a fully digital system. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced that these electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOO) will be issued using the Trade Connect ePlatform at www.trade.gov.in, which acts as the single window for all Indian export eCOOs.
This article explains, in a practical and structured way, how assessee-exporters and designated issuing agencies must use the new eCOO system for India-Oman CEPA, the verification mechanism for customs/authorities, and the support channels provided by DGFT.
Legal & Policy Background
Implementation linked to India-Oman CEPA coming into force
The shift to electronic Preferential Certificates of Origin is directly tied to the commencement of India-Oman CEPA on 01 June 2026. As soon as the agreement comes into operation:
- All Preferential Certificates of Origin for exports to Oman claiming benefits under India-Oman CEPA will:
- Be processed online, and
- Be issued only via the Trade Connect ePlatform.
Note: The Trade Connect ePlatform is the common digital interface developed by DGFT for handling all forms of electronic Certificates of Origin (eCOO) for Indian exports under various FTAs/PTAs.
Basis in agreed CEPA terms
The facility for issuing the eCOO under India-Oman CEPA stems from the mutually agreed provisions in the agreement itself. As per those terms:
- The “Certificate of Origin” service on the Trade Connect ePlatform will host a separate option for the India-Oman CEPA route.
- Certificates will be issued through authorised agencies, which will examine and approve applications on the online system.
Scope of the New eCOO System for India-Oman CEPA
The new mechanism covers:
All exports from India to Oman where the assessee intends to:
- Avail preferential tariff or other benefits under India-Oman CEPA, and
- Demonstrate originating status of goods through a Preferential CoO.
All authorised issuing agencies notified under the India-Oman CEPA framework, who must use the Trade Connect ePlatform for:
- Receiving applications,
- Scrutinising and approving them, and
- Issuing eCOO in electronic form.
How to Apply for eCOO under India-Oman CEPA
Step 1: Accessing the Trade Connect ePlatform
Assessees do not need to create a fresh login if they already have DGFT credentials.
- Visit the Trade Connect ePlatform at
www.trade.gov.in. - Use existing DGFT login credentials (from
www.dgft.gov.in) to sign in. - If the assessee requires multiple users under the same IEC:
- Additional users can be created and linked using DSC through the DGFT portal (
www.dgft.gov.in). - These same user IDs and passwords will then function on the Trade Connect ePlatform.
- Additional users can be created and linked using DSC through the DGFT portal (
Important: No separate registration on the Trade Connect ePlatform is mandated where the assessee already has a DGFT login.
Step 2: Selecting the correct agreement route
Once logged in and navigating to the Certificate of Origin module:
- The assessee must choose the specific agreement option as:
- “India Oman CEPA (Agency Issued)”