IBESC / Your shipping notebook / GA
Gabon
BIETCBordereau d'Identification Electronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons
The Republic of Gabon is a country in west-central Africa. It shares borders with three countries: Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon to the north, and the Republic of the Congo to the south and east.
Since 26 January 2024, the age limit for second-hand vehicles has been raised to 10 years and applies to all vehicles of types A, B, C, D and E.
From September 2025, all consolidated shipments must bear the notation ‘Less than Container Load’ on the draft or original bill of lading (B/L).
=>WARNING<=
A/ The BIETC must be PRE-VALIDATED: BEFORE THE SHIP’S DEPARTURE
B/ The pre-validated BIETC must be VALIDATED within:
• 10 calendar days from the pre-validation date => AFRICA ZONE
• 15 calendar days from the pre-validation date => EUROPE ZONE
• 20 calendar days from the pre-validation date => AMERICA / ASIA / OCEANIA ZONE
IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET – YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY PENALTIES IN LIBREVILLE AT THE C.G.C. (Gabonese Shippers’ Council) OFFICE
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Must obtain final validation (Depending on the continent where the port of loading is located, the Gabonese authorities have granted 5 to 15 days to validate the BIETC certificate)
Timeline ↓IBESC / 01
Documents and information required
Tick the documents you have ready. This checklist is a reminder, not validation of your application.
0 / 4 documents ready
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Procedure
Submit the required documents by email or online.
You will be sent a draft and an invoice, typically within the same day.
As soon as the invoice is paid, the applicant will receive a “Prior Agreement” (a Draft BIETC).
After vessel departure, you will have 20 calendar days (including weekends and holidays) to complete the BIETC and obtain a “Final Validation”.
IMPORTANT: THE RESPECT OF THE TIMELINE
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Timeline
- Must obtain final validation (Depending on the continent where the port of loading is located, the Gabonese authorities have granted 5 to 15 days to validate the BIETC certificate)
- Once all documents are received, and draft is approved, the validation can be released within 24 to 48 hours.
- The process can typically be done within 48 hours after receipt of payment.
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Penalties
- Failing to submit the BIETC certificate, cargo cannot be cleared and will be sending back to the origin.
- Shipping or arrival without BIETC or false information in BIETC results in a fine of an amount up to $2,500, plus the regulation charge determined by Customs officials.
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Ports
- LIBREVILLE
- PORT GENTIL
- OWENDO
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Additional information
- A (pre) validated BIETC should be completed within:
- 15 calendar days after sailing for shipments with departure Europe
- 10 calendar days after sailing for shipments with departure Africa
- 20 calendar days after sailing for shipments with departure America, Asia and Oceania.
- According to Gabon Custom regulations, all cargo shipped to Gabonese ports requires a BIETC certificate:
- Per BL for containers (Maximum 10 TEUs per BSC i.e. 10 x 20′ container or 5 x 40′ container)
- Per vehicle by RORO (wheeled)
- Per BL for the break bulk. ( Max 300 tonnes per BSC)
- Required documents for consolidated shipments:
- 1- Sub-B/Ls (issued by the consolidator) containing:
- Shipper's contact details: name, address, active Tel N° (in Gabon)
- Consolidator's contact details: name, address, Tel N°, signature and stamp.
- 2. Invoices and packing lists for each shipper involved in the groupage.