Consular Invoice - Explained
What is a Consular Invoice?
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at July 22nd, 2021
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Table of Contents
What is a Consular Invoice? How does a Consular Invoice Work? Example of a Consular Invoice Academic Research on Consular StatementWhat is a Consular Invoice?
A consular invoice is a document signed by the consul of the importing country and consul of the exporting country that certifies the shipment of goods. A consular invoice serves as proof that the shipment of goods was sighted, stamped or authorized by the consul of the country where the shipment is being transported to. A consular invoice contains the details of a shipment such as a consignor, consignee, and value of the shipment. A consular invoice is an authorized document that facilitates the collection of taxes and control over imports by countries. It also prevents the misrepresentation of a shipment that can occur due to under-invoicing or over-invoicing.
Back to: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, LAW, & RELATIONS
How does a Consular Invoice Work?
A consular invoice must be submitted to the embassy of the country to which the goods are being shipped. After submission, the invoice is then authorized by the consul or a representative. This process is called consularization.
The consularization process must be completed before goods are sent to the receiving country. A consular invoice provides a foreign country with all the details of a shipment such as the description of the goods shipped, the consignee and consignor of the shipment, and others.
The invoice also enhances the payment of adequate export duty on the shipment and also prevents dumping. Dumping is an unethical practice in the shipment of goods that countries have strict regulations against.
Example of a Consular Invoice
Typically, a consular invoice give details about the products in the shipment, the invoice often has the following pattern;
- Date
- Exporter or Supplier
- Destination Port
- Loading Port
- Description of goods
- Name of Carrier
- Amount of charges
- Value of shipment
- Marks and numbers
- Name of certifier
Not all countries require a consular invoice, examples of countries that do are include Kenya, Latin America, Uganda, Tanzania, New Zealand, Zanzibar, Iraq, Fiji, Nigeria, Cyprus, Ghana, Mauritius, and Guinea.
Academic Research on Consular Statement
- The Right of Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law. Advisory Opinion OC-16-99, Aceves, W. J. (2000). The Right of Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law. Advisory Opinion OC-16-99. American Journal of International Law, 555-563. Advisory opinion of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on the duty to inform a detained person of the right to seek consular assistance.
- The Law of State Responsibility and the Right to Consular Access, Quigley, J. (2004). The Law of State Responsibility and the Right to Consular Access. Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution, 11(1), 39-52.
- Where the law becomes irrelevant: consular assistance and the European Union, Vermeer-Knzli, A. (2011). Where the law becomes irrelevant: consular assistance and the European Union. International & Comparative Law Quarterly, 60(4), 965-995. In recent years, the European Union ('eu') has taken a number of initiatives with a view to co-ordinating consular assistance in third countries. Not only have EU citizens an entitlement to consular assistance by any EU Member State in the absence of a representation of their own, but EU Member States themselves are encouraged to co-operate by means of the Lead State Concept and other forms of co-operation. While this may seem relatively unproblematic from the perspective of the EU, it is very difficult to reconcile with general international law. The various EU agreements in this area have no application to third States: some do not have legally binding form and even those that do only apply to the parties to the treaties, ie EU Member States. This article will present the situation, analyse its complexities and offer some reflections on the global application and desirability of the regime created by the EU.
- Consular tribunes once more, Sealey, R. (1959). Consular tribunes once more. Latomus, 18(Fasc. 3), 521-530.
- The Case Concerning United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran: Phase of Provisional Measures, Gross, L. (1980). The Case Concerning United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran: Phase of Provisional Measures. American Journal of International Law, 74(2), 395-410.
- Application of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States). Provisional Measures Order Breard v. Greene, Aceves, W. J. (1998). Application of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States). Provisional Measures Order Breard v. Greene. American Journal of International Law, 92(3), 517-523.
- International Law. Diplomatic Privilege. Immunity from Judicial Process. Official at Embassy. Consular Secretary. Statement by Attorney-General on Behalf of Foreign , AHO. (1929). International Law. Diplomatic Privilege. Immunity from Judicial Process. Official at Embassy. Consular Secretary. Statement by Attorney-General on Behalf of Foreign Office. Affidavit of Defendant as to Grounds of Immunity. Right of Plaintiff to Cross-Examine. Engelke v. Musmann.[1928] AC 433. 97 LJKB 789. The Cambridge Law Journal, 441-443.
- Torture Abroad, Consular Assistance and the Admissibility of Evidence, Thienel, T. (2011). Torture Abroad, Consular Assistance and the Admissibility of Evidence. German YB Int'l L., 54, 689.
- Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, The, Helgoe, B. M. (2008). Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, The. W. Va. Law., 54.
- Implications of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations upon the Regulation of Consular Identification Cards, Elsea, J. K., & Garcia, M. J. (2005, May). Implications of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations upon the Regulation of Consular Identification Cards. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
