What is a Commercial invoice?
A Commercial Invoice (商业发票) is the core document in international trade transactions, serving as:
✔ The legal basis for payment between buyers and sellers
✔ A critical record for accounting and bookkeeping
✔ Letter of Credit compliance in international transactions
✔ Mandatory paperwork for customs clearance and import declarations
A Commercial Invoice comprehensively details every transaction aspect—including product specifications, quantities, unit/total prices, currencies, packaging, and Incoterms.
As the anchor document for export processes, the commercial invoice dictates key details for bills of lading, certificates of origin, and packing lists—ensuring consistency and avoiding costly customs rejection.
Why Do You Need a Commercial invoice?
Different from Proforma Invoice (PI), an informal Quotation, Commercial invoice is formal invoices.
1. Customs & Tax Compliance
It serves as the legal basis for import declarations, customs duty calculations, and tax reporting in the buyer’s country.
2. Exporter Record-Keeping & Export Clearance
Exporters use it to log transactions in accounting systems and submit to customs for Harmonized System (HS) code validation and cargo release.
3. Payment Instrument (No Draft)
When no bill of exchange is issued, the invoice acts as payment reference for Letter of Credit (LC) or open-account transactions.
4. Insurance Claim Proof
It provides verifiable proof of goods’ value for filing cargo insurance claims against damage or loss.
Key Details in a Commercial invoice
A standard Commercial invoice typically includes:
Issuing Party & Receiving Party
• Exporter’s legal name and registered address
• Consignee’s official name and destination address
Document References
• Invoice number (Invoice No.)
• Letter of Credit number (L/C No., if applicable)
• Invoice date (L/C Date)
• Contract number (Contract No.)
• Contract date
Goods Specifications
• Product description (include HS codes)
• Packaging details (number of units/cartons + weight/dimensions)
• Unit price (e.g., USD 15.00/unit)
• Total value (before duties/taxes)
• Incoterms® (e.g., FOB Shanghai, CIF Dubai)
Issuing company’s signature and stamp (wet ink or digital certified)
How to Legalize Commercial invoice for International Use?
For Chinese-issued Commercial invoice to be recognized overseas (e.g., for customs clearance), they generally require:
1. CCPIT Attestation: The certificate is first authenticated by the CCPIT （贸促会）to verify its legitimacy.
2. Apostille Certification: The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or provincial offices) attaches an apostille stamp under the Hague Convention, validating the document in 125+ member countries.
Required Documents for CCPIT Attestation and Apostille
1. Original Commercial invoice (with company seal if self-declared).
2. Business License: A copy of the company’s business license (company-stamped).
3. Authorization Letter: A signed letter authorizing a third party to handle the certification process.
Processing time for obtaining CCPIT Attestation and Apostille
Regular processing time for obtaining CCPIT Attestation（贸促会）is between 10-12 business days and Apostille is between 6-7 working days excluding mailing time.
Price for CCPIT Attestation and Apostille Service in China
Generally, our price starts at 2500 RMB, please reach us via notary@intrz.com and we will provide the quotation within minutes.
We Accept Payment
We accept payment through the following payment methods
- PayPal
- PayPal-Credit Card
- Wise
- Bank wire transfer
How does it work to get a document notarized in China?
If all of this sounds complicated and intimidating, don’t worry! We are here to help you to complete CCPIT
Attestation （贸促会）and Apostille application and guide you all the way to the finish line.
Send scan copy of document to be notarized and the following information as part of the email to notary@intrz.com.
1. What document do you need to attest?
2. What is your nationality? Have you ever changed your nationality or name?
3. Which country will the notarial certificate be used for? and for what purpose (work visa, student visa, permanent residence, immigration, court requirements, residence)?
4. Which foreign language do you need it to be translated? How many copies do you need?
5. What kind of services do you need, please mark it with “√”. Processing time is not include the shipping time.
_____Solution 1：Translation and CCPIT Attestation
_____Solution 2：Solution 1 + Apostilled/Legalized by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
_____Solution 3：Solution 2 + Legalized by foreign Consulate in China
We reply with the quotation and the required supplementary supporting documents.
We prepare the contract for you after receiving all the required documents.
You sign and send back the scan copy of contract and make the deposit.
We start to process the documents.
We send the scan copy of notarial certificate to you, and you pay the remaining balance.
We mail the certificate to you.