The Nigeria SONCAP Certificate is the conformity assessment system that ensures that controlled products under SONCAP exported to Nigeria are assessed before export for conformity with Nigeria's relevant standards and technical regulations.
SONCAP (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) is a programme run by the Nigerian standards body, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), for checking the pre-shipment conformity of regulated products imported into Nigeria.
Under SONCAP, products are assessed against the applicable Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) or accepted equivalent international standards and technical regulations.
Why Is the SONCAP Certificate Required?
The basic aim of SONCAP is to ensure that regulated products imported into Nigeria meet safety, quality and technical requirements.
For products under SONCAP, conformity assessment can be carried out in the exporting country through Independent Accredited Firms (IAF) authorised by SON.
Depending on the nature of the product, the process may involve operations such as:
- Document review,
- Product sampling,
- Laboratory tests,
- Pre-shipment physical inspection,
- Assessment of the production facility or production processes,
- Review of existing conformity documents
Which Documents Are Obtained in the SONCAP Process?
The SONCAP system basically has a three-stage document structure:
1. Product Certificate (PC)
The Product Certificate is the first basic document in the SONCAP process and shows that the product meets the relevant quality and conformity requirements.
In the current SONCAP system, the product certificate can be applied in three different statuses:
- PC1 – Unregistered Status
- PC2 – Registered Status
- PC3 – Licensed Status
PC1 is the product certificate used for a single shipment. PC2 and PC3 may be valid for 12 months under certain conditions.
2. Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
Once the conformity assessment has been completed and the product meets the relevant standards, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) may be issued.
The CoC is the document showing the product's conformity with SONCAP requirements and forming the basis for the issue of the SONCAP Certificate.
3. SONCAP Certificate (SC)
The SONCAP Certificate (SC) is one of the main conformity documents used in customs procedures in Nigeria.
According to SON's official statement, the SC is issued by SON after the relevant Certificate of Conformity (CoC) has been obtained and is used in the customs procedures for products under SONCAP.
SON also states that the SC is used for the customs procedures of a single PAAR shipment. For this reason, each shipment's own process and document requirements must be assessed separately.
Which Products Does SONCAP Apply To?
SONCAP applies to products regulated under SONCAP. For this reason, a general statement that a SONCAP certificate is automatically required for every product exported to Nigeria should not be used.
The procedure to be applied should be determined by examining the product's:
- Product name,
- HS code,
- Intended use,
- Technical characteristics,
- Product category,
- Relevant Nigerian standard,
- Regulatory status under SONCAP
SON's official SONCAP system aims to verify, before export, the conformity of regulated products with the relevant NIS or accepted equivalent standards.
SONCAP Conformity Assessment Process
Before exporting to Nigeria, the process may generally consist of the following stages:
1. Determining the Product and HS Code
The SONCAP scope is checked on the basis of the product's technical characteristics and HS code.
2. Determining the Applicable Standard
The NIS or accepted equivalent international standard applicable to the product is determined.
3. Review of Technical Documents
The technical file, catalogue, technical characteristics, existing test reports and conformity documents for the product are reviewed.
4. Testing and Inspection
Depending on the nature of the product and the assessment route to be applied, laboratory tests, sample examination and a physical pre-shipment inspection may be carried out.
5. Product Certificate
The Product Certificate process in PC1, PC2 or PC3 status is completed according to the appropriate SONCAP route.
6. Certificate of Conformity
If the conformity assessment has a positive outcome, the CoC is issued.
7. SONCAP Certificate
The SONCAP Certificate (SC) process is completed on the basis of the CoC.
8. Nigerian Customs Procedures
The SONCAP Certificate is used in the relevant import and customs processes.
Documents Required for the SONCAP Application
Depending on the nature of the product and the SONCAP route to be applied, the following documents may be requested:
- Manufacturer's details,
- Exporter's details,
- Details of the importer in Nigeria,
- Proforma invoice,
- Commercial invoice,
- Product technical characteristics,
- Product catalogues,
- Technical drawings,
- User manuals,
- Existing test reports,
- Test reports from ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories,
- CE or other conformity documents,
- Brand information,
- Production facility information,
- Production facility inspection/audit documents where required,
- Product samples.
SON's current service level indicates documents such as the production facility inspection report, the laboratory test report, the proforma invoice and proof of payment of the service fee for offshore SONCAP procedures. The definitive list of documents may vary according to the product and the application route.
Test Reports in SONCAP
Test reports have an important place in the SONCAP process.
According to SON's official statement, product sampling, laboratory tests and analyses may be carried out as part of the conformity assessment. Existing conformity documents and production processes may also be included in the assessment.
For this reason, having tests previously carried out in Türkiye is important for assessing the technical file at the start of the process.
However, it should not be assumed that an existing test report will automatically be accepted in the SONCAP process. Whether the report is compatible with the product, its standard, the test scope, the nature of the laboratory and the application route must be assessed separately.
The 2026 SONCAP Digital Process
An important digital transformation took place in SONCAP processes in 2026.
According to SON's announcement dated 25 March 2026, from 27 March 2026 applications for SONCAP and certain import permits are to be initiated and processed through the National Single Window (NSW) platform.
At the same time, while the Product Certificate and Shipment/SONCAP Certificate continue to be generated by authorised IAFs in offshore inspections, the activation of these documents for Form M, PAAR and customs procedures is to be carried out through the NSW platform.
For this reason, it is important to follow the current digital application and activation procedures in SONCAP applications.
Can Exports Be Made Without a SONCAP Certificate?
For regulated products under SONCAP, carrying out import and customs procedures without the required documents may cause serious problems.
According to SON's official SONCAP statement, bringing regulated products into Nigeria without a SONCAP certificate may constitute a breach of the legislation, and products may face detention, testing or other sanctions.
For this reason, it is important to determine the SONCAP requirement before the shipment takes place and to complete the conformity process in the exporting country. By its nature, SONCAP is a pre-shipment/offshore conformity assessment system.
Istanbul Certificate Office – Nigeria SONCAP Services
Istanbul Certificate Office provides consultancy and coordination support in the SONCAP conformity assessment process to manufacturers and exporters shipping from Türkiye to Nigeria.
As part of the service, we provide support on:
- Determining the SONCAP scope,
- Review of the product and HS code,
- Determining the applicable Nigerian standard,
- Preliminary review of technical documents,
- Assessment of test reports,
- Coordination of the authorised conformity assessment body/IAF process,
- Following up the Product Certificate process,
- Coordination of the CoC process,
- Following up the SONCAP Certificate process,
- Planning the pre-shipment conformity process,
- Coordination of the documents required in the Nigerian import and customs process
Nigeria SONCAP Preliminary Assessment
So that we can carry out a preliminary assessment for the product you wish to send to Nigeria, you can share the following information:
Product name + HS code + brand/model + technical characteristics + intended use + existing test reports + CE/EAC or other conformity documents
We can assess on a product basis whether the product falls under SONCAP and which steps need to be applied in the PC → CoC → SONCAP Certificate process, and plan your export process.
