SONCAP is the pre-shipment conformity certification issued under Nigeria's Standards Organisation. The operative word is pre-shipment: it must be completed while the vehicle is still in China and not yet loaded. Once the vessel sails, that door closes.
It is mandatory and must be completed before shipment. Allow 4–7 weeks end to end. A vehicle arriving in Lagos without a certificate is held, with daily penalties; re-export costs more than the vehicle.
USD 300–500
Inspection and certificate per unit
21–45 days
Form M registration
Four steps: who does what, how long, what to submit
1Form M registration
Handled by the importer through a Nigerian bank, 21–45 days. Not in our hands, but it sets the start of the whole chain.
2Product registration (PC)
Submit model, VIN list and technical data, 3–5 working days. Reusable for the same model.
3Pre-shipment inspection
Inspectors visit the yard and check each unit for appearance, plates, mileage and accompanying documents; 2–4 days to schedule.
4Issue of the SC certificate
5–10 working days; the electronic copy comes first, the original travels with the shipment.
New for 2026: alongside SONCAP, VehCAP pre-shipment certification for complete vehicles is being rolled out (covering safety, emissions and structural integrity). Whether you need one, the other, or both should be confirmed in writing by your agent before shipping — different bodies may tell you different things.
Documents required before shipment
- ✓Form M (registered with a local bank)
- ✓Product registration certificate (PC)
- ✓Pre-shipment inspection report (with VIN-by-VIN verification)
- ✓SONCAP certificate (SC)
- ✓Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
- ✓CCVO (combined certificate of value and origin)
- ✓PAAR (pre-arrival assessment report)
Four most common mistakes
×Booking space before certification
Loading before inspection is complete voids the certificate; you fall back to destination inspection at double the cost and time.
×VIN mismatch
One typo in a manually typed list means the whole batch is re-inspected.
!Assuming used cars are exempt
They are not, and inspection is stricter.
!Form M amount differs from the invoice
Even a small gap requires an amendment, and the PAAR will not be issued.
Certification and inspection requirements follow current notices from SON and the inspection bodies. This article summarises process experience and is not a clearance guarantee. Last verified: 4 November 2026.
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