Import Export Code (IEC)
Your licence to trade globally
DGFT IEC registration for importers and exporters, with AD-code and ICEGATE guidance to get you shipping fast.
What's included
- DGFT application & follow-up
- ICEGATE registration guidance
- AD code bank letter support
Understanding Import Export Code (IEC)
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a mandatory business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. No commercial import into or export out of India can clear customs without it, and banks will not process foreign trade remittances unless you quote your IEC. Since 2017 the IEC is simply your PAN, activated as an IEC on the DGFT portal — but activation still requires a formal application, verification and linking of your bank details.
IEC has lifetime validity with a one-time government fee of ₹500, but there is one recurring obligation many businesses miss: under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, every IEC holder must electronically confirm or update their details on the DGFT portal between April and June each year. Skip this window and DGFT deactivates the IEC, freezing your shipments at customs until you reactivate it. With the current April-June 2026 cycle just closed, this is the single most common IEC problem we fix.
You need an IEC whether you are a merchant exporter shipping goods, an e-commerce seller fulfilling international orders through Amazon Global or your own store, or a service exporter who wants to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy. We handle the DGFT application, Aadhaar or DSC-based verification, bank and PAN linkage, and set you up so the annual update never catches you off guard.
Who needs this?
Importers of goods
Anyone bringing goods into India commercially — raw materials, machinery, trading stock or samples beyond personal limits — must quote an IEC in the Bill of Entry at customs.
Exporters of goods
Merchant and manufacturer exporters need the IEC on every Shipping Bill. Without it, the consignment simply cannot be filed for export clearance.
E-commerce sellers going global
Selling on Amazon Global Selling, Etsy, eBay or shipping international orders from your own website through courier mode requires an IEC for customs clearance under CSB-V.
Service exporters claiming FTP benefits
IT firms, consultants and agencies earning in foreign currency need an IEC to claim benefits such as duty credit scrips under schemes like SEIS or its successors, and for certain RBI and bank documentation.
Businesses opening foreign currency accounts
Banks generally ask for the IEC when setting up EEFC accounts, processing export advance remittances, or handling inward remittances tagged to merchandise trade.
When this is NOT the right fit
| Your situation | What applies instead |
|---|---|
| ✕Importing goods purely for personal use | Personal-use imports not connected with trade, manufacture or agriculture are exempt from IEC. Customs clears them under your PAN within baggage or personal import rules. |
| ✕Government ministries and notified charitable bodies | Central and state government departments and certain notified charitable institutions use permanent exempt-category IEC numbers and need not apply. |
| ✕Service exporters not claiming FTP benefits | Pure service export without any claim to Foreign Trade Policy incentives does not strictly require an IEC, though most banks still prefer you have one for smooth remittance coding. |
Not sure which applies to you? Message us — we'll point you to the right service in minutes, free.
Documents you'll need — and why
PAN of the business entity or proprietor
The IEC issued is your PAN itself, so the application is built on it and DGFT validates the name and date of incorporation against the income tax database.
Aadhaar of the applicant or a Class 3 DSC
The DGFT portal requires the application to be signed digitally — either Aadhaar e-sign of the proprietor, partner or director, or the entity's digital signature certificate.
Cancelled cheque or bank certificate
DGFT verifies the current account in the entity's name; this account is printed on the IEC and used by banks for export-import remittance matching.
Proof of business address
A sale deed, rent agreement or utility bill establishes the registered premises. If the address is not in the applicant's name, a no-objection certificate is also needed.
Certificate of incorporation / partnership deed
For companies, LLPs and firms, the constitution document proves the entity exists and identifies who is authorised to apply on its behalf.
Mobile number and email ID
The DGFT portal is fully online; OTP verification, the e-IEC certificate and all future annual-update reminders come to these contact points.
How it works, step by step
- 1
Document collection and DGFT profile creation
Day 1We gather PAN, bank and address proofs, register you on the DGFT portal and validate PAN details against the income tax database.
- 2
Filing application ANF-2A
Day 1-2We complete the online IEC application with entity, branch and bank details, upload supporting documents and pay the ₹500 government fee.
- 3
Digital verification
Day 2The application is signed with Aadhaar e-sign or DSC of the proprietor, partner or director, which is mandatory before DGFT processes it.
- 4
Auto-approval and e-IEC issuance
Day 2-3DGFT's system verifies details and issues the e-IEC certificate, usually without manual intervention. We download and share it with you.
- 5
Post-issue setup
Same weekWe help you register the IEC with your bank and on ICEGATE if needed, and diarise the April-June annual update so the code never gets deactivated.
Due dates to know
Annual IEC update
April to June every year
Mandatory even if nothing has changed. Filing between July and the update being completed attracts no fee currently, but the IEC stays deactivated until updated.
Update after any change
As and when details change
Change of address, bank, partners or directors should be updated on the DGFT portal promptly to keep customs and bank records aligned.
What non-compliance costs
Annual update not filed by 30 June
DGFT deactivates the IEC. Shipping bills and bills of entry cannot be filed, stranding consignments at port until the update is completed and the code is reactivated.
Importing or exporting without a valid IEC
Customs will not clear the goods at all; attempting trade in violation of the FT(D&R) Act can attract penalty proceedings and confiscation under the Customs Act.
Wrong bank or address details on record
Export remittances get held up in the bank's EDPMS reconciliation, and refunds such as GST on exports can be delayed for months.
Why doing this right pays off
Legal gateway to global trade
The IEC is the one number that lets you file shipping bills, clear customs and receive or send trade remittances — no workarounds exist for commercial trade.
Lifetime validity, minimal cost
One-time ₹500 government fee, no renewal fee, and only a short online confirmation each April-June to keep it active.
Access to export incentives
Duty drawback, RoDTEP, advance authorisation and EPCG benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 all flow through your IEC.
Smoother banking for foreign currency
Banks map inward and outward trade remittances to your IEC, which keeps EDPMS/IDPMS records clean and avoids compliance flags on your account.
Credibility with overseas buyers
A DGFT-issued IEC signals you are a legitimate, traceable Indian trading entity, which matters to foreign buyers, marketplaces and freight forwarders.
Common DIY mistakes we see
- Missing the April-June annual update and discovering the IEC is deactivated only when a shipment is stuck at customs.
- Applying with a savings account instead of a current account in the entity's name, which causes remittance-matching problems later.
- Mismatched name or address between PAN, bank records and the DGFT application, leading to rejection or repeated resubmission.
- Assuming one IEC is needed per branch — a single IEC covers all branches; branches are simply added to the IEC profile.
- Taking a fresh IEC after incorporation but forgetting to surrender the proprietorship IEC, creating two active codes and customs confusion.
Frequently asked questions
The DGFT process is fully online and largely auto-approved. Once your documents are in order and the application is digitally signed, the e-IEC is typically issued within one to two days. Our end-to-end timeline, including document preparation and bank linkage, is two to three working days.
Not sure if this is the right service?
Message us on WhatsApp — a real expert replies, usually within minutes.
All-inclusive professional fee. Government fees (if any) extra at actuals.
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