Import Export Code (IEC) registration is mandatory for every business in India that wants to import or export goods and services. Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the IEC is a unique 10-digit code that serves as the primary identification for all international trade transactions. Without an active IEC, customs authorities will not allow clearance of your shipments, and banks cannot process foreign exchange remittances for trade purposes.
| Benefit | What It Means for Your Business |
|---|---|
| Lifetime Validity | IEC does not expire and has no renewal fee. However, a mandatory annual updation is required between 1 April and 30 June each year (even with no changes) to keep it active — see below. |
| Legal Authorization to Trade | Without IEC, customs will not clear your import/export shipments and banks cannot process trade-related foreign exchange. |
| Access to Government Schemes | Unlock export promotion schemes like MEIS, SEIS, Duty Drawback, and Advance Authorization — saving significant costs on international trade. |
| Global Market Access | IEC enables your business to sell products and services globally through B2B platforms, tenders, and direct exports. |
| Simple One-Time Process | The entire registration is online through the DGFT portal. No physical documentation or office visits required. |
Any business importing raw materials, machinery, components, or finished goods into India for trade, manufacturing, or resale.
Manufacturers, traders, and service providers exporting goods or services to international clients. Includes IT/software service exporters.
Sellers on Amazon Global, eBay, Etsy, and other international e-commerce platforms shipping products outside India.
Professionals receiving payments in foreign currency for services rendered to international clients — IEC enables compliant forex receipts through banking channels.
The IEC registration process is fully online through the DGFT portal. Our team handles the complete process — from application to certificate issuance — within 1 working day.
Share your PAN, Aadhaar, business registration details, and bank account information. We verify everything before filing to avoid rejections.
We file the IEC application on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) with all required details — entity name, PAN, address, bank account, and Aadhaar of the authorized signatory. The application fee is paid online.
The authorized signatory completes Aadhaar-based OTP verification directly on the DGFT portal. This is the only step that requires your direct involvement — takes under 2 minutes.
DGFT processes the application and issues your 10-digit IEC certificate — typically within the same working day. Your IEC is instantly active and can be used for customs clearance, bank transactions, and ICEGATE registration.
| Entity Type | IEC Linked To | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Proprietorship | Proprietor's PAN | Proprietor's Aadhaar + bank account in proprietor's name |
| Partnership Firm | Firm's PAN | Partnership deed + authorized partner's Aadhaar |
| LLP | LLP's PAN | LLP Agreement + designated partner's Aadhaar |
| Private Limited Company | Company's PAN | COI + director's Aadhaar + board resolution (if applicable) |
| Individual (Freelancer) | Individual's PAN | Personal Aadhaar + bank account + service contract/invoice |
Our team handles the complete IEC registration process in just 1 working day — from DGFT portal application and document verification to Aadhaar OTP coordination and certificate delivery. We also guide you on the next steps after IEC — including ICEGATE registration, AD Code registration, and GST portal updation for export transactions.
Simple, transparent pricing — pick the plan that fits.
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit, PAN-based code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). It is legally mandatory for any business importing or exporting goods — and for service exporters claiming certain benefits. Without an IEC, customs will not clear consignments and banks will not process international trade payments. We obtain your IEC online, usually with same-day issuance.
Yes — this is critical. Since 2024, every IEC holder must electronically update/confirm their IEC on the DGFT portal between 1 April and 30 June every year, even if there are no changes. There is no fee for the update. Failure to update results in automatic deactivation of the IEC — Customs and banks then reject all import/export transactions until it is reactivated by completing the pending online updation. We set up annual reminders so your IEC never lapses.
The IEC has lifetime validity and no renewal fee — once issued it does not expire. However, it is only kept active by the mandatory annual updation (1 April – 30 June) described above. So while there is no “renewal” in the traditional sense, the yearly confirmation is compulsory; skipping it deactivates the code. Treat the annual updation as a non-negotiable yearly task.
There is currently no government application fee charged at issuance beyond the nominal portal charge, and no fee for the annual updation if done within the 1 April–30 June window. You only pay our professional fee for accurate filing, document handling and ongoing updation reminders. Accurate first-time filing avoids rejections that delay your trade operations.
Yes in many cases. While an IEC is not required for the export of services that do not claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, it is required for service exporters claiming FTP benefits and is often requested by banks for foreign-currency receipts. IT/SaaS, consulting and other service exporters typically obtain an IEC for smoother banking and to access export incentives. We advise based on your specific export model.
You need PAN, Aadhaar of the proprietor/authorised signatory, business registration details, and bank account information (cancelled cheque). The application is filed online on the DGFT portal with Aadhaar-OTP authentication — the only step requiring your direct involvement, taking a couple of minutes. The 10-digit IEC is typically issued the same working day.
Yes — a single IEC is issued per PAN and covers all branches/divisions of the entity (branch details are added to the IEC profile). After IEC, exporters typically need to register on ICEGATE for customs filing, get an AD Code registered at the port, and update GST details for export invoicing. We can also assist with ICEGATE registration as the downstream customs step.
If you miss the annual updation window, the IEC is automatically deactivated — Customs will not clear consignments and banks will reject trade payments, freezing your import/export operations. Reactivation is done by completing the pending online updation on the DGFT portal (ANF-2A), after which the status is restored and transmitted to Customs. We handle reactivation promptly to minimise disruption.
An IEC can be surrendered by the holder through the DGFT portal when the business no longer imports/exports; DGFT then informs Customs and the RBI. Surrendering avoids the obligation of annual updation on a dormant code. If you are winding down trade operations, we handle the surrender filing so there are no loose compliance ends.
Every importer/exporter of goods needs an IEC, with limited exemptions — e.g. personal-use imports/exports not connected to trade, and certain government departments/notified charitable bodies. GST-registered traders use their PAN-based IEC for trade. If you are unsure whether your activity requires an IEC, we assess your transaction type and advise before you ship.
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