IEC Code Registration in India – Online Import Export Code

The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is mandatory for any individual or business that wants to import goods into India or export goods out of India.

Proprietors, partnership firms, LLPs, private limited companies, HUFs, trusts and societies engaged in cross-border trade of goods all require an IEC. Service exporters need it only when claiming benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy or dealing in specified services or technologies. Businesses that also need GST registration for their trading activity usually apply for both together.

The DGFT charges a flat government fee of ₹500 for a new IEC application, payable online through the Bharatkosh payment gateway on the DGFT portal. This is a one-time fee for a fresh IEC and there is no separate fee slab based on business turnover or type.

If you engage professional assistance for document preparation, application filing, and error-free submission, an additional service charge may apply. This is separate from the DGFT government fee.

In most cases, DGFT issues the e-IEC within 1 to 3 working days of submitting a complete and correctly filled application, since PAN and bank details are verified electronically against government databases.

Applications with mismatched PAN details, incorrect bank information, or unclear address proof can take longer or get sent back for resubmission. Getting the ANF-2A form checked by an expert before filing helps avoid such delays.

You will need the following documents to apply for an IEC:

PAN Card: Of the individual, firm, LLP or company applying for the code.

Proof of Establishment: Certificate of incorporation, partnership deed, or registration certificate, depending on the business structure. If you haven't incorporated yet, you may need to complete company formation or single-owner company setup first.

Address Proof: Electricity bill, rent agreement, or sale deed of the business premises, along with an NOC if the premises are not owned by the applicant.

Bank Details: A cancelled cheque or bank certificate of the firm's current account.

Digital Signature or Aadhaar: For authenticating the application, either Aadhaar-based OTP or a valid digital signature token is required.

An IEC does not expire and is valid for the lifetime of the business entity, so there is no fixed renewal cycle like other licenses. However, DGFT requires every IEC holder to electronically confirm or update their IEC details once every year, between April and June, even if there is no change in information.

If this annual update is not completed, the IEC is liable to be deactivated, which can block customs clearance and foreign remittances until it is reactivated.

No, GST registration is not a mandatory prerequisite for applying for an IEC. The two are separate registrations governed by different laws and can technically be obtained independently.

That said, since the introduction of GST, the IEC number issued by DGFT is the same as the firm's PAN, and most import-export businesses eventually need GST registration to claim input tax credit and process shipping bills, so many applicants prefer to complete both together.

Yes. An individual can apply for an IEC as a proprietor using their own PAN card, without needing to first form an LLP or private limited company. This is the most common route for freelancers, consultants, and small traders starting cross-border trade.

As the business grows, many proprietors later convert to a formal structure and pursue recognition under government startup schemes to access additional benefits and funding support.

As per DGFT notification, a few categories are exempted from obtaining an IEC, including import or export of goods for personal use not connected with trade, manufacture or agriculture, and import/export by government ministries, departments, and certain notified charitable organisations.

Apart from these limited exemptions, virtually every commercial import or export transaction in India requires a valid IEC linked to the trading entity.

Customs authorities will not clear a shipment, and banks will not process related foreign currency payments, without a valid IEC linked to the exporter or importer's firm. This means goods can be held at port and international payments can get blocked or delayed.

Trading without a mandatorily required IEC can also attract penalties and legal consequences under India's foreign trade regulations, apart from the direct business loss of delayed or cancelled shipments.

Any change in your business address, bank account, directors/partners, or contact details must be updated on the DGFT portal through an IEC modification application, authenticated using Aadhaar OTP or a digital signature certificate. A modification fee applies as notified by DGFT.

Keeping IEC details current is important because mismatched information can cause the annual profile update to fail, which in turn can lead to deactivation of the code.

No. IEC is issued at the entity (PAN) level, not per branch or location. A single IEC covers all branches, divisions, and factory units of the same legal entity across India, and these can be added as branch details within the same IEC record.

If the business structure itself changes — for example, converting a proprietorship into an LLP or company — a fresh IEC application is required, since the new entity has a different PAN.

Yes. A valid IEC is a mandatory prerequisite to apply for DGFT export promotion schemes such as RoDTEP, Advance Authorisation, EPCG, and other duty benefit and incentive schemes for exporters. Without an IEC, a business cannot access any of these schemes, regardless of its export turnover.

Exporters who also want to sell in the domestic government market often pair their IEC with registration on the government e-marketplace and, for agri-based exports, export council registration for agricultural products to unlock additional benefits.