What is IEC Code
Import Export Code — The Mandatory Licence for International Trade
IEC (Import Export Code) is a unique 10-digit code issued by
the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce &
Industry, Government of India. It is the primary business identification number required for any
entity engaged in import or export of goods and services from India.
Without a valid IEC, your goods cannot be cleared through Indian customs — neither for import nor
export. Banks will not process foreign remittances related to import/export transactions without
an IEC. It is, in simple terms, the mandatory licence that allows your business to participate
in international trade.
The IEC is linked to your PAN number — each PAN can have only one IEC. Once
obtained, the IEC has lifetime validity and does not require annual renewal.
However, the DGFT mandates an annual update (April–June every year) even if
there are no changes, failing which the IEC may be deactivated.
10
Digit unique code
linked to your PAN
₹500
Government fee
(one-time, lifetime)
1–3
Working days
for approval
∞
Lifetime validity
no renewal fee
💡 Important: IEC is issued by DGFT on the official portal dgft.gov.in.
The IEC number is the same as the PAN of the business (since 2021 DGFT reform).
If you already have a PAN, your IEC will carry the same 10-digit number. DigiFiling handles the
complete application, document preparation, and DGFT portal filing on your behalf.
Eligibility
Who Needs an IEC Code?
IEC is mandatory for any person or entity that imports or exports goods or
services from India — with very few exceptions. There is no minimum turnover or transaction
size. Even a single import or export shipment requires a valid IEC.
🛳Exporters of any goods or products
📦Importers of raw materials or
finished goods
🍔Food & beverage exporters
(FSSAI + IEC both needed)
🧵Garment & textile exporters
💻Software & IT service exporters
💎Gems, jewellery & handicraft
exporters
🏭Manufacturers selling abroad
🛒Amazon, Flipkart & D2C global
sellers
🌍Drop-shippers & cross-border
traders
👩💼Freelancers
receiving foreign payments
🏥Pharma & medical device
exporters
🌿Agricultural & organic produce
exporters
⚠ Exemptions (rare): Individuals importing/exporting goods for personal
use (not for trade), government ministries, and certain charitable organizations may be exempt.
All other entities — proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, trust — must have IEC. When in
doubt, get IEC — it's a one-time cost with lifetime benefit.
Why Get IEC
Benefits of Having an IEC Code
IEC is not just a compliance requirement — it opens up a world of trade opportunities and
government incentives for your business:
🌍
Customs Clearance Enabled
Without IEC, customs authorities will not clear your import or export shipments. IEC
is the first and most fundamental requirement for international trade from India.
🏦
Foreign Remittance via Banks
Banks require IEC to process all import payments and export proceeds in foreign
currency. SWIFT transfers, wire transfers, and FEMA-compliant forex transactions all
require valid IEC.
💰
Export Incentive Schemes
IEC is mandatory to claim benefits under RoDTEP, Advance Authorisation, EPCG, Duty
Drawback, and other export promotion schemes. These schemes can save 2–10% of your
export turnover.
📜
Government Export Tenders
All government tenders related to international procurement and export of goods
mandatorily require a valid IEC registration number in the bid.
🛒
Global E-Commerce Selling
Amazon Global, Flipkart International, eBay, Etsy, and other international platforms
require IEC to ship products internationally and receive cross-border payments.
📊
Business Credibility
IEC registration signals to international buyers, trade partners, and banks that your
business is a legitimate, registered trading entity — improving trust and
deal-closing rates.
🇮🇳
APEDA / MPEDA Registration
Agricultural and marine product exporters need IEC as a prerequisite for APEDA/MPEDA
registration, which is mandatory for exporting food products to most countries.
💸
No Compliance Burden
Unlike GST or company compliance, IEC has minimal ongoing requirements — just an
annual update on DGFT portal (April–June). No filing, no audit, no return. True
lifetime registration.
Export Incentives
Key Government Export Schemes Unlocked by IEC
Once you have an IEC, you become eligible for several government export promotion schemes that
can significantly reduce your costs and boost profitability:
💵
RoDTEP — Remission of Duties & Taxes
Reimburses taxes and duties embedded in export products that are
not refunded through other schemes. Benefits range from 0.5% to 4.3% of FOB export value
across product categories.
Up to 4.3% of Export Value
📋
Advance Authorisation Scheme
Allows duty-free import of inputs required for the manufacture of
export products. Eliminates import duty cost on raw materials used in goods to be
exported.
Duty-Free Imports
📤
EPCG — Export Promotion Capital Goods
Import capital goods (machinery & equipment) at zero customs
duty for manufacturing export products. Subject to export obligation of 6x CIF value
over 6 years.
Zero Duty on Machinery
💸
Duty Drawback Scheme
Refund of customs duties paid on imported inputs used in the
manufacture of exported goods. Filed after export through ICEGATE — directly credited to
exporter's bank account.
Customs Duty Refund
🏭
SEZ & EOU Benefits
IEC holders operating in Special Economic Zones or Export Oriented
Units get additional tax exemptions, duty waivers, and simplified customs procedures for
both imports and exports.
Tax & Duty Waivers
🤝
Market Development Assistance (MDA)
Government reimburses 50–75% of costs for participating in
international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and export promotion programs through
FIEO and commodity boards.
50–75% Cost Reimbursement
💡 Claim Multiple Benefits: A single IEC allows you to simultaneously
claim RoDTEP, Duty Drawback, and Advance Authorisation benefits — all on the same shipment, for
different components. DigiFiling's export team helps you identify and claim all applicable
schemes for maximum savings.
What You Need
Documents Required for IEC Code Registration
IEC registration on the DGFT portal is largely digital and Aadhaar/PAN-based.
Minimal physical documents are needed — the system auto-fetches data from PAN and GST databases.
Proprietorship / Individual
PAN Card of the proprietor (IEC number = PAN number since 2021)
Aadhaar Card of the proprietor (for DGFT portal authentication)
Passport-size photograph of the proprietor
Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP verification)
Bank account details — cancelled cheque or bank certificate (account
in business name preferred)
Business address proof — electricity bill / GST certificate / rent
agreement
Partnership Firm / LLP / Company
PAN Card of the firm / LLP / company (this becomes the IEC number)
Aadhaar of the authorized signatory (managing partner / director)
Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed / LLP Agreement
Board Resolution / Authorization Letter authorizing the signatory to
apply
Bank account details of the firm/company — cancelled cheque or bank
certificate
Registered office address proof (electricity bill / GST registration
certificate)
GSTIN (if registered) — auto-fetched from GSTN database
✅ No Physical Submission: IEC registration is 100% online on
dgft.gov.in. No physical documents need to be submitted or couriered. All verification is done
digitally — via PAN database, Aadhaar OTP, and bank account verification. DigiFiling handles all
DGFT portal operations on your behalf.
How It Works
Step-by-Step IEC Code Registration Process
1
Share Your Details with DigiFiling
Fill our form below or WhatsApp us. Share your PAN, Aadhaar, business name, type of
entity, and bank details. Our expert reviews and confirms the documents within 1
hour.
⏱ Same Day
2
DGFT Portal Account Creation
We create your business account on the official DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) using your
PAN and mobile number. An OTP is sent to your registered mobile for verification —
you share it with our expert.
⏱ Day 1 — 30 minutes
3
Auto-Population from PAN & GST Databases
The DGFT portal auto-fetches your business details from the Income Tax PAN database
and GSTN (if GST registered). Our expert verifies and corrects any discrepancies
before proceeding.
⏱ Instant
4
Application Form Filling & Document Upload
We fill the IEC application form (ANF 2A) on the DGFT portal — business details,
address, bank account details, and nature of business (import/export). Documents are
uploaded digitally.
⏱ Day 1 — 1–2 hours
5
Payment of Government Fee (₹500)
The government application fee of ₹500 is paid online via the DGFT portal — net
banking, UPI, credit/debit card. DigiFiling coordinates this payment with you.
⏱ Day 1
6
IEC Certificate Issued by DGFT
Upon successful submission, the DGFT system generates your IEC
Certificate with the 10-digit Import Export Code —
same as your PAN number. The certificate is emailed to your registered email and
also downloadable from the DGFT portal.
⏱ Certificate in 1–3 working days
🎉 Typically Same Day: In most cases, IEC applications are auto-approved
by the DGFT system and the certificate is generated within hours of submission. Manual review by
a DGFT officer is triggered only in rare cases — such as PAN-Aadhaar mismatch or flagged
entities.
IEC Modifications & Annual Update
Updating, Modifying & Surrendering Your IEC
Your IEC needs to be kept updated whenever there are changes in your business details. The DGFT
mandates an annual update every year — even if nothing has changed.
Annual IEC Update (Mandatory — April to June)
Since April 2021, DGFT requires all IEC holders to update their IEC annually
between April 1 and June 30 every year. This is a simple online confirmation on the DGFT portal
— confirming that your business details are correct or making any necessary changes. Failure to
do the annual update results in automatic deactivation of your IEC — which
means your import/export shipments will be blocked by customs.
⚠ Annual Update Deadline: Every year between April 1 and June 30. If you
miss this window, your IEC gets deactivated. Reactivation requires re-filing the update.
DigiFiling sends you reminders and handles the annual update as part of our IEC maintenance
package (₹299/year).
When to Modify Your IEC
You must update your IEC whenever any of the following change:
-
Change in business name
-
Change in registered address
-
Change in bank account details
-
Addition of new branch offices
-
Change in authorized signatory / directors
-
Change in nature of business (adding new product categories for export)
Surrendering / Cancelling IEC
If your business has stopped all import/export activities, you can surrender your IEC on the DGFT
portal. This relieves you of the annual update obligation. Surrendered IECs can be reactivated
if required in the future. DigiFiling handles IEC surrender and reactivation as well.
Why DigiFiling
Self Filing vs DigiFiling for IEC Registration
While IEC can be filed directly on the DGFT portal, errors in entity details, bank account
verification, or Aadhaar linking can cause rejections and delays. DigiFiling ensures first-time
approval.
| Parameter |
Self Filing (DGFT Portal) |
DigiFiling |
| DGFT Portal Navigation |
Complex UI — frequent errors |
✓ Expert navigates DGFT portal on your behalf |
| PAN–Aadhaar Mismatch Issues |
Application rejected — reapply |
✓ Pre-verified before submission to avoid
rejection |
| Bank Account Verification |
Penny drop errors common |
✓ Bank details validated before DGFT submission
|
| Branch Details & Address |
Often filled incorrectly |
✓ Expert ensures correct format for all addresses
|
| Annual Update Reminders |
✗ No reminder — IEC deactivates |
✓ Annual reminder + filing support (₹299/yr) |
| Export Scheme Guidance |
✗ None |
✓ RoDTEP, MEIS, Drawback eligibility checked |
| RCMC & AD Code Support |
✗ Handle alone |
✓ Guidance on RCMC & AD Code registration
post-IEC |
| IEC Modification / Update |
✗ Figure it out yourself |
✓ Modification support available at ₹299 |
| Speed |
1–5 days (with errors/rejections) |
✓ Typically same-day or next-day certificate |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — IEC Code
Is IEC mandatory even if I export just once?
+
Yes. IEC is mandatory for every export or import transaction in India,
regardless of whether it's a one-time shipment or regular business. Indian customs will
not process your shipping bill or bill of entry without a valid IEC. Even if you're
exporting a sample shipment or a single order, you need IEC. The good news is that IEC
is a one-time registration with lifetime validity — so getting it done is a worthwhile
investment even for infrequent exporters.
Can a proprietorship firm get an IEC? Does it
need company registration first? +
Yes, a proprietorship firm can absolutely get IEC. In fact,
proprietorship is the most common entity type for IEC registration among small
exporters. You do NOT need to register a company (Pvt Ltd, LLP, etc.) first — your
proprietorship can directly apply for IEC using your personal PAN and Aadhaar.
Retailers, small manufacturers, and individual traders commonly hold IEC in their
individual/proprietorship capacity.
My IEC was deactivated because I missed the
annual update. What do I do? +
If your IEC was deactivated due to a missed annual update, you can
reactivate it by logging into the DGFT portal and completing the pending annual update.
The system will reactivate your IEC upon successful submission. There is no penalty or
reactivation fee currently — just complete the pending update. DigiFiling can handle
this reactivation for you quickly for ₹299. Make sure you also complete the current
year's update to avoid a repeat deactivation.
Do I need a separate IEC for importing and
exporting? +
No. A single IEC covers both import and export activities. One IEC is
valid for importing any goods into India and exporting any goods from India. You do not
need separate IEC numbers for different products, different ports, or different business
activities. However, certain specific product exports (like agricultural products,
pharma, textiles) may require additional registrations like APEDA, MPEDA, or RCMC from
specific export promotion councils — but the underlying IEC is one and the same.
What is AD Code and is it different from IEC?
+
AD Code (Authorized Dealer Code) is different from IEC. After getting
IEC, exporters must also register their bank's AD Code with the customs port through
which they will export. The AD Code is the 14-digit code of your bank branch — it links
your IEC to your bank account for processing export proceeds. AD Code registration is
done at the customs port (ICEGATE) and is a one-time process per port per bank account.
DigiFiling assists with AD Code registration post-IEC as a bundled service.
I already have GST registration. Do I still
need a separate IEC? +
Yes, IEC is a separate registration from GST. GST registration allows you
to collect and pay GST within India. IEC is specifically for cross-border trade —
enabling customs clearance and foreign remittances. However, since 2021, the IEC number
is the same as your PAN number — so if you have a PAN (which you do, since GST requires
PAN), your IEC number is already "assigned" — you just need to formally register it on
the DGFT portal to make it active and usable for trade.
