Import Export Code Registration Online – IEC

Overview

The Import Export Code is the single most basic credential of an Indian exporter or importer. Before you talk to a buyer in Dubai, before you clear a container at Nhava Sheva, before a bank lets you receive dollars — the question is always the same: what is your IEC?

Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the IEC is a 10-digit code that identifies you to Customs, to your bank, and to the foreign-trade system. It is mandatory under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 — no person may make any import or export except under an IEC number granted by the DGFT or an officer authorised by the Director General. In practice, this means your first shipment cannot move until your IEC exists.

Three things make the IEC unusual among Indian business registrations. First, it never expires — it is valid for the lifetime of the entity. Second, the IEC number is now identical to your PAN, so there is no separate number to memorise. Third, since 2021, holding it carries an annual duty: every IEC holder must log in to the DGFT portal each year between April and June and confirm or update their details electronically. Ignore that window and DGFT deactivates your IEC automatically, and a deactivated IEC stops your shipments at the port.

Application is fully online through the DGFT portal in form ANF-2A, at a government fee of ₹500. With clean documents, the e-IEC certificate is usually generated within 1–3 working days.

Is an IEC right for your business?

An IEC is the right move if:

• You plan to import or export goods — even one shipment. Customs clearance of commercial goods requires a live IEC on the shipping bill or bill of entry.
• You export services and intend to claim any benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy (RoDTEP, duty drawback, EPCG, advance authorisation). The FTP's benefits machinery runs on the IEC.
• You are a freelancer or small IT/services firm whose foreign clients pay in dollars. Banks routinely ask for the IEC before releasing foreign inward remittances against export invoices.
• You want to participate in international tenders, get listed on global B2B marketplaces, or hold an RCMC from an export promotion council — all of these ask for the IEC.

Consider waiting if:

• Your business is purely domestic with no import or export of any kind — there is no reason to hold an IEC sitting idle, since the annual updation obligation applies to every holder.
• You are importing only goods for your personal use, not for trade or manufacture. Personal-use imports are exempt from the IEC requirement.

The narrow exemptions: government departments, persons importing or exporting goods for personal use (not connected with trade, manufacture, or agriculture), and certain categories notified under the FTP are outside the IEC requirement. If you are unsure whether your transaction falls in one of these carve-outs, check with a professional before shipping — the consequence of getting it wrong is a stopped consignment.

The ANF-2A process — every step, in order

ANF-2A is the application form (Aayat Niryat Form) through which the IEC is applied for. Everything happens on the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in. Here is the process in the order it actually unfolds:

Step 1 — Register on the DGFT portal

Click Login, then Register, and choose the "Importer/Exporter" role. Registration uses your PAN, mobile number, and email ID. The portal sends OTPs to both the mobile and the email; verify them. On successful registration you receive a temporary password — change it on first login.

Step 2 — Open the IEC application

Log in, go to your dashboard, and navigate to Services, then IEC Profile Management, then Apply for IEC. This opens the ANF-2A form.

Step 3 — Fill in ANF-2A

The form captures:

• PAN — the identity anchor. The portal verifies the PAN against income-tax records automatically.
• Nature of concern — proprietorship, partnership, LLP, private limited company, trust, HUF, society, and others.
• Identity of the business — name, registered address, branch offices if any.
• Proprietor / partners / directors — names, PANs, and contact details of the people behind the entity.
• Bank details — the account through which export proceeds and import payments will flow.
• GST details — GSTIN, where applicable.
• Authorised signatory — the person who will sign the application.

Enter every detail exactly as it appears on your PAN and supporting documents. A mismatch between the PAN record and the application is the single most common reason for a rejected IEC.

Step 4 — Upload documents

Attach scanned copies in the prescribed format (usually PDF or JPEG):

• PAN card of the applicant (individual for proprietorship, entity for firms and companies)
• Address proof — sale deed, rent agreement, or utility bill (electricity/telephone)
• Bank proof — cancelled cheque or bank certificate showing the account holder's name
• Digital passport-size photograph of the applicant
• For companies: incorporation certificate, and a board resolution authorising the application

Step 5 — Pay the ₹500 fee

Pay the government application fee online through the portal's payment gateway — net banking, debit or credit card, or UPI are accepted. Note the payment carefully; the annual April–June updation carries no fee, but this first application always costs ₹500. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: fee slab for modification outside the annual window is currently ₹200 per secondary sources.]

Step 6 — E-sign and submit

Sign the application using Aadhaar-based OTP authentication (common for individuals and proprietors) or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC — typical for companies and LLPs). Then click "Submit and Generate IEC Certificate".

Step 7 — Receive the e-IEC certificate

On successful verification and payment, DGFT generates the IEC electronically. The e-IEC certificate is sent to the registered email ID and is available on the portal. There is no physical visit, no manual approval queue in the ordinary case — 1 to 3 working days is the normal range.

The lifetime-validity rule — and the annual updation that keeps it alive

The IEC is valid for the lifetime of the entity. There is no renewal, no expiry date printed on the certificate. This is the single biggest difference between the IEC and most Indian registrations.

But lifetime validity comes with a condition. Under Para 2.05(d) of the Foreign Trade Policy — introduced by DGFT Notification 58/2015-2020 dated 12 February 2021 — every IEC holder must ensure that the details in their IEC are updated electronically every year during the April–June period. Where there are no changes, the holder must still confirm online that the details stand.

The mechanics:

• Log in to the DGFT portal any time between 1 April and 30 June, open your IEC profile, review each section, and confirm or update.
• If nothing has changed, the confirmation itself is the compliance — it takes minutes.
• There is no government fee for the annual updation (Public Notice 49/2015-20).
• Miss the window, and Para 2.05(e) applies: the IEC is automatically deactivated. A deactivated IEC cannot be quoted on customs documents — your shipments stop moving.
• A deactivated IEC is reactivated automatically on successful online updation, without penalty and without a manual intervention. The active status is transmitted to the Customs system once updated.

This is the part first-time IEC holders most often miss. Put the April–June window in your compliance calendar the day your IEC arrives.

Advantages of holding an IEC

Legal authority to trade across borders

The IEC is the legal precondition for customs clearance. Without it, a shipping bill for exports or a bill of entry for imports cannot be filed in the trader's name.

Access to export promotion schemes

RoDTEP, duty drawback, EPCG, advance authorisation, and export promotion council memberships all run on the IEC. It is the identity the DGFT uses when it extends or measures every export incentive.

Smooth foreign payments

Banks ask for the IEC when opening the foreign-trade relationship and when crediting export proceeds. It connects the trade documents to the foreign-exchange settlement.

Credibility with foreign buyers

An IEC signals to buyers, agents, and international marketplaces that the seller is registered with India's foreign-trade authority — a basic trust credential in cross-border deals.

Lifetime validity, minimal maintenance

One application, valid for life, with a single free annual confirmation. Compared with registrations that demand renewals, inspections, and recurring fees, the IEC is one of the lightest compliances in Indian business.

No separate returns or filings

The IEC does not carry periodic returns. The only recurring duty is the annual April–June updation — no monthly, quarterly, or annual filings to prepare.

Pan-entity flexibility

Proprietors, partnerships, LLPs, companies, trusts, HUFs, and societies can all hold an IEC. The form adapts to the nature of concern.

Documents required

Identity:

• PAN card of the applicant (individual PAN for proprietorship; entity PAN for firms, LLPs, companies, trusts, HUFs, societies)
• Aadhaar of the authorised signatory (for e-signing)

Address:

• Registered office proof — sale deed, registered rent/lease agreement, or utility bill (electricity, telephone) in the applicant's name
• Branch office addresses, if any, with supporting proof

Bank:

• Cancelled cheque or bank certificate on bank letterhead showing the account holder's name, account number, and branch
• The account should be the one through which import/export transactions will flow

Business-specific:

• Incorporation/registration certificate (company, LLP, firm, trust, society, as applicable)
• Board resolution or partnership authorisation for the IEC application (companies/partnerships)
• GST registration certificate, where applicable
• Digital photograph of the proprietor/authorised signatory
• DSC of the authorised signatory (for companies/LLPs) or Aadhaar for OTP-based e-signing

How long does it take?

| Stage | Time | |---|---| | DGFT portal registration + OTP verification | Same day | | ANF-2A filling, document upload, ₹500 payment, e-signing | 1–2 hours of work | | DGFT processing and e-IEC generation | 1–3 working days | | Annual April–June updation (once a holder) | Minutes (if no changes) |

Delays almost always come from PAN mismatches, illegible scans, or address proofs that don't match the application. Get those right and the timeline holds.

How ComplyKart helps

Consulting: We check whether you actually need an IEC — and which nature of concern the application should carry. Service exporters claiming FTP benefits, first-time importers, and proprietors all have slightly different document logic, and getting it right at the start avoids rejections.

Documents: We prepare the document bundle — PAN verification, address proof, bank proof, incorporation documents, board resolution where needed — and match every field against the PAN record before anything is uploaded.

Filing: We complete the DGFT portal registration, fill ANF-2A, upload documents, process the ₹500 payment, and e-sign and submit the application. You receive the e-IEC certificate on your registered email, usually within 1–3 working days.

Follow-up: We track the application to issuance, and — the part most consultants skip — we put your IEC on our annual April–June updation calendar so it never slips into deactivation. If your IEC is already deactivated for missed updation, we reactivate it through the online process.

What we do not do: We cannot influence DGFT's processing speed, and we do not issue or guarantee the IEC — that authority sits with DGFT alone. We also do not advise on export incentive structuring beyond the IEC itself; scheme-specific work (advance authorisation, EPCG, RCMC) is handled as separate engagements.

What happens after the IEC arrives

First 30 days: Link the IEC to your customs broker (CHA) relationship and your bank's foreign-trade desk. Register your AD Code on ICEGATE for each port you will ship from — without the AD Code, the IEC alone cannot clear shipments. If you export, consider RCMC membership with your export promotion council.

First 6 months: The IEC starts appearing on every shipping bill, bill of entry, bank realisation certificate, and export incentive application. Keep the registered email and mobile active — DGFT communicates through them, including updation reminders.

Recurring compliance

Annual: Electronic updation or no-change confirmation on the DGFT portal between 1 April and 30 June (Para 2.05(d)). Free of charge. Non-compliance means automatic deactivation.

Event-based: Modify the IEC any time business details change — address, branches, directors/partners, bank account, email, mobile. Modifications outside the annual window carry a ₹200 fee. [NEEDS VERIFICATION on current fee.]

IEC modification — changing details mid-year

The annual April–June updation is not the only way your IEC changes. Life happens mid-year: you move offices, add a branch, change directors, switch banks, or update the registered email. The DGFT portal allows IEC modification at any time through the year — this is separate from the annual confirmation.

The modification process mirrors the original application in miniature: log in to the DGFT portal, open your IEC profile, edit the relevant sections, upload supporting documents for the change (new address proof, new bank proof, new director's PAN), and submit with e-signing. A modification fee of ₹200 applies per application. [NEEDS VERIFICATION on current fee.]

One discipline matters here: modify promptly. The IEC is quoted on shipping bills, bank documents, and incentive applications, and every one of those counterparties compares it against DGFT's record. An IEC that says "old address" while your shipping bill says "new address" creates the kind of discrepancy that holds up clearance. Update the IEC first, then use the new details everywhere else.

Note the relationship between modification and the annual updation: a modification in, say, November does not excuse you from the April–June confirmation the following year. The annual duty is independent — it asks "is everything on record still correct?" regardless of what changed mid-year.

Surrendering the IEC — when you stop trading

If you are no longer engaged in import or export — the business has pivoted domestic, the proprietor has retired, the company is being wound up — you can surrender the IEC through the DGFT portal. Surrender is the clean exit: it closes the annual updation obligation and removes the risk of the IEC being misused.

Before surrendering, settle the loose ends: ensure no shipping bills or incentive claims are pending against the IEC, inform your bank's foreign-trade desk, and download a final copy of the e-IEC certificate and your updation history for your records. A surrendered IEC cannot be quoted on fresh trade documents — make sure nothing in your pipeline still references it.

IEC vs AD Code — the distinction that confuses everyone

| | IEC | AD Code | |---|---|---| | Issued by | DGFT | Your authorised-dealer bank | | Identifies | The trader | The bank branch handling your foreign exchange | | Number | 10 digits, same as PAN | 14 digits (per bank letter) [NEEDS VERIFICATION: sources conflict between 7 and 14 digits — defer to the bank letter] | | Registered | Once, on the DGFT portal | Per port, on ICEGATE | | Validity | Lifetime of the entity | Life of the bank account | | Fee | ₹500 for fresh application; annual updation free | Bank letter charges vary; ICEGATE registration free |

You need both to export. The IEC is the trader's identity; the AD Code tells Customs which bank account the export proceeds belong to.

Common mistakes

1. Skipping the April–June updation — the most common cause of deactivated IECs. The certificate says "lifetime validity," which people read as "no maintenance." 2. PAN mismatches — a single character's difference between the PAN record and the application blocks generation. 3. Using a personal bank account — the bank proof should be the account that will handle trade transactions. 4. Letting the registered email lapse — DGFT sends updation reminders and the e-IEC itself to this address. 5. Assuming the IEC alone clears shipments — the AD Code registration on ICEGATE is a separate, mandatory step per port. 6. Applying in the wrong nature of concern — a proprietor applying as a company, or vice versa, creates a mismatch that surfaces during bank and customs verification.

FAQs

1. Who needs an Import Export Code?

Anyone who imports or exports goods from India — proprietors, firms, LLPs, companies, trusts, HUFs, and societies. Service exporters who claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy need one too. Government departments and personal-use importers/exports are exempt.

2. What is the government fee for IEC registration?

₹500 per application, paid online on the DGFT portal. The annual April–June updation carries no government fee.

3. Is the IEC number the same as my PAN?

Yes. Since DGFT's migration, every IEC issued is identical to the holder's 10-digit PAN — a company's IEC is the company PAN, a proprietor's IEC is the personal PAN.

4. How long is an IEC valid?

For the lifetime of the entity — there is no expiry. But every holder must electronically confirm or update their details on the DGFT portal each year between April and June.

5. What happens if I don't update my IEC in April–June?

DGFT deactivates the IEC automatically under Para 2.05(e) of the Foreign Trade Policy. A deactivated IEC cannot be used for customs clearance. Reactivation is free and automatic once you complete the online updation.

6. What is ANF-2A?

ANF-2A is the online application form for the IEC on the DGFT portal. It captures PAN, business identity, branches, directors/partners, bank details, and the authorised signatory, and is signed with a DSC or Aadhaar-based e-sign.

7. How long does IEC registration take?

Usually 1–3 working days after a clean submission. The e-IEC certificate is generated electronically and emailed to the registered address.

8. Can a freelancer get an IEC?

Yes. Sole proprietors — including freelancers exporting software, design, or consulting services — apply in their own name with their PAN and Aadhaar. Banks often ask for the IEC before crediting foreign remittances.

9. Do I need an IEC if I only export services?

If you claim any benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy, yes. Service exporters dealing with specified services or technologies also need one. In practice, most serious service exporters hold an IEC.

10. Can I modify my IEC after registration?

Yes, any time. Address, branches, directors/partners, bank details, email, and mobile can all be updated through the DGFT portal. Modifications outside the annual window carry a ₹200 fee. [NEEDS VERIFICATION on current fee.]

11. Is the annual IEC updation really mandatory if nothing changed?

Yes. Para 2.05(d) requires electronic confirmation even where there are no changes. Silence is treated as non-compliance, and the IEC is deactivated.

12. How do I check whether my IEC is active?

DGFT publishes the list of deactivated IECs on its portal (the IECDL list at dgft.gov.in). You can also log in with your IEC credentials — the dashboard shows the status.

13. My IEC was deactivated. What now?

Log in to the DGFT portal, open your IEC profile, and complete the online updation with electronic authentication. Once verified, DGFT reactivates the IEC automatically — no penalty, no office visit — and pushes the active status to the Customs system.

14. Do I need a DSC to apply for IEC?

Companies and LLPs typically use a DSC. Individuals and proprietors can e-sign with Aadhaar-based OTP authentication.

15. Is GST registration required before applying for IEC?

Not strictly — but in practice almost every trading business holds both. The ANF-2A form asks for the GSTIN where applicable.

16. Can a trust or society obtain an IEC?

Yes. Trusts, societies, and HUFs are all valid natures of concern for IEC purposes, provided they engage in import or export.

17. What is the difference between IEC registration, modification, and updation?

Registration is the first-time application (₹500, ANF-2A). Modification is any mid-year change to details (₹200 fee). Updation is the mandatory annual April–June confirmation (free, no-change confirmation allowed).

18. Can I surrender my IEC if I stop trading?

Yes. If you are no longer engaged in import/export, you can surrender the IEC through the DGFT portal to avoid misuse and the annual updation obligation.

19. Does the IEC help with export incentives?

Yes — it is the identity DGFT uses for RoDTEP, duty drawback, EPCG, advance authorisation, and RCMC membership. No IEC, no incentive.

20. I export through multiple ports. Is one IEC enough?

Yes — the IEC is a single lifetime identity. But remember that the AD Code (your bank's code) must be registered separately on ICEGATE for each port you ship from.

Sources

• Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 — Section 7 (IEC requirement)
• Foreign Trade Policy — Para 2.05(d), (e), (f) (annual updation, deactivation, scrutiny flagging)
• DGFT Notification 58/2015-2020 dated 12.02.2021 (annual updation mandate)
• DGFT Public Notice 49/2015-20 dated 31.03.2021 (no fee for April–June updation)
• Handbook of Procedures 2023 — Chapter 2 (Para 2.07 ANF-2A, Para 2.09 modifications, Para 2.10 deactivation/reactivation)
• DGFT Trade Notice 31/2021-22 (deactivation of non-updated IECs)

This page was researched on 12 October 2026. DGFT notifications and portal procedures change; we review this page against current DGFT publications and update it when the underlying provisions change.

Verification register

| # | Claim | Source | Checked | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | No person shall import/export except under an IEC granted by DGFT | FT(D&R) Act 1992, Sec 7 | 2026-10-12 | | 2 | IEC is a 10-digit code, identical to holder's PAN | DGFT portal; multiple secondary sources | 2026-10-12 | | 3 | Fresh IEC application fee ₹500 | DGFT portal; secondary sources | 2026-10-12 | | 4 | Annual updation Apr–Jun mandatory (Para 2.05(d)) | FTP Para 2.05(d); Notif 58/2015-2020 | 2026-10-12 | | 5 | Deactivation on non-updation; reactivation on updation (Para 2.05(e)) | FTP Para 2.05(e) | 2026-10-12 | | 6 | No fee for April–June updation | Public Notice 49/2015-20 | 2026-10-12 | | 7 | IEC valid for lifetime of entity | FTP; DGFT publications | 2026-10-12 | | 8 | Application through ANF-2A on dgft.gov.in | HBP 2023, Para 2.07 | 2026-10-12 | | 9 | E-sign via DSC or Aadhaar OTP | DGFT portal process | 2026-10-12 | | 10 | Processing 1–3 working days | Secondary sources; practice | 2026-10-12 [NEEDS VERIFICATION: portal SLA] | | 11 | Exemptions: govt depts, personal use | FTP; secondary sources | 2026-10-12 | | 12 | Service exporters need IEC when claiming FTP benefits | Economic Times; secondary sources | 2026-10-12 | | 13 | Modification fee ₹200 | Secondary sources | 2026-10-12 [NEEDS VERIFICATION] | | 14 | Deactivated IEC list published (IECDL) | DGFT Trade Notice 31/2021-22 | 2026-10-12 | | 15 | Active status pushed to Customs on reactivation | DGFT notifications | 2026-10-12 | | 16 | Scrutiny flagging (Para 2.05(f)) | FTP Para 2.05(f) | 2026-10-12 | | 17 | All entity types eligible (proprietorship to society) | DGFT; secondary sources | 2026-10-12 | | 18 | AD Code is separate, bank-issued, per-port on ICEGATE | Secondary sources; ICEGATE process | 2026-10-12 | | 19 | AD Code digit length (7 vs 14 conflict) | Secondary sources conflict | 2026-10-12 [NEEDS VERIFICATION — defer to bank letter] | | 20 | IEC modification permitted any time (Para 2.09) | HBP 2023, Para 2.09 | 2026-10-12 |