Import Export Registration Online
Get your Importer Exporter Code end to end, from the DGFT application right through to your IEC certificate, with the mandatory annual updation handled too.
The Importer Exporter Code, or IEC, is a 10-digit business identification number that you need to import or export goods and services from India. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issues it, and no business can clear goods through customs or receive foreign payments for trade without one. The code is PAN-based, so it stays linked to your business identity across customs, banking, and GST systems. An IEC is valid for the life of the business, yet you must confirm it on the DGFT portal every year, a step many holders miss. AMpuesto applies for your IEC from start to finish, from the DGFT application through to the certificate, and we keep the yearly updation on track so your code stays active.
Documents required
- PAN of the business or the proprietor
- Aadhaar of the proprietor, partner, or authorised signatory, for e-signing
- Cancelled cheque or a banker's certificate for the business bank account
- Address proof of the business, such as a recent utility bill or rent agreement
- Proof of business constitution, such as the partnership deed or Certificate of Incorporation
- A brief description of the goods or services you trade
What you will get
- Import Export Code certificate with your 10-digit IEC
- The DGFT application and fee payment receipt for your records
- Correct classification of your business and trade details on the portal
- A reminder and support for the yearly April to June updation
- Guidance on the export schemes your IEC now opens up
- A CA available for questions on foreign trade compliance through the year
What is an Import Export Code?
An Import Export Code is the single registration that permits cross-border trade from India. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issues it as a 10-digit code tied to your PAN. Since the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, the IEC works as an electronic Importer Exporter Profile, linked to your PAN and GST records, and it is granted after Aadhaar authentication. You need it before your first shipment clears customs, and your bank needs it to process foreign trade payments. One IEC covers all your branches and business locations.
IEC at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Code | 10-digit, PAN-based |
| Government fee | ₹500 |
| Validity | Lifetime, subject to annual updation |
| Annual updation | 1 April to 30 June every year |
| Time to issue | 1 to 5 working days |
| Authentication | Aadhaar OTP or Digital Signature Certificate |
Who needs an IEC?
Any person or business that imports or exports goods needs an IEC, whatever its structure. That covers proprietors, partnership firms, LLPs, and companies alike. For services or technology, the rule is narrower, because you need an IEC only when you claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, or when you deal in specified services or technologies. If you plan to trade across borders, registering early keeps your first shipment from waiting on paperwork.
When an IEC is not required
A few cases sit outside the requirement. You do not need an IEC for:
- Import or export for personal use, not connected to trade or manufacture
- Import or export by central or state government departments and ministries
- Notified charitable institutions
For everyone else engaged in trade, the IEC stays compulsory.
Benefits of an IEC
- Legal trade: an IEC is what lets you clear goods through customs and bill overseas buyers lawfully.
- Global reach: it opens access to international markets, so your business is not limited to domestic sales.
- Export incentives: it is the gateway to Foreign Trade Policy schemes such as duty drawback, advance authorisation, and EPCG.
- Bank and forex support: banks require your IEC to release foreign currency and process trade payments.
- No renewal cost: the code carries no renewal fee, and the yearly updation is free when nothing changes.
- One code for all: a single IEC covers every location and product line, with no separate code per state, unlike GST registration.
How IEC registration works
The process runs entirely online on the DGFT portal.
Register on DGFT
We create your login on the DGFT portal with your PAN and a verified mobile and email.
Fill Form ANF 2A
We complete the IEC application with your business, address, and bank details.
Upload documents
We attach your PAN, address proof, and a cancelled cheque or banker's certificate.
Authenticate
The application is signed with Aadhaar-based OTP or a Digital Signature Certificate.
Pay the fee
We pay the ₹500 government fee on the portal.
Receive your IEC
DGFT reviews and issues the code electronically, usually within one to five working days.
The annual updation: 1 April to 30 June
Lifetime validity does not mean nothing to do
Under DGFT Notification No. 58/2015-2020, every IEC holder must update or confirm their IEC details on the DGFT portal each year between 1 April and 30 June. This applies even when nothing has changed, in which case you simply confirm the existing details.
Miss the window, and your IEC is deactivated from 1 July, which stops customs clearance and foreign trade until you act. Reactivation is straightforward, because the code revives once you complete the updation online, yet the gap can still hold up a shipment. We track the date and handle the updation for you, so the code never lapses.
Modifying, surrendering, or reprinting your IEC
Your IEC is not fixed once issued. You can modify details such as your address, directors, or bank account on the DGFT portal at any time. If you no longer trade, you can surrender the IEC, and DGFT cancels it electronically. Only one IEC is allowed against a PAN, so any duplicate must be surrendered. And because the certificate is electronic, you can reprint it from your login whenever you need a copy, with no affidavit required.
What IEC registration costs
Government fee: ₹500The government fee for a new IEC is ₹500, paid on the DGFT portal. The yearly updation is free when there are no changes to your details. What you pay a professional for is getting the application right the first time, matching your details to your PAN and bank records, and keeping the annual updation on schedule.
How AMpuesto helps
Share your PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, and a note on what you trade. We register you on the DGFT portal, file the application, pay the fee, and hand you the IEC certificate. We also set a reminder for the April to June updation and complete it each year, so your code stays active. One point of contact runs it, so you never chase the portal.
Why register through a Chartered Accountant
An IEC application is simple to start and easy to get wrong, and a deactivated code stops your trade cold. The details have to match your PAN and bank records, the services rule needs judgement, and the annual updation is a date most businesses forget.
We also handle your GST returns and income tax return, and exporters registered under Udyam keep their export turnover outside the MSME classification limits.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IEC registration cost?
What documents are required for IEC registration?
Does an IEC need to be renewed every year?
What happens if I miss the annual updation?
Can an individual apply for an IEC?
How long does it take to get an IEC?
Can I surrender my IEC?
What if my IEC certificate is lost?
Is an IEC always required?
Trade across borders, legally
Send us your PAN, bank details, and what you plan to trade. We file with DGFT, get you your IEC, and keep the yearly updation on schedule.
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