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An IEC Certificate (Import Export Code) is a 10-digit business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that is mandatory for anyone importing goods into India or exporting goods/services from India, except in specific exempted cases. You apply online through the DGFT portal using Form ANF-2A, submitting PAN, address proof, bank details and a photograph, and paying a flat ₹500 government fee.
The certificate is usually issued within 1-3 working days and carries lifetime validity — provided you complete a mandatory free annual update between April 1 and June 30 every year, or the code gets automatically deactivated.
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a unique 10-digit identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is allocated under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and governed by the current Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
In practical terms, the IEC functions as a business's passport for international trade — no import consignment can be cleared at Indian customs, and no export shipping bill can be filed, without a valid, active IEC linked to the importer or exporter.
Since the shift to GST-linked identification, your IEC number is the same as your business PAN (or your personal PAN, if you're a sole proprietor). However, having a PAN does not automatically grant IEC status — you still need to formally register on the DGFT portal and receive your IEC certificate before you can legally trade.
Any business or individual engaging in commercial import or export of goods or services from India generally needs an IEC, including:
Common exemptions include goods or services imported/exported strictly for personal, non-commercial use, and specified Government of India departments or ministries conducting official business. Since exemptions are periodically updated by DGFT notification, businesses should verify current exemption criteria before assuming a waiver applies.
For pure services exports, an IEC is generally not mandatory unless the service provider intends to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.
The exact document set can vary slightly depending on entity type (proprietorship vs. company vs. trust), so applicants should check the current ANF-2A checklist on the DGFT portal for their specific entity structure.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| New IEC application (first-time registration) | ₹500 (flat government fee) |
| Modification of existing IEC details | ₹200 (as per current DGFT fee schedule) |
| Annual profile update (April–June window) | No fee — the annual update itself is free |
| Payment mode | Online via Bharatkosh gateway (net banking, UPI, debit/credit card) |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Validity | Lifetime — no periodic renewal or expiry |
| Mandatory annual update | Must be completed every year between 1 April and 30 June, even if no details have changed |
| Consequence of missing the update | IEC is automatically deactivated; import/export transactions, shipping bills and bills of entry get blocked |
| Reactivation | Complete the pending annual update on the DGFT portal; some cases involve a short technical hold before full reactivation |
Import and export transactions cannot be processed without an active IEC. Customs authorities will not clear shipments — goods get held at the port, accumulating demurrage and storage charges — and banks will not process related international payments. If an existing IEC has been deactivated (most commonly due to a missed annual update), the same disruption applies until the profile is updated and the code is reactivated on the DGFT portal.
IEC registration is simple to start but easy to get wrong — a mismatched PAN detail, an unclear document scan, or a missed annual update can quietly block your ability to trade. Silvereye Certifications manages the process end to end so your business stays trade-ready without the follow-up headaches.
Silvereye Certifications supports proprietors, exporters, importers and D2C brands across India's international trade ecosystem, applying the same structured compliance approach used for our BIS, CDSCO, BEE, PESO and EPR registrations to IEC filings — accurate, documented, and built to keep your trade operations running without disruption.
Whether you're applying for your first IEC certificate, updating existing details, or reactivating a deactivated code, Silvereye Certifications can manage the documentation, DGFT portal filing and ongoing compliance tracking — helping you focus on trade, not paperwork.
Speak directly with our compliance experts and get professional guidance for BIS, BEE, CDSCO, EPR, WPC, TEC/MTCTE, EMI/EMC Testing and other regulatory approvals.
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