What is an Import Export Code (IEC)?

An Import Export Code is a 10-digit, PAN-based identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. It is the mandatory prerequisite for clearing any import or export of goods through Indian customs, and it stays valid for the lifetime of the business subject to an annual updation.

Anyone importing or exporting goods from India needs an IEC, because customs will not clear a consignment without it. This covers manufacturers, traders, resellers, D2C brands selling internationally, and e-commerce sellers importing inventory. Service exporters do not strictly need an IEC to provide services, but they do need one to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Is an IEC required for service exporters?

Not to provide the service itself — services can be exported and paid for without an IEC. However, a service exporter must hold an IEC to claim incentives and benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, such as scheme eligibility. So if you want the FTP benefits attached to service exports, the IEC becomes necessary.

What is the government fee and timeline?

The DGFT government fee for an IEC is ₹500, paid on the dgft.gov.in portal when filing Form ANF-2A. With documents in order and Aadhaar OTP or DSC authentication completed, the IEC is typically issued within 1 to 3 working days, making it one of the fastest trade registrations to obtain.

Is the IEC the same as my PAN?

Since the move to a PAN-based system, your IEC number is effectively your PAN — there is one IEC per PAN, valid across all your branches. But the number being your PAN does not mean you can skip the registration: a formal application to DGFT is still required to activate the IEC before you can use it for customs clearance.

What is annual updation of an IEC?

Under DGFT Notification 58/2015-2020, every IEC holder must confirm or update their IEC details on the DGFT portal every year between 1 April and 30 June — even if nothing has changed. A 'no change' confirmation is itself mandatory. It is free when there are no changes, with a nominal fee for modifications, and it is the only recurring compliance an IEC carries.

What happens if I miss the 30 June deadline?

If you do not complete the annual updation by 30 June, your IEC is automatically deactivated. A deactivated IEC blocks all trade — no shipping bills for exports, no bills of entry for imports, and no RoDTEP or other benefit claims — until it is reactivated. Missing the window during peak shipping season can freeze your business mid-consignment.

How do I reactivate a deactivated IEC?

Reactivation is done by completing the overdue updation online on the DGFT portal. Once the update is submitted, the IEC status is restored and the change transmits to Customs so you can trade again. Importantly, reactivation is 'without prejudice' to any action DGFT may take for the period of non-compliance, so it restores function but does not erase the lapse.

An AD (Authorised Dealer) Code is a number issued by your bank and registered at each customs port from which you ship. Without AD Code registration at a port, the customs system will not let you generate shipping bills there — so an IEC alone is not enough to actually export. It is a one-time registration per port, done with a bank-issued letter.

ICEGATE is the Indian Customs electronic gateway through which import and export documents are filed. Registering on ICEGATE lets you (or your customs broker) file shipping bills, bills of entry, and track consignments electronically. Along with AD Code registration, ICEGATE setup is part of making a freshly issued IEC actually usable at the port.

Can I use one IEC for multiple branches?

Yes. Because the IEC is PAN-based, there is one IEC per PAN and it is valid across all branches, divisions, and units of the business. You do not — and cannot — take a separate IEC for each branch. Additional locations are simply added to the single IEC, so attempting multiple IECs on one PAN only causes rejections.

What documents are needed for an IEC?

You need the PAN of the entity or proprietor, the applicant's Aadhaar and photograph, proof of a business bank account (a cancelled cheque or bank certificate), and address proof such as a utility bill or rent agreement. Authentication is by Aadhaar OTP for individuals and proprietors, or DSC for companies and LLPs.

Are there any exemptions from needing an IEC?

Yes. Goods imported or exported for personal use, not connected with trade, do not require an IEC, and government departments and certain notified bodies are also exempt. For any commercial import or export of goods, however, the IEC is mandatory and customs clearance simply cannot proceed without it.

Annual IEC updation deadline: 30 June — deactivation follows

Import Export Code — Your Business Passport for Global Trade, Issued in Days

An Import Export Code is the 10-digit, PAN-based DGFT identifier that customs requires to clear any import or export of goods — issued in 1-3 working days at a ₹500 government fee, valid for the life of the business, subject to a mandatory annual updation each April to June.

ANF-2A filed with Aadhaar OTP or DSC authentication
IEC issued in 1-3 working days
Annual updation handled every year
AD Code + ICEGATE setup guidance
Deactivated-IEC reactivation rescue

TRUSTED BY EXPORTERS & IMPORTERS

Global trade enabled for businesses across India

₹500

Government fee

One-time, paid to DGFT on filing

1-3 days

Typical issuance

With documents and authentication in order

30 June

Annual updation deadline

Every year, even with no changes

Auto-deactivated

If you miss the window

All shipping bills and claims frozen

WHEN AN IEC DECIDES THE DEAL

The moments an IEC makes or breaks a shipment

An IEC is rarely top of mind until a consignment is waiting on it. These are the situations we resolve most.

When

First international order

The issue

Customs is asking for an IEC and the shipment cannot move without it

We do

IEC registered before the consignment ships

When

IEC deactivated for a missed updation

The issue

Shipping bills are blocked mid-season because the annual update lapsed

We do

Overdue update filed and IEC status restored

When

Amazon Global Selling onboarding

The issue

The marketplace needs an active IEC and port readiness to go live

We do

IEC plus AD Code chain completed end to end

When

Service exporter claiming FTP benefits

The issue

Scheme eligibility requires an IEC the business never obtained

We do

IEC issued so the FTP benefit can be claimed

What is an Import Export Code?

An Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit, PAN-based identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 — the mandatory prerequisite for customs clearance on any import or export of goods from India, valid for the lifetime of the business subject to a mandatory annual updation each April to June. It is, in effect, your business passport for crossing India's borders with goods, and no consignment of merchandise clears customs without it.

The system is PAN-based, which means one IEC per PAN, valid across every branch, division, and unit of the business. Since the post-GST reforms, your IEC number is your PAN itself — but the number existing on paper is not the same as an active code: a formal application to DGFT on Form ANF-2A is still required to issue and activate the IEC before customs will recognise it. There is also a clean line between goods and services: importing or exporting goods makes the IEC mandatory, whereas service providers need it only to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.

What the IEC unlocks is the entire machinery of cross-border trade. It is the key to customs clearance, to receiving and remitting foreign currency through your bank's trade desk, to claiming export incentives such as RoDTEP and duty drawback, and to onboarding onto global marketplace programmes like Amazon Global Selling. Ten digits sit between a domestic business and an international one — and getting them, then keeping them active, is the foundation everything else in export-import is built on.

Import Export Code (IEC) registration service with ComplyLocal

WHO NEEDS AN IEC

The businesses that can't trade without one

If goods or trade benefits cross a border in your business, an IEC is the first thing customs and your bank will ask for. These are the owners we register most.

D2C brands going global

Selling on Amazon Global, Etsy, or an international Shopify store means shipping goods abroad, and that makes an IEC the gateway to your first overseas order. We register the code and line up the port readiness so a marketplace launch is not held up by a missing customs prerequisite.

Merchandise importers & resellers

Bringing goods into India for resale requires an IEC before a single bill of entry can be filed — customs will not release the consignment otherwise. We get importers their code quickly so inventory is not stuck at the port accruing demurrage while paperwork catches up.

Manufacturers exporting directly

A manufacturer shipping its own production abroad needs the IEC to generate shipping bills and to claim export incentives like RoDTEP and duty drawback. We register the code and connect it to the AD Code and ICEGATE setup that turn an export order into an actual, clearable shipment.

SaaS & service exporters

Service exporters can be paid from abroad without an IEC, but the moment they want Foreign Trade Policy benefits, the code becomes essential. We secure the IEC so software, consulting, and other service businesses can claim the scheme eligibility their export earnings entitle them to.

Traders & forwarders' clients

Trading houses and the clients of freight forwarders need an active IEC behind every consignment they move. We register and maintain the code so that when a forwarder is ready to ship, the trade documentation is not stalled by an inactive or missing IEC at the last moment.

E-commerce sellers importing inventory

Sellers sourcing stock from overseas suppliers need an IEC to clear each inbound shipment through customs. We pair the code with the port and ICEGATE setup so imported inventory flows in predictably, rather than being held up by an incomplete import-side registration.

THE RULE THAT CATCHES EVERYONE

The annual updation that deactivates the unwary

The IEC has almost no recurring compliance — except one rule that quietly deactivates thousands of codes every year. Here is exactly how it works, and what happens if you miss it.

Notification 58/2015-2020 mechanics

Every IEC holder must confirm or update their details on the DGFT portal each year — and crucially, even a 'no change' confirmation is mandatory. The rule is not about whether your details changed; it is about actively logging in and confirming. Silence is treated as non-compliance, not as agreement that nothing changed.

The April-June window and 30 June cliff

The updation window runs from 1 April to 30 June every year. It is free when there are no changes, with only a nominal fee for modifications. But the 30 June date is a hard cliff: there is no grace period built into the rule, so an IEC not updated by that date falls off the edge automatically.

Deactivation freezes all trade

A deactivated IEC does not just carry a warning — it blocks everything. No shipping bills can be filed for exports, no bills of entry for imports, and RoDTEP and other benefit claims are frozen. If this happens mid-season, consignments stop moving until the code is brought back to life.

Reactivation and the 'without prejudice' caveat

Reactivation is done by simply completing the overdue update online, after which the status restores and transmits to Customs so you can trade again. But it is 'without prejudice' to any DGFT action for the non-compliant period — so reactivation fixes the function, it does not erase the lapse.

Handle my annual updation

HOW WE REGISTER IT

From PAN check to a port-ready IEC

Six steps that take you from eligibility to a code that actually works at the port — and stays active year after year.

1
Eligibility & PAN check
Step 1
We confirm the entity's PAN and structure, and check there is no existing IEC on the PAN — because the one-IEC-per-PAN rule means a duplicate attempt will simply be rejected.
2
Documents assembled
Step 2
We gather the PAN, Aadhaar and photograph, bank proof, and address proof, and verify the details match across them so the application is not returned for a KYC mismatch.
3
ANF-2A filed with authentication
Step 3
We file Form ANF-2A on the DGFT portal with the ₹500 government fee, authenticated by Aadhaar OTP for individuals and proprietors or by DSC for companies and LLPs.
4
IEC issued in 1-3 days
Step 4
With a clean application, DGFT issues the IEC within one to three working days, and we deliver the certificate so you have the code on record.
5
AD Code & ICEGATE setup
Step 5
We guide AD Code registration at each customs port you ship from and ICEGATE registration for filing documents — the steps that make an issued IEC actually usable at the port.
6
Annual updation calendared
Step 6
We diarise the 1 April to 30 June updation as a standing service, so the code is confirmed every year and never falls off the 30 June cliff into deactivation.

WHAT WE NEED

Documents for your IEC application

PAN of the entity or proprietor
Aadhaar of the applicant
Passport-size photograph

Bank account proof or cancelled cheque
Address proof — utility bill or rent agreement
Entity documents for companies / LLPs

Aadhaar-linked mobile for OTP
Or DSC for companies and LLPs
Authorised signatory details

The IEC is PAN-based, so the single biggest cause of a returned application is a mismatch between the PAN, Aadhaar, and bank or business name. We cross-check every detail before filing, so the code issues cleanly within the 1-3 day window.

₹500 PORTAL FEE VS DONE RIGHT

Why the cheap part isn't the hard part

The DGFT fee is only ₹500 — but a code that's issued wrong, left unusable at the port, or quietly deactivated costs far more than the filing ever saved.

Filing it yourself

Portal errors and KYC mismatches get the application returned, delaying the very shipment you needed it for.
AD Code and ICEGATE steps are skipped, so the IEC issues but sits unusable when you actually try to ship.
The annual updation is forgotten, and the code is deactivated at peak season with consignments already in motion.
A name or PAN mismatch surfaces only after rejection, restarting the clock on a time-critical first order.

Filing with ComplyLocal

Filed right the first time, with every detail cross-checked so the IEC issues inside the 1-3 day window.
The full port-readiness chain — AD Code at each port plus ICEGATE — so the code works the day you ship.
The April-June updation handled every year automatically, so the 30 June cliff never touches you.
Reactivation rescue if your IEC is already frozen, with the overdue update filed and status restored fast.

Get it done right

Real reviews from importers and exporters who got their IEC — and kept it active — with us.

Google

Customer Feedback

4.9· 200+ reviews

R
Rahul Saini
Ludhiana
G
“Got our IEC in two days and they set up the AD Code at our port too. First export shipped without a hitch.”
IEC Registration
F
Farah Khan
Mumbai
G
“Our IEC had been deactivated and shipments were stuck. They filed the overdue update and restored it fast.”
IEC Reactivation
V
Vikram Shah
Surat
G
“They handle our annual updation every April now, so we never worry about the 30 June deadline again.”
IEC Annual Updation
A
Ananya Das
Kolkata
G
“Needed an IEC for Amazon Global Selling. They explained the AD Code and ICEGATE steps clearly and set it all up.”
IEC + Port Setup
I
Imran Sheikh
Delhi
G
“Transparent on the ₹500 govt fee versus their charges. Clean process, no surprises.”
IEC Registration
P
Priya Menon
Kochi
G
“As a service exporter I needed the IEC for FTP benefits. They sorted it quickly and explained the scheme side.”
IEC for Services

Pricing

Import Export Code pricing

One simple professional fee to get your IEC. The DGFT government fee is billed separately.

Import Export Code (IEC)

PAN-based DGFT registration that lets you legally import or export goods, with annual updation handled.

₹1,499+ govt fee

Government fee: ₹500 (DGFT), billed separately.

Form ANF-2A filed on the DGFT portal
AD Code & ICEGATE setup guidance
Annual updation reminder (Apr–Jun)

Get my IEC

FAQ

Import Export Code FAQs

Clear answers on who needs an IEC, the ₹500 fee and timeline, IEC-vs-PAN, annual updation, the 30 June deadline, reactivation, AD Code, ICEGATE, and documents.

Fast answersExpert support

An Import Export Code is a 10-digit, PAN-based identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. It is the mandatory prerequisite for clearing any import or export of goods through Indian customs, and it stays valid for the lifetime of the business subject to an annual updation.
Anyone importing or exporting goods from India needs an IEC, because customs will not clear a consignment without it. This covers manufacturers, traders, resellers, D2C brands selling internationally, and e-commerce sellers importing inventory. Service exporters do not strictly need an IEC to provide services, but they do need one to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Not to provide the service itself — services can be exported and paid for without an IEC. However, a service exporter must hold an IEC to claim incentives and benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, such as scheme eligibility. So if you want the FTP benefits attached to service exports, the IEC becomes necessary.
The DGFT government fee for an IEC is ₹500, paid on the dgft.gov.in portal when filing Form ANF-2A. With documents in order and Aadhaar OTP or DSC authentication completed, the IEC is typically issued within 1 to 3 working days, making it one of the fastest trade registrations to obtain.
Since the move to a PAN-based system, your IEC number is effectively your PAN — there is one IEC per PAN, valid across all your branches. But the number being your PAN does not mean you can skip the registration: a formal application to DGFT is still required to activate the IEC before you can use it for customs clearance.
Under DGFT Notification 58/2015-2020, every IEC holder must confirm or update their IEC details on the DGFT portal every year between 1 April and 30 June — even if nothing has changed. A 'no change' confirmation is itself mandatory. It is free when there are no changes, with a nominal fee for modifications, and it is the only recurring compliance an IEC carries.
If you do not complete the annual updation by 30 June, your IEC is automatically deactivated. A deactivated IEC blocks all trade — no shipping bills for exports, no bills of entry for imports, and no RoDTEP or other benefit claims — until it is reactivated. Missing the window during peak shipping season can freeze your business mid-consignment.
Reactivation is done by completing the overdue updation online on the DGFT portal. Once the update is submitted, the IEC status is restored and the change transmits to Customs so you can trade again. Importantly, reactivation is 'without prejudice' to any action DGFT may take for the period of non-compliance, so it restores function but does not erase the lapse.
An AD (Authorised Dealer) Code is a number issued by your bank and registered at each customs port from which you ship. Without AD Code registration at a port, the customs system will not let you generate shipping bills there — so an IEC alone is not enough to actually export. It is a one-time registration per port, done with a bank-issued letter.
ICEGATE is the Indian Customs electronic gateway through which import and export documents are filed. Registering on ICEGATE lets you (or your customs broker) file shipping bills, bills of entry, and track consignments electronically. Along with AD Code registration, ICEGATE setup is part of making a freshly issued IEC actually usable at the port.
Yes. Because the IEC is PAN-based, there is one IEC per PAN and it is valid across all branches, divisions, and units of the business. You do not — and cannot — take a separate IEC for each branch. Additional locations are simply added to the single IEC, so attempting multiple IECs on one PAN only causes rejections.
You need the PAN of the entity or proprietor, the applicant's Aadhaar and photograph, proof of a business bank account (a cancelled cheque or bank certificate), and address proof such as a utility bill or rent agreement. Authentication is by Aadhaar OTP for individuals and proprietors, or DSC for companies and LLPs.
Yes. Goods imported or exported for personal use, not connected with trade, do not require an IEC, and government departments and certain notified bodies are also exempt. For any commercial import or export of goods, however, the IEC is mandatory and customs clearance simply cannot proceed without it.

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Global trade starts with ten digits. Get them — and keep them active.

New IEC in 1-3 days, AD Code and ICEGATE setup, and annual updation handled every April — so your code is issued right and never deactivated.

Get my IEC now Chat on WhatsApp

₹500 govt fee · 1-3 day issuance · updation & reactivation covered

Import Export Code — Your Business Passport for Global Trade, Issued in Days

Get your IEC sorted

Global trade enabled for businesses across India

Government fee

Typical issuance

Annual updation deadline

If you miss the window

The moments an IEC makes or breaks a shipment

What is an Import Export Code?

The businesses that can't trade without one

D2C brands going global

Merchandise importers & resellers

Manufacturers exporting directly

SaaS & service exporters

Traders & forwarders' clients

E-commerce sellers importing inventory

The annual updation that deactivates the unwary

Notification 58/2015-2020 mechanics

The April-June window and 30 June cliff

Deactivation freezes all trade

Reactivation and the 'without prejudice' caveat

From PAN check to a port-ready IEC

Eligibility & PAN check

Documents assembled

ANF-2A filed with authentication

IEC issued in 1-3 days

AD Code & ICEGATE setup

Annual updation calendared

Documents for your IEC application

Why the cheap part isn't the hard part

Filing it yourself

Filing with ComplyLocal

The four ways an IEC trips up a shipment

Name / PAN mismatch

IEC issued but unusable at the port

Updation missed mid-shipment

Branch confusion

Businesses that went global with ComplyLocal

Import Export Code pricing

Import Export Code (IEC)

Import Export Code FAQs

01What is an Import Export Code (IEC)?

02Who needs an IEC?

03Is an IEC required for service exporters?

04What is the government fee and timeline?

05Is the IEC the same as my PAN?

06What is annual updation of an IEC?

07What happens if I miss the 30 June deadline?

08How do I reactivate a deactivated IEC?

09What is an AD Code?

10What is ICEGATE?

11Can I use one IEC for multiple branches?

12What documents are needed for an IEC?

13Are there any exemptions from needing an IEC?

Build the full export-import stack

Export Stack

Foundations

For Sellers

Global trade starts with ten digits. Get them — and keep them active.

Documents for your IEC application

Import Export Code FAQs

01What is an Import Export Code (IEC)?

02Who needs an IEC?

03Is an IEC required for service exporters?

04What is the government fee and timeline?

05Is the IEC the same as my PAN?

06What is annual updation of an IEC?

07What happens if I miss the 30 June deadline?

08How do I reactivate a deactivated IEC?

09What is an AD Code?

10What is ICEGATE?

11Can I use one IEC for multiple branches?

12What documents are needed for an IEC?

13Are there any exemptions from needing an IEC?