₹500
Government fee
One-time, paid to DGFT on filing
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
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.
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.
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 1We 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 2We 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 3We 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 4With 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 5We 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 6We 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.
WHERE IECs GO WRONG — HANDLED
The four ways an IEC trips up a shipment
Each of these is a stalled consignment or a frozen code. Here is how we engineer them out.
The risk
Name / PAN mismatch
Details that don't agree across PAN, Aadhaar and bank records get the application returned by DGFT.
How we handle it
We run a KYC cross-check first so every detail matches before filing.
The risk
IEC issued but unusable at the port
The code is granted, but with no AD Code registered the customs system won't let you generate shipping bills.
How we handle it
We include port readiness — AD Code and ICEGATE — so the IEC works where it matters.
The risk
Updation missed mid-shipment
A forgotten annual updation deactivates the IEC at 30 June, freezing trade during peak season.
How we handle it
We run a standing April calendar so the updation is filed every year on time.
The risk
Branch confusion
Treating each branch as needing its own IEC leads to multiple rejected attempts on a single PAN.
How we handle it
We map the one-IEC-per-PAN rule to all your branches under a single code.
LOVED BY TRADERS
Businesses that went global with ComplyLocal
Real reviews from importers and exporters who got their IEC — and kept it active — with us.
Customer Feedback
4.9· 200+ reviews
- RG
Rahul Saini
Ludhiana
“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 - FG
Farah Khan
Mumbai
“Our IEC had been deactivated and shipments were stuck. They filed the overdue update and restored it fast.”
IEC Reactivation - VG
Vikram Shah
Surat
“They handle our annual updation every April now, so we never worry about the 30 June deadline again.”
IEC Annual Updation - AG
Ananya Das
Kolkata
“Needed an IEC for Amazon Global Selling. They explained the AD Code and ICEGATE steps clearly and set it all up.”
IEC + Port Setup - IG
Imran Sheikh
Delhi
“Transparent on the ₹500 govt fee versus their charges. Clean process, no surprises.”
IEC Registration - PG
Priya Menon
Kochi
“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)
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.
₹500 govt fee · 1-3 day issuance · updation & reactivation covered