Import Export Code (IEC)
No consignment clears customs and no bank remits foreign currency for trade without an IEC. We file it on DGFT in a couple of days — and, unlike most filers, we put the mandatory annual confirmation in a calendar so your code never goes dormant.
Starts at ₹999 + ₹500 government fee
What is an Import Export Code?
The Import Export Code is a ten-character identifier, the same as the PAN, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. Since 2017 the IEC is simply your PAN, activated for foreign trade — one PAN, one IEC.
You need it before you can clear an import through customs, file a shipping bill for an export, receive foreign currency against exports through a bank, or claim any export incentive. Banks will not process a trade remittance without one, which is usually how people discover they need it.
The code has lifetime validity and no renewal fee. But since 2021 there is a catch that trips up a large number of exporters: every IEC must be electronically confirmed once a year between April and June, even when nothing has changed. Miss it and the code is deactivated — mid-shipment, without warning.
What the code lets you do
Required on every bill of entry and shipping bill. Without it, goods do not move in either direction.
Authorised dealer banks require an IEC before crediting foreign currency against an export invoice.
RoDTEP, duty drawback, Advance Authorisation and EPCG all key off a live IEC.
Pair the IEC with a GST LUT and you can export goods or services without paying IGST and waiting for a refund.
No renewal, no expiry, no fee after issue — provided the annual confirmation is filed.
The IEC is PAN-linked, so a single code covers all your branches and divisions.
Documents required
Applicant
- PAN of the individual, firm, LLP or company
- Aadhaar of the proprietor, partner or director for e-signing
- Class 3 digital signature certificate, where Aadhaar authentication is not used
- Mobile number and email for OTP verification
Entity
- Certificate of incorporation, partnership deed or LLP agreement, as applicable
- Proof of registered address — utility bill, rent agreement, or sale deed
- Cancelled cheque or bank certificate showing the current account and IFSC
Not sure which package fits?
A specialist will map your situation to the right plan in one call.
How we file it
- Details and documentsDay 1
We collect PAN, entity documents, bank details and branch addresses, and check the address proof will actually satisfy DGFT.
- DGFT applicationDay 1–2
Application filed on the DGFT portal with the ₹500 government fee paid online.
- AuthenticationDay 2
Signed using Aadhaar OTP or your Class 3 DSC. We arrange the DSC if you do not have one.
- Certificate issuedDays 2–5
The IEC certificate is generated electronically, usually within two to five working days.
- Annual update calendaredOngoing
We set the April–June confirmation reminder so the code is never deactivated for inactivity.
Transparent pricing
IEC
₹999
+ ₹500 govt fee, new code
- Document check
- DGFT filing
- Aadhaar or DSC authentication
- IEC certificate
- Annual update filing
- LUT filing
IEC + LUT
₹1,299
export without paying IGST
- Everything in IEC
- GST LUT (RFD-11) filed
- Annual update reminder
- Export invoice format
- Annual update filing
Trade Ready
₹4,999
per year, managed
- Everything in IEC + LUT
- Annual IEC update filed for you
- LUT renewed each April
- AD Code registration support
- RoDTEP guidance
All prices are professional fees exclusive of GST at 18%. Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals and shown before you pay.
What most IEC holders get wrong
The annual confirmation is not optional
Since the 2021 amendment, every IEC must be updated or confirmed electronically between April and June each year — even if not a single detail has changed. An IEC that is not confirmed is deactivated. Reactivation is possible but it takes days you will not have if a consignment is sitting at a port.
This is the single most common failure we see, because nothing prompts you. There is no notice, no email, no fee. The code simply stops working.
An IEC alone does not let you export without tax
To ship goods or services out without paying IGST up front, you also need a Letter of Undertaking in Form RFD-11 under GST. Without the LUT you must pay IGST on every export invoice and then claim it back as a refund — which ties up working capital for months. The LUT is free, takes a day, and must be renewed every April.
AD Code registration is a separate step
Before you can file a shipping bill, your bank’s Authorised Dealer code must be registered at each port or ICD you ship from. New exporters routinely discover this at the worst possible moment. It is quick, but it is not automatic.
Service exporters need one too
IEC is not only for physical goods. Software development, consulting, design and other services billed to overseas clients need an IEC only to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits; banks accept service export receipts without one.
Where the rules live
Applications, amendments and the annual update are all handled on the DGFT portal. Customs procedures and shipping-bill requirements are published by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
Once your code is live
Three things should happen in the first fortnight. Register your AD Code at the ports you will actually ship from. File your GST LUT if you export goods or services, so you are not funding IGST refunds. And set an April reminder for the annual IEC confirmation.
If your business details change — address, bank account, directors, constitution — the IEC must be amended. An IEC showing a stale address will cause customs queries and can hold up remittances.
Exporters should also look at RoDTEP rates for their HS codes early. The scheme refunds embedded duties on exported goods, and the rate varies substantially by product.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an IEC cost?
The DGFT government fee is ₹500. Our professional fee is ₹999, which covers document review, filing, authentication and setting up the annual update reminder.
How long does it take to get an IEC?
Typically two to five working days from filing, provided the address proof and bank details are in order. Applications are processed electronically.
Does an IEC expire?
No. It has lifetime validity and there is no renewal fee. However it must be electronically confirmed once every year between April and June, or it is deactivated.
What happens if I miss the annual IEC update?
The code is deactivated without notice. It can be reactivated by filing the pending update, but nothing moves through customs and no export proceeds can be credited until it is done.
Do I need an IEC to export services?
Only if you claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits or a client insists; DGFT does not require an IEC to export services.
Can I use one IEC for multiple businesses?
One IEC is issued per PAN, and it covers all branches and divisions of that entity. Separate legal entities each need their own code.
Read before you file.
IEC Code Explained: Who Needs an Import Export Code, How to Get One, and the Annual Update That Deactivates It
Who needs an Import Export Code, how DGFT issues it for ₹500, and the April-to-June annual update that silently deactivates it.
Read guide→GuideGST Refund in 2026: Who Can Claim, the Two-Year Limit, Filing RFD-01, the 90% Provisional Refund, and Why Claims Get Rejected
Exports, inverted duty, excess cash balance and more: the two-year window, RFD-01 step by step, 90% within seven days for low-risk claims, and the rejections to avoid.
Read guide→GuideHSN Code Under GST: What It Is, How Many Digits You Need, How to Find Yours, and the GSTR-1 Table 12 Rules
How the eight-digit code is built, four or six digits by turnover, how to find the right one on the GST portal, SAC for services, and the Table 12 dropdown.
Read guide→Official references
The statutory sources behind this page. We keep our guidance aligned to them — verify anything time-sensitive directly.
- Ministry of MSMEUdyam registration and MSME schemes
- DGFTImport Export Code and foreign trade policy
- FSSAIFood business licensing and standards
Facts on this page are checked against these sources; the date of the last check is shown at the top of the page. It is general guidance, not advice on your specific facts. How we write and check our guides.