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IEC Registration

Take your business global, one code at a time.

The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit, PAN-based business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It's the single most essential registration for anyone importing goods into India or exporting goods and services out of it — without it, customs won't clear your shipment and banks won't process your foreign currency remittance.

Applying is fully online, but small errors — a mismatched bank certificate, an incorrect AD code, an unlinked PAN — routinely cause rejections and weeks of delay. Our IEC specialists file it right the first time, so you go from paperwork to an active e-IEC ready for global trade in as little as one to two working days.

Talk to an IEC Expert Who Needs an IEC?
0IEC Applications Filed
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DGFT · Govt. of India e-IEC
Application FiledPAN & documents submitted on the DGFT portal
DGFT VerificationBank and business details cross-checked
e-IEC IssuedLifetime-valid code delivered digitally
Lifetime
Applicability

Who actually needs an Import Export Code?

IEC isn't limited to large trading houses. If money crosses the border for goods or services in either direction, a business is almost certainly required to hold one. Here's who we register it for most often.

Manufacturer Exporters

Factories and production units shipping finished goods overseas need an IEC to clear customs and receive payment in foreign currency.

Most Common

Merchant Exporters & Traders

Trading firms that buy from domestic manufacturers and resell abroad without producing anything themselves.

Service Exporters

IT, consulting, design, and other service providers billing overseas clients also need an IEC to receive inward remittances smoothly.

E-commerce Sellers

Sellers exporting through Amazon Global, Etsy, or their own storefront require an IEC to ship internationally and settle cross-border payments.

Startups & MSMEs

Early-stage businesses planning to sell overseas or import raw material and components as part of their supply chain.

Import-Dependent Businesses

Any business importing raw materials, machinery, or finished goods for resale must hold an IEC to file a Bill of Entry with customs.

Proprietors & Individual Exporters

Sole proprietors and individuals trading in their own name are equally eligible and frequently apply using their personal PAN.

Freelancers with Overseas Clients

Independent professionals invoicing clients abroad often need an IEC to satisfy bank compliance on incoming foreign payments.

The Process

From application to e-IEC, in six steps

The entire IEC registration process runs on the DGFT's online portal — here's the journey your application takes from submission to an active code in hand.

ANF-2A Filed
Documents Uploaded
Fee Paid Online
DGFT Verification
e-IEC Issued
1

Document Collection

We gather PAN, identity and address proof, business registration papers, and bank certificate upfront so the filing goes through cleanly the first time.

2

DGFT Portal Registration

We create and verify your profile on the DGFT's official online portal using your PAN and registered mobile or email for OTP-based authentication.

3

Filing Form ANF-2A

Your business, director/partner, and bank account details are entered into the IEC application form and submitted with scanned supporting documents.

4

Payment of Government Fee

The prescribed DGFT application fee is paid online through the portal's payment gateway, generating an acknowledgment for your records.

5

DGFT Verification

The regional DGFT office cross-checks your PAN, bank details, and address — we track the application and respond immediately to any query raised.

6

e-IEC Certificate Issued

Once approved, your digitally signed e-IEC is generated instantly and can be downloaded from the DGFT portal — valid for the lifetime of the business.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for an IEC?

Eligibility for the Import Export Code is deliberately broad — almost any legally constituted business or individual can apply, subject to a few baseline conditions.

Valid PAN Card

A Permanent Account Number is mandatory — the IEC is issued strictly against the applicant's PAN, whether an individual, firm, or company.

Any Business Constitution

Proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private and public companies, HUFs, trusts, and societies are all eligible to hold an IEC.

Active Bank Account

A current or savings account in the applicant's name, with a bank certificate or a cancelled cheque bearing a pre-printed name and account number.

Valid Business Address

A registered office or principal place of business address, supported by a recent utility bill, rent agreement, or property document.

One IEC per PAN

Only a single IEC can be issued against one PAN — existing holders don't need (and can't obtain) a second one, even for a new line of business.

Lawful Trade Activity

The import or export activity must be legal under Indian foreign trade policy — a short list of restricted and prohibited goods requires additional licensing.

Paperwork

Documents you'll need to keep handy

The DGFT portal accepts scanned copies only, so having clear, correctly named files ready before you start is the single biggest time-saver.

PAN Card

Of the individual, firm, or company applying

Aadhaar / ID Proof

Of the proprietor, partner, or director

Bank Certificate

Or a cancelled cheque with pre-printed name

Address Proof

Utility bill, rent agreement, or lease deed

Photograph

Recent passport-size photo of the applicant

Business Registration Proof

Incorporation certificate, partnership deed, or GST certificate

Active Mobile & Email

Registered for OTP-based DGFT verification

Digital Signature (Optional)

Speeds up verification for companies and LLPs

Why It's Worth It

What an IEC actually unlocks for your business

Beyond satisfying a legal requirement, holding an active IEC changes what markets, payments, and incentives your business can access.

Access to Global Markets

Legally sell your products and services to customers anywhere in the world

Lifetime Validity

Issued once and valid for the life of the business — no renewal required

No Return Filing

Unlike GST or income tax, IEC involves no periodic returns to file

Export Incentive Schemes

Unlocks eligibility for RoDTEP, duty drawback, and other DGFT benefit schemes

Smooth Foreign Remittances

Banks require a valid IEC before crediting inward or outward foreign payments

Hassle-Free Customs Clearance

Mandatory for filing a Shipping Bill or Bill of Entry at any Indian port

Fully Online Process

Applied for, tracked, and downloaded entirely through the DGFT portal

Business Credibility

Signals to overseas buyers and suppliers that you trade legitimately

After Registration

Keeping your IEC active, year after year

An IEC never expires, but a few simple upkeep steps are what keep it functional and prevent it from being deactivated by DGFT.

Annual Online Updation

DGFT requires every IEC holder to confirm or update their details on the portal each year between April and June, even with no changes.

Modification for Changes

Any change in business address, bank account, directors, or ownership must be updated on the DGFT portal to keep the IEC accurate.

Avoiding Deactivation

An IEC not updated within the annual window is automatically deactivated — reactivation is possible but adds avoidable delay to shipments.

Linking Bank & AD Code

Your IEC must be correctly linked with your bank's Authorised Dealer (AD) Code at each port used, to enable smooth shipping bill processing.

RCMC Registration

To claim export incentive schemes, pair your IEC with a Registration-cum- Membership Certificate from the relevant export promotion council.

GST & PAN Consistency

Keep your GSTIN, PAN, and IEC details aligned across records to avoid mismatches during customs or bank scrutiny.

Why Hisho & Kanri

IEC filings handled by people who do this daily

We've filed hundreds of IEC applications across manufacturing, trading, e-commerce, and service exports — we know exactly which details the DGFT portal rejects on.

DGFT Filing Specialists

Professionals who file IEC and RCMC applications on the DGFT portal every week.

1–2 Day Turnaround

Clean, error-checked filings that avoid the query-and-resubmit cycle.

Transparent Pricing

One clear fee covering the government charge and our service, no surprises.

Full Visibility

You see every document uploaded and every status update on your application.

Post-Issuance Support

We help with annual updation, modifications, and AD code linking after issuance too.

Secure Documentation

Your PAN, bank, and business documents handled under strict confidentiality.

FAQ

Common questions about IEC registration

Can't find your question here? Use the form alongside this page and we'll answer it directly.

It's a unique 10-digit, PAN-based number issued by the DGFT that any business or individual must hold to import goods into India or export goods and services out of it.

No, GST and IEC are independent registrations. You can hold an IEC without a GSTIN, though most active exporters end up needing both.

It's valid for the lifetime of the business — there's no renewal, only a mandatory annual online updation to keep it active.

No, only one IEC can be issued per PAN. If you already hold one, use the same code across all your business's import-export activity.

Yes, individuals, sole proprietors, and freelancers can apply using their personal PAN, with no minimum turnover or business size requirement.

Typically one to two working days once documents are in order — the DGFT portal often issues the e-IEC within hours of a clean, verified application.

DGFT deactivates it automatically. A deactivated IEC blocks customs clearance and foreign remittances until it's reactivated on the portal.

Generally yes — most banks ask for an IEC before processing inward remittances for service exports, even though customs clearance isn't involved.

PAN, identity proof, a bank certificate or cancelled cheque, and address proof are the core set — see the Documents section above for the full list.

Because we file IEC applications daily, catch the errors that cause rejections before they're submitted, and stay on for annual updation and AD code linking afterward.