DGFT Digital Signature
The organisation-level signing certificate used for import-export filings on the DGFT portal.
Filings on the Directorate General of Foreign Trade portal must be signed with a digital signature certificate registered against the entity. It is a Class 3 organisational certificate, issued in the name of the authorised person and linked to the entity’s Import Export Code.
The distinguishing feature is the linkage. A personal Class 3 certificate held by a director will not work for DGFT filings unless it is an organisational certificate issued with the entity details and registered on the portal against the IEC.
Charges on enquiry
This service is quoted case by case, because the work depends on your documents, the authority involved and the timeline you need. Send us a short note and we will confirm the professional charges and the government fees in writing before starting.
What it is used for
- Import Export Code applications, modifications and the annual updation
- Advance authorisation and export promotion capital goods applications
- Duty exemption and remission scheme claims
- Redemption and closure of authorisations
- Filing and tracking of applications on the DGFT portal
- Digital signing of documents submitted to the Directorate
Organisational, not personal
The certificate must be an organisational Class 3 certificate carrying the entity name alongside the authorised person’s. A personal certificate obtained for income tax or ROC filings generally will not register against the IEC.
This is the most common cause of a failed registration on the portal. Buying a personal certificate and discovering it does not work means buying a second one, so establishing the requirement first is worth doing.
The IEC must be active
Registration of the certificate against the entity requires a valid and current Import Export Code. An IEC that has not been electronically updated in the April to June window is deactivated.
A deactivated IEC blocks not only the certificate registration but customs clearance itself, so it is worth confirming the position before assuming the problem is with the signature.
Practical points
- Certificates are issued for one, two or three years; longer validity is more economical
- The certificate resides on a secure USB token and cannot be copied from it
- A lost token means revocation and a fresh certificate, with no recovery
- The certificate is tied to a named individual whose signature it legally is
- A change in the authorised person requires a new certificate and re-registration
How we handle it
- 1 Confirming the type We establish that an organisational Class 3 certificate is required, since a personal certificate will not register against the IEC.
- 2 Checking the IEC The Import Export Code is confirmed as active and updated for the year.
- 3 Application The certificate is applied for with the entity and authorised person details.
- 4 Verification Identity verification is completed as the certifying authority requires.
- 5 Issue and delivery The certificate is downloaded onto a USB token and delivered to you.
- 6 Portal registration The certificate is registered on the DGFT portal against your IEC and tested with a filing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my existing digital signature for DGFT?
Only if it is an organisational Class 3 certificate carrying the entity name. A personal certificate obtained for income tax or ROC filings generally will not register against the IEC.
Why will my certificate not register on the portal?
Most commonly because it is a personal rather than an organisational certificate, or because the Import Export Code has not been updated for the year and is deactivated.
How long is it valid?
One, two or three years, chosen at application. Longer validity is more economical per year, and renewal should be done before expiry.
What if the authorised person changes?
A new certificate is required in the new person’s name and must be registered against the IEC. The certificate is legally that individual’s signature and cannot be transferred.
What if the token is lost?
The certificate must be revoked and a fresh one obtained. The private key cannot be extracted from the token, so there is no recovery.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about DGFT Digital Signature
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
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