Import Export Code (IEC)
The ten-digit code from the DGFT that every importer and exporter must hold before clearing goods.
The Import Export Code is a ten-digit identifier issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. No person may import into or export out of India without one, and customs will not clear a consignment against a party who does not hold it.
Since it was aligned with PAN, the IEC is now the same number as your PAN, issued as a separate certificate. It has lifetime validity, but it must be confirmed on the DGFT portal every year or it is deactivated.
What this costs
When you need one
- Importing goods into India for commercial purposes
- Exporting goods out of India
- Exporting services, where you wish to claim benefits under a foreign trade scheme
- Receiving or sending remittances connected with trade in goods
- Registering on ICEGATE, or claiming export incentives
The annual updation requirement
This catches out a great many holders. Every IEC must be electronically updated between April and June each year, even where nothing has changed.
An IEC that is not confirmed is deactivated, and a deactivated code stops customs clearance until it is reactivated. Because there is no fee and no change to declare, it is an easy obligation to forget and an expensive one to discover at the port.
Who does not need one
- Import or export for personal use, unconnected with trade
- Ministries and departments of central or state government
- Notified charitable imports, in certain cases
- Trade with Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar through specified border areas below the notified value limit
How we handle it
- 1 Preparing the application The application is completed on the DGFT portal with your business, address and bank particulars.
- 2 Authentication The application is authenticated using the digital signature or the Aadhaar-linked mobile of the authorised person.
- 3 Fee payment The government fee is paid online and the application submitted.
- 4 Certificate issued The IEC certificate is generated, usually within a few working days, and sent to you.
- 5 Setting the annual reminder We record your updation window so the code is confirmed each year and never deactivated.
Frequently asked questions
Does the IEC expire?
It has lifetime validity, but it must be electronically updated between April and June every year even if nothing has changed. An un-updated code is deactivated and will block customs clearance.
Do I need a separate IEC for each branch?
No. One IEC covers the entity, and branches or divisions are added to the same code as additional addresses.
Do I need an IEC to export services?
Not always, since service exports are often handled through banking channels without one. You do need it to claim benefits under foreign trade policy schemes.
Is the IEC the same as my GST number?
No. The IEC is issued by the DGFT for cross-border trade; GST registration is a tax registration. Importers and exporters generally need both.
Can it be cancelled or suspended?
Yes. The DGFT may suspend or cancel an IEC for contravention of the foreign trade law, and it is deactivated automatically if the annual updation is not done.
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 Import Export Code (IEC)
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
Request This Service
More in Licences & Registrations
Have a Legal or Documentation Need?
Talk to our experts today. Transparent pricing, fast processing and dedicated support.