The Import Export Code (IEC) is the 10-digit business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and is the foundational compliance for any person or entity engaged in import or export of goods or services from India. Mandated under Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy, IEC is the single most important pre-requisite for cross-border trade — without IEC, customs clearance is not possible at any port, foreign exchange remittances for trade are not processed by AD banks, and the entity cannot claim export benefits under MEIS / RoDTEP / SEIS / Advance Authorisation / EPCG / Duty Drawback or import under any concessional scheme. Since IEC is now linked to PAN, the IEC number is the same as the entity's PAN, with a one-time DGFT registration on dgft.gov.in activating the trade identifier.
Our Import Export Code registration services handle the complete IEC lifecycle — fresh IEC application via ANF 2A on the DGFT portal, IEC modification / amendment for change of name, address, partners / directors, branches, or banking details, annual IEC update / KYC mandated under the revised DGFT framework (failure to update annually between April–June leads to IEC deactivation), IEC surrender / cancellation, AD Code registration with customs port-wise, RCMC (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate) from Export Promotion Councils (FIEO, EEPC, APEDA, EPCH, AEPC, CHEMEXCIL, etc.), DGFT digital signature setup, and integration with ICEGATE customs portal. We also advise on HS code classification, restricted / prohibited / SCOMET item check, FEMA inbound / outbound trade compliance, AEO certification, ITC-HS code mapping for tariff and FTP benefits, and reconciliation of IEC details across PAN, GST, customs ICEGATE, AD bank, and shipping bill records — ensuring that every shipment, every bank realisation, and every export benefit is processed without IEC-related rejection or delay.
First-time IEC application for proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private limited companies, OPCs, HUFs, trusts, and societies — ANF 2A end-to-end on DGFT portal.
Amazon Global, Flipkart Cross-Border, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) export sellers — IEC, AD code, RCMC, and FTP benefit setup.
IT services, SaaS, consulting, BPO, KPO, R&D, and other service exporters — IEC for SOFTEX / FIRC realisation, SEIS (where eligible), and FEMA inbound flow.
Manufacturing exporters across textiles, leather, engineering, chemicals, pharma, food, agri — IEC, RCMC, RoDTEP / Drawback, and Advance Authorisation / EPCG setup.
Importers of raw materials, components, finished goods — IEC, BIS / FSSAI / WPC / drug-licence cross-compliance, and customs ICEGATE onboarding.
Change of name, address, directors, partners, branches, banking details — and mandatory annual IEC update during April–June window.
Since the 2021 reform, IEC is the same as the entity's PAN. A one-time DGFT registration on dgft.gov.in activates the IEC; no separate 10-digit number is now issued.
IEC holders must update / confirm IEC details every year between 1 April and 30 June (even if no change), failing which IEC is automatically deactivated.
The Authorised Dealer (AD) bank's 14-digit AD Code must be registered at every customs port from where the entity exports — without it, shipping bill cannot be filed.
Registration-cum-Membership Certificate from the relevant Export Promotion Council (FIEO, EEPC, APEDA, EPCH, AEPC, etc.) is needed to claim FTP benefits and export incentives.
Every export / import shipment is classified under the 8-digit ITC(HS) code — driving customs duty, RoDTEP rate, drawback rate, FTA benefit, and SCOMET classification.
Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment & Technologies — dual-use items requiring DGFT export licence. Critical for defence, nuclear, biotech, and high-tech exports.
Remission of Duties & Taxes on Exported Products — WTO-compliant duty rebate scheme replacing MEIS, with rates notified per ITC-HS code.
EPCG allows duty-free import of capital goods against export obligation; Advance Authorisation allows duty-free import of inputs for export production. Both need IEC + RCMC.
End-to-end ANF 2A filing on the DGFT portal, DSC / e-Sign integration, document validation, and IEC certificate generation in 1–3 working days.
Change of name, address, partners, directors, branch, or banking details — DGFT portal modification with supporting deeds / resolutions.
Mandatory April–June annual update / re-confirmation to prevent IEC deactivation, plus reactivation support if IEC has lapsed.
AD Code registration at JNPT, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, ICDs, and Air Cargo Customs — port-wise across India.
RCMC issuance / renewal from FIEO, EEPC, APEDA, EPCH, AEPC, CHEMEXCIL, PHARMEXCIL, and other Export Promotion Councils based on product profile.
ITC(HS) 8-digit classification, tariff impact analysis, RoDTEP rate / drawback / FTA benefit mapping, and SCOMET applicability check.
RoDTEP, RoSCTL, Duty Drawback, SEIS, MEIS legacy claims, and e-scrip generation / sale advisory under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Application, SION / norms-based authorisation, redemption, EODC (export obligation discharge certificate), and DGFT closure support.
SCOMET classification, dual-use risk, application drafting, end-user certificate, and DGFT licence acquisition for restricted items.
FIRC realisation, BRC, EBRC, write-off applications, FEMA Cir 14 / Cir 9 cases, and AD bank coordination for export realisation.
AEO-T1 / T2 / T3 (Authorised Economic Operator) certification — fast-track customs clearance, deferred duty, and self-assessment privileges.
IEC surrender for closed entities, reactivation of deactivated / blocked IEC, and de-blocking on completion of pending DGFT compliances.
About to ship the first export consignment or clear the first import — IEC and AD code at the relevant port are mandatory pre-conditions.
The April–June annual update window has opened — mandatory IEC re-confirmation needed even if no change, to prevent automatic deactivation.
IEC has been deactivated due to missed annual update or other DGFT default — reactivation and pending-compliance closure required.
Entity has changed name, registered office, partner / director profile, or banking details — IEC modification on DGFT portal is required.
Beginning to export from a new customs port — AD code registration at that specific port is mandatory before shipping bill filing.
Looking to claim RoDTEP, drawback, SEIS, or use Advance Authorisation / EPCG — RCMC from the relevant Export Council is a precondition.
Product falls in restricted / prohibited / SCOMET list — DGFT licence advisory and end-user-certificate work needed before export.
Setting up Amazon Global / Etsy / Shopify D2C export operations — IEC, AD code per port, RCMC, and courier shipping-bill setup required.
Entity-form, product, port, and FTP scheme analysis to confirm IEC scope and linked compliances (RCMC, AD code, BIS, FSSAI).
PAN, KYC, address, banking, and DSC inputs gathered, validated, and prepared for DGFT portal upload.
Online ANF 2A application on dgft.gov.in, Aadhaar / DSC e-Sign, and fee payment — typically completed in 1–3 working days.
AD code registration at relevant ports, RCMC issuance, ICEGATE customs onboarding, and FTP scheme enrolment.
April–June annual IEC update, modification on change events, scheme claims, and DGFT compliance health-check.
Partner with our IEC registration specialists for fresh IEC, modification, annual KYC update, AD code, RCMC, RoDTEP / Drawback, Advance Authorisation / EPCG, SCOMET licence, and end-to-end DGFT & customs compliance.
Talk to an IEC & Trade Expert