IEC Registration: Importer Exporter Code from DGFT in India in Sri Ganganagar

What Is an Importer-Exporter Code?

The Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is a unique 10-digit identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy. It is linked to the PAN of the business, so one PAN holder has only one IEC. Customs authorities, banks, shipping lines and export promotion agencies use it to identify the importer or exporter in every transaction.

The IEC is a one-time registration. It does not expire and has no renewal fee in the traditional sense, but the DGFT requires the IEC holder to confirm and update the details on the portal once a year in the period the DGFT notifies, and an IEC that is not updated can be made inactive until it is. Because the IEC carries the details of the business, they should be kept current.

Who Needs an IEC?

• A person who imports goods into India or exports goods from India for trade purposes is generally required to have an IEC.
• Exporters and importers who wish to clear goods through customs, receive foreign exchange through banks against exports or claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, such as duty remission or export promotion schemes.
• Service exporters, who generally do not need an IEC just to export services, but who do need one if they wish to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy. Their banks or customers may also ask for it.
• E-commerce exporters and merchants who ship goods abroad, and manufacturers and traders who sell to overseas buyers.

Some imports and exports are exempt, such as those for personal use that are not connected with trade or manufacture, and certain transactions by government departments and other categories the Foreign Trade Policy lists. We check whether your activity falls within the exemption before we apply.

What the IEC Application Involves

• Applicant details: name, PAN, constitution, address and contact details of the business, along with the proprietor, partners or directors.
• Authentication: the application is filed online on the DGFT portal, and it is verified through an Aadhaar-based or DSC-based authentication, depending on the applicant.
• Bank details: a bank account in the name of the business, with a cancelled cheque or a bank certificate, so that it can be linked to the IEC.
• Branches and addresses: if the business has branches, they can be added to the IEC.
• Fee: a nominal government fee is paid on the portal, online. The fee is notified by the DGFT, so we confirm the current amount at the time.

When the application is approved, the IEC certificate is made available on the portal for download and printing.

Registrations That Go Along with IEC

The IEC is the starting point, and several other registrations often follow, depending on the business.

• Customs and ICEGATE: registration for filing shipping bills and bills of entry, and for tracking customs documents.
• Authorised Dealer (AD) code: registration of the bank's AD code with the customs for the port, so that export proceeds can be tracked.
• Registration Cum Membership Certificate (RCMC): from the relevant export promotion council, for claiming certain benefits.
• GST Letter of Undertaking (LUT): for exporting goods or services without paying IGST, which is filed on the GST portal.
• Export schemes: such as the schemes for duty remission, advance authorisation or capital goods, which have their own applications and eligibility.

These are separate from the IEC application, and are not included unless agreed. We can help with them as follow-on services.

What Our IEC Registration Service Includes

• Checking whether your activity needs an IEC, and whether an exemption applies.
• Preparation of the application on the DGFT portal, with the details of the business, the proprietors or directors and the bank account.
• Guidance on authentication and on the Digital Signature Certificate where it is needed.
• Document review and upload.
• Payment of the DGFT fee, after confirming the amount.
• Tracking of the application, and response to any clarification raised by the DGFT.
• Delivery of the IEC certificate as issued.
• Guidance on annual update, and on follow-on steps such as ICEGATE, AD code, RCMC and LUT.

How the Process Works

We start with your product, the countries you deal with and your constitution. We then prepare a checklist and, after you send the documents, fill in the application and share the draft for your confirmation. We guide you through the authentication step, which has to be done by the applicant, and then submit the application and pay the fee. The DGFT may approve it directly or ask for clarification, which we handle. When the IEC is issued, we share the certificate and explain the annual update and the follow-on registrations. The time is usually short, but it depends on the DGFT and on the documents.

Important Considerations

• The IEC is issued by the DGFT. We cannot guarantee it or the timeline.
• Details such as name, address, directors and bank account should match PAN and other records, otherwise the application can be rejected.
• Failure to update the IEC annually can result in it being made inactive, and shipments may be held up.
• Restricted or prohibited items need separate licences, as the Foreign Trade Policy and other laws provide, and an IEC does not authorise them.
• Replying to DGFT or customs notices is a separate service.