Start
Import Export Code (IEC)
IEC is the DGFT-issued identifier generally used by a person undertaking import or export of goods and specified foreign-trade activities.
Last Reviewed: 29 July 2026
Next scheduled review: 29 October 2026
Reviewed by: IndiaBusiness.ai Editorial
Who it’s for
When you may not need it — DGFT provides specified exemptions and service-export situations can differ. Do not tell every recipient of foreign money to obtain IEC. Classify whether the activity is goods, services, restricted trade, personal/non-commercial use or an exempt category.
Verified at-a-glance facts
Key qualification table
What IEC does not replace
IEC does not replace GST, customs classification, AD-code/bank processes, product-specific licences, FSSAI, BIS, plant/animal quarantine, drug/cosmetic controls, SCOMET authorisation, Legal Metrology or country-of-destination requirements.
Process
Step 1
Classify applicant, product/service, countries and transaction model.
Step 2
Confirm whether IEC is required or an exemption may apply.
Step 3
Reconcile PAN, legal name, address, bank account and authorised signatory.
Step 4
Create/use the applicant-controlled DGFT account and complete authentication.
Step 5
Prepare and submit the electronic application; pay the portal-displayed fee.
Step 6
Download IEC and verify status/details.
Step 7
Complete post-issue checklist: annual April–June confirmation, bank/customs/product permissions and restricted-item screening.
Documents needed
- PAN and entity constitution/registration details.
- Address proof accepted by the DGFT workflow.
- Applicant bank account evidence and validation details.
- Authorised signatory information and DSC/e-sign route where required.
- Product description, intended HS classification and countries for a broader trade-readiness review.
- Existing IEC details for update/reactivation.
What IndiaBusiness takes care of
- Need/exemption assessment within defined scope.
- PAN/name/bank discrepancy report.
- Application/update/reactivation support.
- Annual IEC confirmation reminder and activity log.
- Referral checklist for customs broker, bank and product regulator; specialist licences are separate.
Questions founders ask
Does an IEC permit me to import or export any product?
No. Product restrictions, quality-control orders, customs rules and sector regulators still apply.
Must IEC be renewed every year?
It is not a conventional annual reissue. DGFT requires annual online update/confirmation of IEC details during April–June; failure can lead to deactivation.
Is there a fee for confirming that nothing changed?
DGFT’s notification stated no user charge for the annual confirmation where no change is made. Portal fees for other transactions and professional fees should be checked separately.
Can a proprietor use a trade-name PAN?
The proprietorship uses the proprietor’s PAN; legal-name and trade-name fields must be entered exactly as the portal requires.
How long does approval take?
Do not promise a statutory turnaround. A complete electronic case may process quickly, but validation failures, risk flags or authority review are outside IndiaBusiness control.
You may also need
Primary sources
Information is general and reflects sources reviewed on the date shown. Eligibility, documents, fees, timelines and outcomes depend on the applicant’s facts and the current law, authority portal or platform policy. IndiaBusiness provides advisory and execution support; approval and enforcement decisions remain with the relevant authority, certification body, platform, bank or other decision-maker.