Import Export Code (IEC): a complete guide for Indian businesses

If your business is going to import goods into India or export anything out of it, there's one registration you can't skip: the Import Export Code, or IEC. It's a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and without it customs won't clear your shipment and your bank won't process an international payment for the trade. The good news is that it's one of the simpler registrations on this list: mostly online, usually quick, and a one-time affair.

This guide explains who needs an IEC, who's exempt, the documents required, the step-by-step DGFT process, and the one annual task most holders forget. All current for FY 2026–27.

What is the IEC and who needs it?

The IEC is your business's licence to trade across India's borders. You need it if you:

• Import goods into India for commercial purposes
• Export goods from India
• Are an exporter of services claiming benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy
• Need to send or receive international payments tied to import/export through a bank

It's issued against your PAN, so one IEC covers your entire business across all its branches. Importantly, the IEC is now linked to your PAN itself. Practically, the PAN-based code is your IEC.

Who is exempt?

Not everyone trading internationally needs one. You're generally exempt if you're importing or exporting goods for personal use unconnected to trade, or if you're a government department or notified charitable body. Individuals selling purely digital services may also fall outside the requirement depending on how payments are structured, but if you're claiming export benefits, you'll want the IEC anyway. When in doubt, it's worth a quick check with our registrations team rather than assuming.

Documents you'll need

The list is refreshingly short, another reason the IEC is one of the easier registrations:

• PAN of the business or individual
• Aadhaar / identity proof of the applicant for digital signing
• Proof of business address: electricity bill, rent agreement or sale deed
• Bank details: a cancelled cheque or a banker's certificate
• A valid DSC or Aadhaar-based e-sign for authentication

The application process, step by step

Registration is done entirely on the DGFT portal, and the flow is firmly digital-first.

• Step 1: Register on the DGFT portal. Create a user account and verify it with an OTP to your mobile and email.
• Step 2: Start the IEC application (ANF-2A). Choose "Apply for IEC" and fill in your business details, nature of the firm and proprietor/director information.
• Step 3: Enter address and bank details. Add your principal place of business and bank account, and upload the supporting documents.
• Step 4: Sign and pay. Authenticate with your DSC or Aadhaar e-sign and pay the nominal government fee online.
• Step 5: Receive your IEC. Once verified, the IEC certificate is generated, often the same day or within a few working days, and can be downloaded directly from the portal.

The annual task everyone forgets

Here's the one thing that catches IEC holders out: the code itself never expires, but you must update or confirm your IEC details every year, even if nothing has changed. This electronic updation runs between April and June. Miss it and your IEC is deactivated, and a deactivated IEC means held-up shipments and blocked payments at the worst possible moment. Reactivation is possible but it's a scramble nobody wants mid-shipment.

This is exactly the kind of small recurring deadline that's easy to lose track of, and it sits naturally alongside the rest of your annual compliance calendar. We track it for clients so an active trading licence never quietly switches off.

IEC and the rest of your setup

An IEC rarely stands alone. Exporters usually also want GST registration (exports are zero-rated, and you'll file a Letter of Undertaking to export without paying tax) and may benefit from registrations like RCMC for export-promotion-council schemes. If you're setting up to trade internationally, it's worth sequencing these together: get the GST and LUT side right alongside the IEC so your first shipment goes out smoothly rather than stalling on a missing registration.

Frequently asked questions

Is the IEC mandatory for all exporters?

For exporters of goods, yes, with very narrow exemptions. Service exporters need it if they want to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy. If goods physically cross the border commercially, you need an IEC.

How long does it take to get an IEC?

It's one of the fastest registrations, frequently issued the same day or within a few working days of a clean application, since the process is fully online and PAN-linked.

Does the IEC expire?

The code itself doesn't expire, but you must electronically confirm or update its details once a year, typically between April and June. Skip the annual updation and the IEC is deactivated until you reactivate it.

Do I need a separate IEC for each branch?

No. One IEC is issued against your PAN and covers the whole business, including all branches and divisions.

Can an individual get an IEC?

Yes. Individuals, proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs and companies can all apply, as long as they have a PAN and a bank account in the applicant's name.