IEC Code

The Import Export Code (IEC) is a mandatory 10-digit registration issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Without a valid IEC, you cannot legally export (or import) goods from India commercially.

Who needs an IEC

Any individual or business exporting goods commercially — including a single ecommerce sale shipped internationally — needs an IEC. Genuine non-commercial personal shipments (gifts, samples with no sale involved) filed under CSB-IV below ₹25,000 don't require one, but any shipment filed under CSB-V does.

How to apply

1. Register on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) with a valid email address and mobile number — the system verifies these with an OTP and links your profile to your PAN.
2. Log in and select "Apply for IEC" from the Services menu (this opens Form ANF-2A).
3. Complete the applicant details — business type, address, branch addresses if applicable, nature of business, and export sectors of interest.
4. Enter your bank account details.
5. Upload the required supporting documents.
6. Pay the application fee and submit.

Documents required

• PAN card
• Aadhaar (for identity verification)
• Address proof for the business/individual
• Bank certificate or a cancelled cheque
• A recent photograph (PDF or JPEG)

Fee and timeline

The government application fee is a flat ₹500. Processing through the DGFT portal is fully online and typically takes 1–3 working days.

Validity and the annual update requirement

An IEC has lifetime validity — there's no renewal requirement. However, every IEC holder must update their profile on the DGFT portal annually, between April and June, even if nothing about the business has changed. Failing to complete this annual confirmation can result in the IEC being deactivated, so this is worth calendaring even in years with zero changes to report.