Your passport to importing and exporting from India.
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit registration issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and is mandatory for any business or individual engaged in importing goods into or exporting goods and services out of India. Without an IEC, customs will not clear your shipments and banks will not process foreign remittances for trade. The IEC is now PAN-based, valid for a lifetime, and applies across all business locations — though it must be updated/confirmed once every year on the DGFT portal. Obtaining an IEC is a quick, fully online process and is the essential first step for entering international trade.
Importers, exporters, e-commerce sellers shipping abroad, and service exporters receiving foreign payments.
Timelines and government fees are indicative and subject to processing by the relevant authority. Approval and its timing are decided by the authority and cannot be guaranteed.
It is needed when claiming benefits under foreign trade policy; for pure service exports it may not always be mandatory, but is generally recommended.
IEC is lifetime-valid but must be electronically updated/confirmed every year, even if there are no changes, to avoid deactivation.
Yes. Any individual with a PAN can obtain an IEC for import/export.
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