Import export code registration
The DGFT code customs and your bank both ask for before a single shipment or foreign payment moves.
What the fee covers
- DGFT application and authentication
- Bank and address documentation
- IEC certificate handover
- First annual update filing
- Guidance on export incentives you may qualify for
Professional fee
1,999
professional fee, government fee at actuals
- Timeline
- 2 to 5 working days
- Filed with
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade
The code that clears customs
An import export code is issued against your PAN and is the identifier customs and your bank use for every cross border transaction. Without it a shipment does not clear and an inward remittance does not release.
The code does not expire, but it has to be confirmed on the DGFT portal every year. Codes that go unconfirmed are deactivated, and businesses usually discover this on the day a consignment is already at the port.
Best suited to
- Exporters shipping goods out of India
- Importers clearing consignments through customs
- Service exporters receiving foreign currency
- Sellers listing on international marketplaces
Documents you need
- PAN of the business or the proprietor
- Aadhaar of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Incorporation certificate or partnership deed
- Cancelled cheque or bank certificate
- Proof of the business address
- Digital signature or Aadhaar for authentication
Scanned copies are enough to begin. We check every document against the department's current format before filing, because a rejected form costs more time than a resubmitted scan.
How the filing runs
Get free consultationProfile and bank details
The application is built around your PAN and the bank account that will receive foreign currency.
DGFT filing
The application is filed on the DGFT portal with Aadhaar or DSC authentication.
Code issue
The IEC is usually issued within a few working days and arrives against your PAN.
Annual update
IEC details have to be confirmed every year, and we file the update so the code stays active.
What it costs
1,999
professional fee, government fee at actuals
Typical timeline: 2 to 5 working days
Get free consultationTen percent below any comparable quote
Send us a written quote from another online filing platform for the same scope of work. We do the same filing for ten percent less, and the difference is shown in your quote before you pay anything.
- Applies to professional fees on like for like scope and turnaround
- Government fees and stamp duty are statutory and are charged at actuals by everyone
- The quote you send has to be current and in writing
Import export code questions
Who needs an import export code?
Any business importing goods into India or exporting from it. Service exporters usually need it too, because banks ask for the code before releasing inward foreign remittances.
Does the IEC expire?
The code itself does not expire, but it must be updated on the DGFT portal every year between April and June, even when nothing has changed. Codes that are not updated get deactivated.
Can a proprietor get an IEC?
Yes. The code is issued against the PAN, so a proprietor applies with a personal PAN and the business bank account.
Do I need GST registration before applying?
Not for the code itself, but you will need GST to claim refunds on exports and to file shipping documents correctly, so most exporters set up both together.
Talk to a CA about import export code
Send your details and a chartered accountant calls you back with the document checklist, the timeline and the exact cost for import export code.
Reach us directly
22-1-3 Rajapangal Road, 7th Line, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh 523001. The office is open 10am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, and WhatsApp and phone are answered around the clock.