Import Export Code - IEC
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit, PAN-based identification number issued by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) that's mandatory for any commercial import or export from India. It's filed online via Form ANF-2A on the DGFT portal, carries a flat ₹500 government fee, and has lifetime validity with no renewal — but it must be updated online every year between April and June, or it gets deactivated. FirstMan's professional fee starts at ₹2,499.00, separate from the ₹500 government fee.
Written by the FirstMan compliance desk. Last updated: September 2026.
The ₹500 DGFT government fee is separate from the ₹2,499.00 professional fee, and is paid directly on the government portal at the time of filing.
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Documents
Documents to prepare.
We confirm the final checklist for your case. The standard starting set is:
PAN Card
Bank certificate/cancelled cheque
Address proof
How it works
A controlled four-stage process.
Name reconciliation across PAN, bank, and address proof
We check your firm name, PAN name, and bank account name are identical before filing — this single mismatch, not a missing document, causes most IEC delays.
ANF-2A preparation and filing
The application is filed online on the DGFT portal with PAN, Aadhaar, address proof, bank certificate or cancelled cheque, and a photograph.
Government fee payment and bank validation
The ₹500 government fee is paid online, and your bank account is validated in real time under DGFT's NPCI-linked verification.
Certificate issuance
Once validated, your IEC certificate is issued by DGFT, typically within 1 to 3 business days.
Step by step
A realistic day-by-day timeline.
| Day | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Name reconciliation across PAN, bank, and address proof; ANF-2A drafted |
| Day 1 | Application filed; ₹500 government fee paid; bank account validated in real time (NPCI-based) |
| Day 2-3 | IEC certificate issued by DGFT |
| If validation fails | Application marked "Deficient" rather than rejected — corrected bank details resubmitted before issuance |
This timeline assumes complete, correctly formatted documents on Day 1. Name conflicts or incomplete address proof add 3 to 7 days for resubmission.
What you receive
A defined outcome, not just a submission.
A 10-digit IEC certificate from DGFT, valid for life
A PAN-based Importer Exporter Profile on the DGFT portal
Confirmation of the mandatory annual update window so your IEC never lapses
Included in the engagement
- PAN, bank, and address-proof name reconciliation before filing, to prevent the single most common rejection cause
- ANF-2A preparation and filing on the DGFT portal
- Government fee (₹500) payment coordination
- Support through DGFT's NPCI-based real-time bank account validation
- WhatsApp progress updates through certificate issuance
Best suited for
- Businesses planning to import or export goods commercially — customs clearance is impossible without an active IEC
- Exporters who need IEC to receive payment through authorised banking channels or access government export incentive schemes
- Existing importers/exporters whose IEC has been deactivated for missing the annual April-June update window
Avoid a Deficient/Rejected status
Why IEC applications get rejected, and how we prevent it.
Name mismatch between PAN and bank account
The single most common cause of delay — even "Pvt Ltd" versus "Private Limited" can trigger a manual review. We reconcile every name field before filing.
Failed real-time bank validation
DGFT's NPCI-linked check validates your PAN, name, and account number together; a mismatch marks the application "Deficient" rather than approved. We pre-check this before submission.
Address proof that doesn't match the application
An outdated or differently formatted address document raises a query on its own.
Incomplete or unclear document uploads
Scanned documents must be legible PDF/JPEG files — a blurry upload is a common, entirely avoidable delay.
Government fee not reflecting on the portal
Payment must clear and show up on the DGFT portal before the application proceeds. We confirm this rather than assume the filing is complete once payment is made.
After issuance
The one annual task that keeps your IEC active.
| Milestone | Due by | Penalty for missing it |
|---|---|---|
| Annual IEC update | Every year, between April and June | IEC marked "deactivated" if missed — reactivation needed before further use |
| Reactivation after deactivation | As soon as noticed | Customs clearance blocked until the code is reactivated |
| Modification after firm, bank, or address changes | As soon as they happen | DGFT records fall out of sync, risking a bank-validation mismatch on future filings |
Scope
What the ₹2,499.00 fee includes and excludes.
Beyond the flat ₹500 government fee, IEC has no other statutory charge — this split is about what's a one-time filing task versus what stays your responsibility every year afterward.
Included
- Name reconciliation across PAN, bank, and address proof
- ANF-2A preparation and filing
- Government fee (₹500) payment coordination
- Support through DGFT's real-time bank account validation
- IEC certificate handover
- WhatsApp progress updates through certificate issuance
Not included, billed separately
- •Annual April-June update in future years (free, self-service — we'll remind you)
- •Import/export customs clearance and documentation for individual shipments
- •Modification of an existing IEC — firm name, address, or bank change
- •DGFT scheme-specific registration, such as RCMC or export incentive scheme applications
Total cost of ownership
What this actually costs in year one.
The only recurring cost of holding an IEC is remembering the free April-June annual update — miss it, and DGFT deactivates the code until it's refreshed, which can hold up a shipment at the worst possible time.
| Cost head | When | Typical range | In ₹2,499.00 fee? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional fee (registration) | At filing | ₹2,499.00 | Yes |
| Government fee (DGFT) | At filing | ₹500 | No, statutory |
| Annual update (April-June window) | Every year | Nil — self-service on the DGFT portal | No fee exists |
| Reactivation after a missed annual update | As needed | Nil, but delays customs clearance until done | No fee exists, but time-sensitive |
Beyond the flat ₹500 government fee at filing, IEC has no other statutory charge — the annual update that keeps it active is also free.
Questions
Before you proceed.
Does IEC expire or need renewal?+
No, it has lifetime validity. But you must update it online every year between April and June, or DGFT deactivates it.
What happens if I miss the annual update window?+
DGFT marks the IEC "deactivated." It isn't cancelled, but customs clearance and export benefit access are blocked until you reactivate it by completing the update.
What's the real cost of getting an IEC?+
The ₹2,499.00 professional fee plus a flat ₹500 government fee — no other statutory charge exists, and the annual update afterward is free.
Can I import or export without an IEC?+
Not for commercial trade. Customs won't clear a commercial shipment without an active IEC. Certain narrow exemptions, such as personal-use goods not connected with trade, apply only in specific, notified cases — check with us if you think yours might qualify.
Why do most IEC applications actually get delayed?+
A name mismatch between your PAN, firm name, and bank account — not a missing document — causes most delays, especially since DGFT's real-time bank validation checks all three together.
What is the new NPCI-based bank validation?+
Since February 2026, DGFT validates your declared bank account in real time against NPCI records, checking your PAN, name, and account number together before accepting the application.
What happens if bank validation fails?+
The application is marked "Deficient" rather than rejected outright — you can correct the bank details and resubmit without starting the application over.
Do I need a current account, or can I use a savings account?+
DGFT doesn't mandate a current account specifically, but the account name must exactly match your PAN/firm name regardless of account type.
Is IEC the same as GST registration?+
No. GSTIN is for tax compliance; IEC is specifically for customs clearance and cross-border trade identification. Most exporters need both.
Can a single person — a sole proprietor — get an IEC?+
Yes. A sole proprietorship, partnership, LLP, or company can all apply, using the entity's PAN.
Can I modify my IEC if my firm name or address changes?+
Yes, through a modification application on the DGFT portal, separate from the initial registration.
How fast can I actually get an IEC?+
Typically 1 to 3 business days once your PAN, bank, and address details reconcile cleanly and the government fee reflects on the portal.
Do I need a fresh IEC for every export shipment, or just once?+
Just once. The same IEC covers all your future import/export shipments, as long as you keep it active with the annual update.
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