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Licenses & Registrations · DGFT

Import Export Code (IEC)

Import Export Code Registration is the one-time IEC certificate India businesses need before they can legally import or export goods and services across a customs border.

Lifetime validity, no renewal DGFT-linked PAN-based filing Fast, PAN-based online filing

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Import Export Code Registration is a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that any business must hold before it can import or export goods or services, obtained once online and valid for the lifetime of the business with no renewal required.

Any business planning to import raw material or export a product needs Import Export Code Registration before the first shipment clears customs — without it, banks will not process a foreign remittance and customs will not clear the consignment, regardless of transaction size.

The application is more straightforward than most licenses: it is PAN-based, needs no minimum turnover, and does not need renewal once issued, unlike GST which requires ongoing return filing. This makes an IEC certificate India one of the simplest one-time compliance items a growing business will ever complete.

The DGFT portal frequently rejects applications over small mismatches — a bank certificate that does not match the PAN name, or an outdated address proof.

bizOversal handles Import Export Code Registration as a same-week engagement: document verification, DGFT portal filing, and confirmation that the certificate matches your bank and export documentation exactly, since even a small mismatch causes delays at the customs stage later.

Is this right for you?

Who needs Import Export Code (IEC)

Any business planning its first import or export shipment and needing Import Export Code Registration before customs clearance
E-commerce sellers exporting through international marketplaces who need an active IEC on file
Manufacturers importing raw materials or machinery from overseas suppliers
Service exporters receiving foreign currency payments who need IEC linked to their bank account
How it works

Your import export code (iec) roadmap

1

Document Verification

We verify PAN, bank certificate and address proof match exactly before filing.

Day 1
2

DGFT Portal Filing

The application is filed on the DGFT portal.

Day 2
3

IEC Certificate Issued

Once approved, your certificate is issued electronically with lifetime validity.

Day 3–5
What you actually receive

Deliverables checklist

We separate what the government issues from what our team drafts and delivers.

Government filings & certificates
10-digit Import Export Code (IEC) certificate
DGFT portal login for future updates
bizOversal drafted deliverables
Document verification and mismatch check before filing
Guidance on linking IEC to your bank's AD code for customs clearance
Avoid these pitfalls

Common mistakes with Import Export Code (IEC)

Waiting until the first shipment is ready before starting the application, causing avoidable delays at customs
Submitting a bank certificate or address proof that does not exactly match PAN details, triggering DGFT rejection
Assuming Import Export Code Registration needs annual renewal like GST — it does not
Not updating IEC details after a change in business address or bank account
No surprises

Transparent pricing matrix

Prices in INR, exclusive of 18% GST.
ComponentProfessional FeeGovt. / Statutory Charge
Document verification & DGFT filing ₹1,999 ₹500
Compare your options

IEC vs. GST registration — different purposes

Aspect IEC Certificate GST Registration
Purpose Required for import/export Required for domestic taxable supply
Renewal Lifetime, none needed Ongoing monthly/quarterly returns
Turnover threshold None ₹20–40 lakh depending on state
Bundle your total cost

Startup Cost Estimator

Frequently asked

Import Export Code (IEC) — FAQs

No — once issued, the code is valid for the lifetime of the business, though DGFT requires a simple annual online confirmation to keep it active.
The application itself is typically approved within 2–5 working days once documents are verified and match PAN records exactly.
Yes — there is no minimum turnover or shipment-size exemption. Even a single export transaction requires an active IEC before customs will clear it.
Mismatches between the PAN name and the bank certificate or address proof — a common, avoidable issue we check before filing.
Yes, all business types are eligible using their respective PAN.
In most cases yes, particularly for foreign currency payments, since banks typically require an active IEC for such remittances.

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