Matter
Import Export Code
Nothing crosses the border without it. A ten-digit code from DGFT that customs, your bank and every export incentive scheme will ask for — and that must be confirmed every year or it is deactivated.
This engagement covers
- Application filing
- Bank verification
- Code delivered
- Annual update
- Modification
“They set up our Private Limited in under two weeks and explained every form before we signed it. The fee never moved from the first quote.”
Requisition
SH/GROW/IMPORT
- Governed by
- Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992
- Issued by
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade
- Typical timeline
- 1–5 working days
- Validity
- Permanent, but must be updated annually
- If not updated
- Deactivated, blocking customs clearance
Overview
Best suited to. Anyone importing or exporting goods or services, including businesses selling abroad through marketplaces and receiving payment in foreign currency.
How we price it. One fixed professional fee, agreed in writing before any work begins, with government fees and statutory charges itemised separately and payable at actuals. If the scope changes, we tell you before doing the work.
What’s included
- 01
Application filing
Filed on the DGFT portal with digital signature or Aadhaar authentication and correctly linked PAN.
- 02
Bank verification
Bank details and cancelled cheque submitted in the format DGFT accepts, so the code is not held up on a technicality.
- 03
Code delivered
The ten-digit IEC issued and sent to you, ready for your customs broker and your bank.
- 04
Annual update
The mandatory yearly confirmation filed — the single most common reason an IEC stops working.
- 05
Modification
Address, bank and constitution changes filed as they happen, so customs records stay accurate.
Documents required
Collected once, digitally. We check the whole set before anything is filed — document problems are what turn a two-week job into a six-week one.
The applicant
- PAN of the individual or entity
- Aadhaar of the proprietor, partner or director
- Incorporation or partnership documents
- Digital signature, for entities
Business and bank
- Address proof of the business premises
- Cancelled cheque or banker's certificate
- Registered email address and mobile number for DGFT OTP
- GSTIN, where registered
How it works
- Step 01
Eligibility and details
We confirm you need an IEC and collect the exact details DGFT will validate.
- Step 02
Filed
Application submitted with authentication and bank documents.
- Step 03
Code issued
IEC delivered, usually within a few working days.
- Step 04
Kept live
The annual update is diarised and filed, so the code never lapses.
Questions
Q1Do I need an IEC to export services?
For most service exports where payment is received in foreign exchange, yes — and banks generally ask for it before releasing inward remittance. There are limited exemptions, and we will tell you if one applies.
Q2Does the IEC expire?
The code itself is permanent, but it must be confirmed on the DGFT portal every year even if nothing has changed. Miss it and the IEC is deactivated, which stops customs clearance until it is reinstated.
Q3Can an individual get an IEC?
Yes. An individual or a proprietorship can hold an IEC against their own PAN. A separate entity is not required.
Q4Is one IEC enough for multiple businesses?
One IEC is issued per PAN. If you operate through separate entities with separate PANs, each needs its own.
Something specific to your situation? Ask us directly — we answer within one working day.
Also under Licences & registrations
Next step
Get a written quote for import export code.
Tell us your situation in one message. We come back with the scope, the documents required and the total cost — before any work begins.