- The IEC is a 10-character, PAN-linked code from DGFT. One PAN, one IEC, valid for life if kept up to date.
- Confirm or update it every year between 1 April and 30 June, or it can be deactivated from 1 July.
- Keep the name, address and bank account identical on the IEC, PAN, GST and bank records, or filings and eBRCs stall.
What the IEC is, and who needs one
The Importer-Exporter Code is a 10-character code issued by DGFT to a business that imports or exports goods. It is tied to the entity's PAN, so one PAN holds one IEC, and it is valid for life as long as it is kept up to date. Customs, banks, DGFT and the GST system all use it to recognise you as a trader.
Merchant exporters, manufacturer exporters, traders and importers all need one. A few cases are exempt, such as imports for personal use that are not for trade and some government imports, so check the exemption list on the DGFT site if you are unsure. Exporters of services generally do not need an IEC unless they claim a DGFT benefit.
Applying for an IEC
- Gather the documents. PAN of the entity, Aadhaar or a digital signature of the authorised signatory, proof of the registered address, a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, and an email and mobile number you control.
- Apply on the DGFT portal. Enter the business constitution, addresses, directors or partners, and bank details. Authenticate with an e-sign or DSC. A small fee applies to the application.
- Download the certificate. The IEC is issued electronically, usually within a day or two if the PAN data matches.
- Register it where it is used. Add the IEC to your authorised dealer bank record, your ICEGATE registration and your ERP's party master. The bank and customs read the same code on every shipment.
Names must match. The name on the IEC, PAN, GST registration, bank account and invoices should be identical. A mismatch is the most common reason an application stalls, and later it is a reason for a rejected Shipping Bill or an eBRC that will not generate. See how to generate an eBRC.
The annual update and deactivation
Every IEC holder is expected to confirm or update the IEC details once a year between 1 April and 30 June, even if nothing has changed. There is no government fee for the annual update. An IEC that has not been updated is deactivated, and a deactivated IEC can be blocked at customs and at the bank until it is reactivated by completing the pending update.
Check the current rule. The annual-update requirement and its dates are set by DGFT notifications, and there has been public debate about its basis. Treat the April-to-June window as the working rule and confirm on dgft.gov.in each year.
Changing details during the year
Modify the IEC whenever something material changes. The change is made on the DGFT portal and carries a small fee.
| Change | What to do | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Registered address | Modify the IEC and upload the new address proof | Customs and bank records, GST address and the IEC should agree |
| Directors or partners | Update the list and the authorised signatory | The signatory's DSC must be re-registered on ICEGATE |
| Bank account | Add or change the AD bank account | Remittances must come into an account that appears on the IEC |
| Branch or factory | Add the branch under the same IEC | Branch codes are used on licences and incentive claims |
| Name or constitution | Usually a new PAN, so a new IEC | Transfer licences and open bills with care |
Where an IEC causes trouble
Missed annual update. The first sign is often a Shipping Bill that will not file or a bank that will not process an export remittance. Put 1 April on the compliance calendar and name an owner.
Bank account not on the IEC. If the exporter receives money in an account that DGFT does not know about, the IRM cannot be linked to the Shipping Bill and the eBRC stalls.
Wrong IEC on a document. One digit wrong on a commercial invoice or Shipping Bill breaks the match between customs, the bank and the licence ledger. Hold the IEC in a master record and pull it into documents, never retype it.
How EXIMnx helps: EXIMnx keeps the IEC, branch codes and AD bank details in the company master, verifies the IEC against DGFT where the connector is enabled, and prints it on documents from that single record. Its compliance calendar raises the April update well before the window closes. See the DGFT module.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IEC annual update mandatory?
DGFT expects every IEC holder to confirm or update details between 1 April and 30 June each year; an IEC not updated can be deactivated. Confirm the current rule on dgft.gov.in.
How many IECs can one PAN have?
One. The IEC is PAN-based, with branches added under the same code.
Does a service exporter need an IEC?
Generally no, unless claiming a DGFT benefit. Goods importers and exporters need one.
- DGFT, IEC application, modification and annual update: dgft.gov.in
- Foreign Trade Policy 2023 and Handbook of Procedures, chapter on IEC: dgft.gov.in
This guide is a practical overview, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and procedures change by notification; confirm against the current text before you act.