Import Export Code the universal key to international trade from India.

The Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. It is the universal statutory identifier for any business engaged in import or export of goods or services from India. Without an IEC, a business cannot clear goods through customs, receive foreign exchange for exports, or remit foreign exchange for imports through Indian banks.

Since June 2017, the IEC has been aligned with the PAN of the entity, and from 2022, every IEC must be updated annually between April and June even if there is no change in details, failing which the IEC is deactivated. The application is filed online on the DGFT portal with Aadhaar-based digital signature, and the certificate is issued electronically within 1 to 2 working days in most cases. Modifications to the IEC — change in name, address, partners, directors, or bank details — must also be filed online with supporting documents.

Our IEC practice supports importers and exporters across the full IEC lifecycle. We file fresh IEC applications for newly incorporated entities, file modifications and amendments as business details change, complete the mandatory annual update, file surrender applications where the IEC is no longer required, and provide reactivation support where the IEC has been deactivated for non-update. We also integrate the IEC with ICEGATE, GST refund, and SEZ filings where applicable.