Import Export Code
An Import Export Code is a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade against one PAN. Company Suggestion files the IEC registration on the DGFT portal. It is required to import or export goods in the course of trade.
What is an Import Export Code?
The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 requires the code for import and export in the course of trade. The DGFT issues it online. It is tied to the PAN, so a proprietorship, a firm, a limited liability partnership, and a company each hold one code for that PAN.
GST registration does not stand in for it. An exporter who ships without paying IGST uses a letter of undertaking, which is a separate GST filing on the LUT page.
Who needs one?
The code is for trade, not for a one-off personal purchase.
- A business that imports or exports goods, including a proprietorship, a partnership, an LLP, or a company.
- Government ministries and departments do not need one.
- Goods imported or exported for personal use, not connected with trade, manufacture, or agriculture, do not need one.
The code does not lapse on a fixed anniversary. The holder confirms or updates the details each year in the window the DGFT notifies, which runs from April to June. If that update is missed, the code can be deactivated.
Which papers does the application need?
The application is online. It identifies the PAN, the place, and the bank account.
- PAN of the applicant
- Address of the business
- A cancelled cheque or other bank proof of the account that will be linked
- A digital signature or Aadhaar of the person who signs
What are the application steps?
Company Suggestion files the code in four steps.
- The DGFT profile is opened against the PAN.
- The address and the bank account are entered.
- The application is signed and submitted. The fee is the one the portal shows.
- The 10-digit code is issued. It is updated in the April to June window each year.
Frequently asked questions
4 questions cover the rules that decide this registration.
Does GST registration replace an IEC?
No. GST and the Import Export Code are different registrations. A business that imports or exports goods in the course of trade needs the code even if it is already registered for GST.
Does the code expire?
It is not renewed like a licence each year. The holder still updates the details on the DGFT portal in the April to June window. A missed update can deactivate the code.
How many codes can one PAN hold?
One. The code is issued against the PAN. A second application on the same PAN is not a second code.
Who does not need an IEC?
Government ministries and departments, and a person importing or exporting goods for personal use that is not connected with trade, manufacture, or agriculture.