How to Apply for an Import Export Code Online, Step by Step

You apply for an Import Export Code (IEC) only on the DGFT portal, dgft.gov.in. Register as an importer or exporter, fill the IEC application with your PAN, address and bank details, upload an address proof and a bank proof, sign with Aadhaar e-sign or a digital signature, and pay Rs 500. The e-IEC is generated online.

What should you keep ready before you start?

Most failed applications fail on preparation, not on the form. Have these on your desk first:

• PAN of the business. For a proprietorship, that is the proprietor's own PAN.
• A bank account in the name of the business, with a cancelled cheque that has the name printed on it, or a bank certificate.
• Proof of the business address, such as an electricity bill, rent agreement or sale deed.
• A mobile number and email you can open right now. DGFT sends one-time passwords (OTPs) to both.
• For signing: an Aadhaar whose linked mobile is with you, or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which is a USB token that signs documents electronically.

The full list by business type is in our IEC documents checklist.

How do you apply, step by step?

1. Open dgft.gov.in. Type the address yourself. Do not click an ad. Check that the address bar ends in .gov.in.
2. Register. Choose Login, then Register, and pick "Importer/Exporter" as the user type. Enter your name, mobile and email, and confirm the OTPs sent to each.
3. Log in and start the application. Go to Services, then IEC Profile Management, then "Apply for IEC".
4. Fill the basic details. Enter the PAN, the name as on the PAN, the date of birth or incorporation and the type of business. The portal checks these against income tax records. For companies, the name and director details are pulled from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs records using the CIN (the company's registration number).
5. Add the address and branches. Enter the registered or main business address and upload the address proof. Add branch addresses if you have any. If you have none, move on.
6. Add the people. Enter the details of the proprietor, partners, directors, karta or managing trustee, as the case may be.
7. Add the bank account. Enter the account number and IFSC, and upload the cancelled cheque or bank certificate. DGFT validates bank details electronically.
8. Review, sign and pay. Read the summary once, slowly. Tick the declaration. Sign with Aadhaar e-sign (an OTP to your Aadhaar-linked mobile) or with your DSC, and pay the Rs 500 fee online. Payment runs through Bharatkosh, the government's receipt portal, and accepts net banking, cards and UPI.
9. Download the e-IEC. The IEC is auto-generated. You get an email and SMS, and the certificate is available on your DGFT dashboard.

The portal saves a draft only when every mandatory field on a page is filled and you click "Save and Next". If you close the tab halfway through a page, expect to re-enter that page.

What does the application form ask for?

A worked example

Rohan Mehta runs a proprietorship in Surat called Mehta Exports and wants to ship sarees to a buyer in Singapore. His PAN reads "Rohan Kishore Mehta". His current account is in the name "Mehta Exports", and the cheque book has that name printed.

In the form he enters his name exactly as on the PAN, with the middle name. For a proprietorship the firm name is typed in by hand, so he enters "Mehta Exports" there, matching the cheque. He uploads the shop's electricity bill and the cancelled cheque as PDFs. He signs with Aadhaar e-sign, which costs him nothing, and pays Rs 500.

His total cost is Rs 500. Had he typed "Rohan Mehta" without the middle name, the PAN check would have stopped him at the first screen. Had he uploaded his savings account cheque, the bank proof would not have matched the firm.

The mistakes people usually make

• Name mismatch with PAN. The portal validates the name and date against income tax records. Copy both from the PAN card letter for letter, including initials and middle names. Extra spaces also cause trouble.
• Weak bank proof. The rule asks for a cancelled cheque bearing the entity's pre-printed name, or a bank certificate in the prescribed format. A handwritten name, a passbook photo or a personal account in place of the firm's account invites a query. If your cheque has no printed name, ask your branch for the bank certificate.
• Address proof in someone else's name. If the bill is in the landlord's name, attach a no-objection letter from the owner along with it in one PDF.
• Wrong file type. DGFT's help text asks for PDF uploads of up to 5 MB each. Phone photos in JPG will not go through.
• Paying twice. If the payment status shows as booked or pending, wait and use the payment tracking option before you pay again.
• Applying again for the same PAN. One PAN gets one IEC. If an old IEC exists, even a surrendered one, you modify or revive that one.

What does a mistake cost? Usually time, not money: an order waiting while you fix a document. That is why ten minutes of matching names before you start is worth it.

What happens after the IEC is issued?

The IEC lets you trade. It does not by itself get a parcel through customs. Three follow-ups matter:

1. AD code. An Authorised Dealer code is the number of the bank branch that will handle your foreign exchange. Ask your bank for an AD code letter after you get the IEC, then have it registered with customs on ICEGATE, the customs e-filing portal. Customs brokers generally ask for this before your first shipping bill.
2. GST details. Exports are reported in your GST returns too, so keep your GSTIN and IEC details consistent.
3. Yearly update. Log in every year between April and June and confirm or update your IEC details. It is free in that window. A missed update means a deactivated IEC.

Also note that DGFT may verify your address after issue, and that any change in address, bank or constitution should be updated online within 30 days.

Should you do it yourself?

If you are a proprietor with clean, matching documents, yes, you can. It is one sitting. Consider paying for help if you are a firm or company with several partners or directors to enter, if your documents carry different versions of the name, or if you have an order waiting and cannot afford a rejected upload. See what is a fair charge in our IEC fees article, and if you are still deciding whether you need the code at all, start with what an IEC is and who needs one.

Frequently asked questions

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