Suppose a Delhi seller of handmade home décor has been shipping through a courier partner and now wants to sell directly to buyers abroad. The courier asks for an Import Export Code. The bank asks for it too. Before the first invoice goes out, the business needs its own IEC, and it needs to be right. If you are looking for the best IEC registration in Delhi, the practical question is not who files fastest, but who makes sure the details match and the code stays active.
An IEC is simple on paper. It is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the official fee is small, and the number follows your PAN. Trouble usually comes from mismatched PAN and bank names, signing problems, or a missed annual update that leads to deactivation. These are avoidable if someone checks them before filing.
This page explains who needs an IEC, what to keep ready, how the process works, what DGFT charges, how the yearly April to June update works and why it matters, and how our custom quote is built. We explain what drives price instead of quoting a number that would not fit your case.
What an Import Export Code is and why it matters
The Import Export Code is a business identification number issued by DGFT, which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The DGFT portal describes it as a code generally needed to import or export. Customs, banks, courier platforms and export promotion bodies use it to identify who is trading across the border.
Since GST was introduced, the IEC number is the same as the entity's PAN, though DGFT issues the IEC separately. That link has a consequence: your PAN record must be correct before you apply. A wrong name spelling, a date of birth mismatch or an outdated address on PAN can stall the application or create trouble later with customs and banks.
Who can hold an IEC
There is also a practical side. Customs brokers ask for the IEC before they file a shipping bill or bill of entry. Banks use it when they handle foreign remittances for the business. International marketplaces and courier programmes often ask for it at onboarding. Having the code ready before the first order avoids the common situation where a buyer is waiting and the paperwork is not.
DGFT lists proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, limited companies, trusts, HUFs and societies as eligible. The code belongs to the entity named on it, not to the person who files the form. That is why we recommend that the owner always keeps the login and the registered contact details.
An IEC is an identity, not a licence to trade in any product. Some goods are restricted or prohibited under the Foreign Trade Policy, and some need separate approvals. Check your product before you commit to a shipment.
Who needs an IEC and who may not
The general rule is simple: if you import or export goods as a business, you need an IEC unless the Foreign Trade Policy specifically exempts the transaction. The Handbook of Procedure lists some exemptions, such as certain imports for personal use or by specified government bodies. For services and technology, DGFT says an IEC is needed only when you claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits or deal in specified services or technologies.
- Manufacturers and traders who export goods under their own invoice
- Importers bringing in raw material, machinery, finished goods or spares for business use
- Sellers using cross-border e-commerce routes that ask for the seller's own IEC
- Service exporters who intend to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy
- Businesses that were told by a bank, customs broker or courier that an IEC is required for the shipment
When it may not be required
A freelancer who is paid for services from abroad through normal banking channels does not necessarily need an IEC, unless they are claiming policy benefits. A business that sends occasional personal gift parcels is also treated differently from one making commercial exports. Rules about what counts as personal use or sample consignments are specific, so confirm with your carrier, customs broker or bank.
Many Delhi businesses combine an IEC with GST and other basic registrations. If you are still building the foundation, see our business registration services and our page on GST registration, because exporters normally need both.
Documents and the step-by-step process
The DGFT portal works with uploaded documents and online verification. DGFT's application form lists a signatory photograph and identity proof, the entity's PAN, proof of business premises, bank proof and entity-specific papers such as a partnership deed or certificate of incorporation. We confirm the live upload list on the portal before filing, because portal requirements can change.
What to keep ready
- PAN of the entity, with name and date of incorporation matching your documents
- Identity proof, photograph and contact details of the authorised signatory
- Proof of business premises such as a recent electricity bill, rent agreement or ownership paper
- Bank details of the entity, with a cancelled cheque or a bank certificate
- Entity paper: deed, incorporation certificate or registration document
- A digital signature certificate, or the Aadhaar-based verification option, if offered
Step by step
Step 1: Confirm need and entity
Decide which entity will import or export and check that its PAN details are right.
Step 2: Prepare documents
Collect proofs and check that the name and address are identical across PAN, bank and premises papers.
Step 3: Arrange verification
Get a valid digital signature certificate, or complete the Aadhaar-based verification for the signatory. Our DSC service can help if you need one.
Step 4: File on the DGFT portal
Enter the details, upload documents, pay the fee and submit with a digital or Aadhaar-based signature.
Step 5: Track status
Watch for any query from DGFT and respond with clear documents.
Step 6: Download and diarise
Save the IEC certificate and set a reminder for the yearly update.
Time varies with DGFT review, and we do not promise a fixed number of days. A complete application with matching records is usually the quickest way through, which is why most of our effort goes into the checks before submission.
Fees and how a custom quote is built
The government cost is small and fixed. DGFT's application form shows an IEC application fee of ₹500 and a modification fee of ₹200. Both are paid online through the portal. Fee amounts can be revised, so always check the portal on the day you apply.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IEC application fee | ₹500 | Official fee, paid online on the DGFT portal. |
| IEC modification fee | ₹200 | Applies when details are changed. |
| Annual update | Generally no fee if nothing changes | Confirmation required between April and June each year. |
| Digital signature certificate | Separate cost | Needed if you sign with DSC; see our DSC page. |
| PC Media House professional fee | Custom quote | Based on entity type, document readiness and the extra work required. |
Fees are as shown on DGFT materials at the time of writing. We state no fixed professional fee here, because it depends on the facts of your case.
What drives the custom quote
- The entity type, because a company, LLP, partnership or proprietorship each carries a different document set
- Whether a digital signature certificate must be bought or renewed before filing
- Corrections to PAN, bank, address or Aadhaar records that must be made first
- The number of branches or additional addresses to declare
- Extra work such as modification, reactivation after a missed update or help with later export steps
We give an itemised quote before we start. It lists what is included, what is excluded and which government or third-party costs you pay directly. There are no hidden charges added after the work begins.
The annual update: the part people forget
Getting the IEC is a one-time application. Keeping it active is a yearly task. Under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, IEC holders must update their details electronically between April and June each year, even if nothing has changed. The update is an online confirmation of data such as address, bank details and contact information.
DGFT has been enforcing this. In September 2025, an export promotion council circular reported that DGFT had identified a large number of IECs that had not been updated and had started deactivating them from 16 September 2025. A deactivated IEC can interrupt shipments, because customs and banks check the status of the code.
A sensible routine
- Set a calendar reminder for the first week of April every year
- Keep the registered mobile number and email address working
- Update the portal first if the address, bank account or constitution of the entity has changed
- Keep a PDF of the confirmation once the update is completed
- If the code is already deactivated, complete the update on the portal and check that the status shows active before booking a shipment
We include a written reminder with every IEC we deliver. If your code has already been deactivated, we can look at the status with you and guide the reactivation steps, though reactivation depends on DGFT processing.
After you receive the IEC: what exporters and importers usually do next
The IEC is the first document in a chain. It lets customs, banks and platforms recognise your business, but it does not complete the set-up. What you need next depends on whether you are exporting goods, exporting services or importing, and on the product.
For exporters
- Check your GST position for exports. Exporters usually choose between paying IGST and claiming a refund, or exporting under a Letter of Undertaking, and your GST adviser can tell you which suits your cash flow
- Speak to your bank about foreign remittance handling and the authorised dealer arrangements it needs for export proceeds
- Ask your customs broker or forwarder whether your IEC and bank details need to be registered at the port you will use
- Check whether your product category has an export promotion council whose membership certificate you may need for certain benefits
- Confirm labelling, packaging and product-specific approvals in the destination country
For importers
Importers should check whether the product is free to import, restricted or subject to a standards or licence requirement, and understand the customs duty and GST that will apply. A customs broker will usually ask for the IEC, GST registration and bank details before the first bill of entry is filed.
Suppose a Delhi electronics trader plans to import accessories from overseas. The IEC is in place, but the product is subject to a compulsory standards requirement that nobody has checked. The consignment can be held at the port even though the paperwork for the IEC was perfect. Checking product rules before the order is placed is cheaper than checking after arrival.
Small businesses often manage these steps along with their regular accounts and returns. Our taxation and compliance services and bookkeeping support are there if you want help keeping cross-border transactions in order.
Comparing ways to get your IEC
The IEC application is within reach of a careful owner. The question is how much time you want to spend and how much risk you want to carry.
| Route | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Apply yourself on DGFT | Only the official fee; full control | Time lost on signing, portal errors and name mismatches |
| PC Media House (custom quote) | Pre-filing checks, DSC or Aadhaar guidance, filing and annual update note | You must provide correct documents and answer queries promptly |
| Freight forwarder or courier agent | Convenient with shipping | Confirm the IEC is in your name and PAN |
| Marketplace or export programme assistance | Easier onboarding | The IEC still sits with you; keep the login and the yearly update |
| Letting a vendor hold your IEC | Quick start for a one-off shipment | Risk of misuse and no control over updates; avoid for a regular business |
The IEC belongs to the entity named in it. Keep your own login details and an updated contact number.
If you are an MSME exporter, you may also want to register for Udyam, which can help with credit and certain export promotion schemes, subject to each scheme's rules.
Mistakes that cause delays or deactivation
Most IEC problems are not dramatic. They are small mismatches that surface at the wrong time, usually when a shipment is waiting.
- Applying under an individual's PAN when the sales and bank account are in the firm's name
- Using a bank account whose holder name differs from the PAN record
- Letting the digital signature expire before the application is signed
- Ignoring the April to June update and discovering the problem at the port or with the bank
- Assuming the IEC replaces GST, customs and bank formalities that exporters still need
- Changing the address or constitution of the business without updating the DGFT record
Another common error is treating the IEC as a licence to deal in any product. Food products, for example, need food safety registration even if they are exported; see FSSAI registration for the local requirement. Branded goods may need trademark protection in the destination markets as well, and our overview of trademark registration in India explains the domestic side.
How PC Media House handles IEC registration
PC Media House is based in Delhi and serves businesses across Delhi NCR and India online. For an IEC this works well, since the whole application, from document check to certificate, happens on the DGFT portal. We use calls, shared documents and, by appointment, meetings where they are useful.
- A short call to understand what you trade, your entity and your PAN and bank details
- An itemised custom quote with a clear scope before any work begins
- Pre-filing checks of names, addresses and bank records
- Filing on the official portal only, with your confirmation before submission
- Help with queries from DGFT while the application is open
- A written note on the annual update and on related registrations such as GST and DSC
We cannot promise DGFT approval timelines, customs outcomes or any benefit under an export scheme, since these depend on the authorities and your own records. We can make sure the application is complete and consistent. To discuss your case, use the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Import Export Code is a business identification number issued by DGFT. Generally, anyone who imports or exports goods needs one unless a specific exemption applies. For services or technology, DGFT says an IEC is needed only if you are claiming Foreign Trade Policy benefits or dealing in specified services or technologies.
DGFT's application form shows an IEC application fee of ₹500 and a modification fee of ₹200, paid online. Fees can be revised, so check the portal when you apply. Our own professional fee is a custom quote, because it depends on your entity type and the work involved.
DGFT says the IEC number is the same as the firm's PAN since GST was introduced, but the IEC is issued by DGFT as a separate registration. The practical result is that PAN details, such as name and date of incorporation, must be correct before you apply, or the application can be delayed.
The code does not carry a fixed expiry date, but IEC holders must update their details online each year between April and June under the Foreign Trade Policy. DGFT has started deactivating codes that were not updated on time, so treat the yearly confirmation as compulsory even if nothing has changed.
The entity's PAN, proof of business premises, bank proof such as a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, signatory identity and photograph, entity papers such as a deed or incorporation certificate, and a way to verify the signatory like a digital signature certificate. We confirm the current upload list against the portal before filing.
Many applicants use a Class 2 or Class 3 digital signature certificate to sign the online application, and the portal may also offer Aadhaar-based verification for certain users. Arrange it before applying, since signing problems are a common reason for delay. Our DSC service can help if you do not have one.
Yes, an IEC can usually be obtained in advance when the entity is eligible and the documents are in order. Many businesses apply before their first shipment so that GST, bank and customs steps are not held up. The code is useful only if you do import or export, so avoid applying long before there is a plan.
Log in to the DGFT portal and use the update or modification option to change the details, subject to the modification fee shown by DGFT. Changes that affect PAN-linked data may need the PAN record to be corrected first. We can review the mismatch and tell you which record to fix first.
No. Exporters usually also need GST compliance, a bank account that handles foreign remittances and, depending on the product, other registrations such as FSSAI for food products or a membership certificate for the relevant export promotion council. The IEC is the identity, not the entire set-up.
We handle the IEC application, document checks, annual update guidance and pointers to related registrations, all online from Delhi. Our fee is a custom quote, itemised before we start. We cannot promise timelines or outcomes that depend on DGFT, banks or customs, but we can make sure your application is complete and consistent.
Sources and Official Links
Facts on this page were checked against the sources below, last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Fees, thresholds and rules can change, so confirm the current position on the official site before you pay or file.