How to Apply for IEC on the DGFT Portal

What Is IEC and Who Needs It

The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit registration number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce. It is mandatory for any person or entity that imports or exports goods from India. Without an IEC, customs will not allow you to file a shipping bill (for exports) or a bill of entry (for imports), and banks will not process your foreign exchange transactions related to trade. The IEC is a lifetime registration (it does not expire) but it must be updated annually between April and June every year.

Prerequisites. What You Need Before Applying

Gather all of the following before you start the online application. Missing even one document will stall your application at the upload stage.

Step-by-Step DGFT Portal Walkthrough

The entire process can be completed in 30. 45 minutes if you have all documents ready. The IEC is usually issued the same day.

Go to the DGFT Portal and Navigate to IEC Services

1. Open dgft.gov.in in your browser (Chrome or Edge recommended).
2. On the homepage, click Services in the top navigation menu.
3. From the dropdown, select IEC (Import Export Code).
4. You will see options for "Apply for IEC", "Modify IEC", and "View IEC". Click Apply for IEC .

Register on the DGFT Portal

1. If you are a first-time user, click Register . Existing DGFT users can log in directly.
2. Enter your PAN number (entity PAN, not personal. Unless you are a proprietorship).
3. Enter your email address and mobile number . DGFT will send OTPs to both.
4. Verify both OTPs and set a password for your DGFT account.
5. Log in with your new credentials. You will be taken to the DGFT dashboard.

Fill the ANF-2A Application Form

The ANF-2A (Aayaat Niryaat Form 2A) is the core application form. It has several sections:

Section A. Entity Details

• Entity name (auto-populated from PAN database)
• Type of entity: Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, Private Limited, Public Limited, etc.
• Date of incorporation or establishment
• Registered office address with PIN code
• Nature of business (select "Manufacturer", "Merchant Exporter", or "Both")

Section B. Directors / Partners / Proprietor

• Full name, DIN (for directors), PAN, and Aadhaar of each director/partner
• Mobile number and email of each person
• Designation and date of joining

Section C. Bank Details

• Bank name and branch
• Account number and IFSC code
• Account type (Current or Savings)
• You can add multiple bank accounts but must designate one as primary

Section D. Branch / Additional Addresses

• Add factory, warehouse, or branch addresses if different from registered office
• These addresses can be used later as export/import premises

Upload Documents

After filling the form, you will be prompted to upload documents. Each document must be a clear, legible scan.

Pay the Rs 500 Application Fee

1. After document upload, click Proceed to Payment .
2. You will be redirected to the DGFT payment gateway. Choose from net banking, debit card, or credit card.
3. The fee is Rs 500 (non-refundable).
4. After successful payment, you will receive a payment reference number. Save this number.
5. You will be redirected back to the DGFT portal automatically. If the redirect fails, log in again and check under Services > IEC > View Applications .

Sign, Submit, and Receive Your IEC

1. After payment, the portal will ask you to sign the application. Choose either Aadhaar OTP or Digital Signature (DSC) .
2. For Aadhaar OTP: an OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter the OTP within 10 minutes.
3. For DSC: insert your USB token, select your certificate, and sign digitally.
4. Click Submit Application .
5. Your application is processed automatically. If all documents are in order, the IEC is issued within the same day , usually within a few hours.
6. The IEC certificate is sent to your registered email as a PDF. You can also download it from Services > IEC > Print IEC .

Post-IEC Steps. What to Do After Getting Your IEC

Getting the IEC is just step one. You need to complete these additional registrations before you can actually ship goods.

• Register AD Code at Customs. Take your IEC certificate and a letter from your bank (confirming your account as an Authorised Dealer account) to the customs house at the port or airport you plan to export from. The customs officer will register your AD code, which links your bank account to your shipping bills for receiving export proceeds. This takes 1-2 working days.
• Register on ICEGATE. Go to icegate.gov.in and register using your IEC number. ICEGATE is the customs e-filing portal where you (or your customs broker) will file shipping bills, bills of entry, and claim export incentives like RoDTEP and Duty Drawback. You will need a Class 3 DSC for ICEGATE registration.
• File LUT with GST. If you want to export without paying IGST (most exporters do), file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) on the GST portal. LUT is valid for one financial year and must be renewed every April.
• Update IEC annually. Between April and June every year, log in to the DGFT portal and complete the IEC annual update. Failure to update will result in IEC deactivation.
• Register with an Export Promotion Council. Membership of the relevant Export Promotion Council (e.g., FIEO, AEPC, CLE) is required to get a Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC), which is needed for claiming certain export incentives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the most frequent reasons IEC applications get rejected or delayed. Check each one before you hit submit.

Wrong or Mismatched Bank Details

The account holder name on your cancelled cheque must exactly match the entity name on your PAN. "ABC Pvt Ltd" on PAN and "ABC Private Limited" on the cheque will cause a mismatch rejection. Get a bank certificate with the full legal name if your cheque book has an abbreviated version.

DSC Not Registered or Expired

If you choose to sign with DSC instead of Aadhaar OTP, the DSC must be registered on the DGFT portal first. Go to Services > DSC > Register DSC before starting the IEC application. Also check the DSC expiry date. An expired DSC will fail silently during signing.

PAN-Aadhaar Name Mismatch

The most common rejection reason. The name on PAN and Aadhaar must be identical. Including middle name, initials, and spelling. If they differ, update one of them before applying. PAN name correction takes 10-15 days on the NSDL portal; Aadhaar name update takes 5-7 days at an Aadhaar centre.

Aadhaar Not Linked to Mobile Number

Aadhaar OTP verification requires your Aadhaar to be linked to a working mobile number. If you changed your mobile recently and did not update it on Aadhaar, the OTP will go to the old number. Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra to update your mobile before applying.

Address Proof Issues

The address proof must be in the entity name (or proprietor name for proprietorships). An electricity bill in a landlord's name will not be accepted. If you operate from rented premises, use the rent agreement along with a NOC from the landlord, or get the electricity connection transferred to the entity's name.

IEC Annual Update Process

DGFT requires all IEC holders to update their IEC details annually between April and June . This is not a renewal (IEC is a lifetime registration) but a mandatory data confirmation. If you do not update, your IEC will be deactivated and you will not be able to file shipping bills or claim export incentives.

How to Complete the Annual Update

1. Log in to dgft.gov.in with your DGFT credentials.
2. Navigate to Services > IEC > Modify IEC .
3. Review all pre-filled details: entity name, address, directors/partners, bank accounts.
4. Update any information that has changed during the year (new director, changed address, additional bank account).
5. If nothing has changed, simply confirm the existing details by clicking through each section.
6. Sign with Aadhaar OTP or DSC and submit.
7. The update is processed immediately. There is no fee for the annual update.

IEC Modification and Surrender

Modifying Your IEC

You can modify IEC details at any time (not just during the annual update window). Common reasons for modification:

• Change of registered office address
• Addition or removal of directors/partners
• Addition of new bank accounts or change of primary bank
• Change of entity name (after company name change with MCA)
• Addition of branch or factory addresses

Go to Services > IEC > Modify IEC on the DGFT portal, make changes, upload supporting documents (e.g., MCA name change certificate), and submit. Modifications are typically processed within 1-2 working days.

Surrendering Your IEC

If you no longer need your IEC (closing business, stopping exports), you can surrender it:

1. Ensure all export obligations are fulfilled (EPCG, Advance Authorisation, etc.).
2. Ensure all EDPMS entries are closed and foreign exchange has been realised.
3. Log in to the DGFT portal and go to Services > IEC > Surrender IEC .
4. Submit the surrender request with a declaration that all obligations are completed.
5. DGFT will verify and process the surrender within 7-10 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Update history

• 2026-08-12 First published.