ICEGATE guide for exporters: shipping bills, e-Sanchit, drawback & RoDTEP

What Is the Difference Between ICEGATE and DGFT?

You need both portals. The typical flow: get IEC on DGFT → register on ICEGATE → file shipping bills on ICEGATE → payment comes in → generate eBRC on DGFT → claim incentives (RoDTEP scrip generated on ICEGATE, eBRC on DGFT).

Registration and setup

Step-by-step ICEGATE registration

1. Get IEC first. You need a valid IEC from DGFT before registering on ICEGATE.
2. Go to icegate.gov.in. Click "Register" on the homepage.
3. Select entity type. Importer/Exporter, Customs Broker, Shipping Line, etc.
4. Enter IEC and PAN. System validates against DGFT records.
5. Fill business details. Name, address, email, mobile. Must match IEC records exactly.
6. Register DSC. Class 3 DSC required (same one used for DGFT works here). Install the ICEGATE DSC utility.
7. Create login credentials. Set username and password.
8. Map AD bank code. Link your Authorised Dealer bank code to your ICEGATE profile. This is critical for drawback and EDPMS.
9. Map customs locations. Register the ports/airports/ICDs you export from.

Documents for registration

• Valid IEC (import export code) from DGFT
• PAN card of the entity
• Class 3 DSC on USB token
• GSTIN (must be linked to IEC)
• AD bank code (your bank's authorised dealer code for forex)
• Authorisation letter (if registering a customs broker on your behalf)

Filing shipping bills

Most exporters file shipping bills through their customs broker (CHA), but understanding the process helps you catch errors before they become amendment headaches.

Types of shipping bills

Mandatory fields in a shipping bill

• IEC and GSTIN. Must match ICEGATE registration exactly
• AD code. Your bank's authorised dealer code. Mismatch blocks EDPMS linking.
• Port of loading. The Indian port/airport/ICD the goods leave from
• Country of final destination. Where goods ultimately go (not transit country)
• Buyer name and address. Must match your commercial invoice
• HS code (CTH). 8-digit tariff classification. Determines RoDTEP rate, drawback rate, and any restrictions. Use our HS Lookup tool.
• FOB value. In both foreign currency and INR. Drives incentive calculations.
• Quantity and unit. Gross weight, net weight, number of packages
• Invoice number and date. Must match the commercial invoice uploaded to e-Sanchit
• RoDTEP declaration. Must tick "Y" for RoDTEP claim at the time of filing
• Scheme code. Free/Drawback/AA/EPCG. Cannot be changed easily after LEO.

Shipping bill filing flow

1. Upload documents to e-Sanchit. Get IRN (Image Reference Numbers) for each document
2. File shipping bill on ICEGATE. Enter all mandatory fields, reference e-Sanchit IRNs
3. System generates shipping bill number. This is your tracking ID
4. Customs assessment. Officer reviews declaration, checks risk parameters
5. Examination (if selected). Physical or X-ray examination of goods. Risk-based selection. Most shipments are cleared without examination.
6. Let Export Order (LEO). Customs officer permits the goods to be loaded on the vessel/aircraft
7. Goods loaded & EGM filed. Shipping line/airline files Export General Manifest confirming goods left India
8. Shipping bill data flows to EDPMS. RBI's system now tracks this export for payment realization

E-Sanchit document upload

e-Sanchit replaced physical document submission at customs. You upload scanned copies of all supporting documents before filing the shipping bill, and reference the IRN (Image Reference Number) in your shipping bill.

Documents to upload for exports

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
• Test/inspection reports (if required for your product)
• Advance Authorisation / EPCG licence copy (if exporting under scheme)
• ARE-1/ARE-3 form (for excisable goods)
• Any product-specific compliance certificates (phytosanitary, FSSAI, drug licence, etc.)

Upload requirements

• Format: PDF only
• Size: Maximum 1 MB per file. Compress if larger.
• Naming: No spaces or special characters. Use underscores.
• Quality: Must be legible. Black and white scans preferred for smaller file size.
• Limit: Up to 5 files per upload batch. Multiple batches allowed.

Duty drawback and RoDTEP tracking

Duty drawback scroll

After LEO and EGM, customs processes the drawback claim. The disbursement status is tracked through the "drawback scroll" on ICEGATE.

Path: ICEGATE → Services → Drawback → Scroll Status. Enter shipping bill number to check.

Statuses: Sanctioned (approved, pending payment) → Scroll Generated (batched for payment) → Credited (money in your bank account). Typical timeline: 7-15 days from EGM for AIR (All Industry Rate) drawback.

For the full drawback process, see our Duty Drawback guide.

RoDTEP credit ledger

RoDTEP e-scrips are credited to your ICEGATE ledger account after the shipping bill is processed and EGM is filed.

Path: ICEGATE → Services → RoDTEP → Credit Ledger

• View balance. Check your available RoDTEP scrip balance
• Use scrips. Apply scrips to pay basic customs duty on imports at time of filing Bill of Entry
• Transfer scrips. Sell/transfer scrips to other IEC holders (done via DGFT portal)
• Scrip validity. RoDTEP e-scrips are valid for 1 year from date of generation

Use our RoDTEP Calculator to look up rates by HS code.

Status tracking and EGM

Shipping bill status stages

How to check status

• Logged in: ICEGATE → Services → Shipping Bill → Track Status → Enter SB number and port code
• Public tracking: ICEGATE homepage → "Track & Trace" → Enter shipping bill number (no login needed)
• SMS alerts: Register your mobile on ICEGATE to receive status update SMS notifications
• EGM status: ICEGATE → Services → EGM → Check EGM status with vessel/flight details

Troubleshooting

Common issues

• DSC not detected. Install the ICEGATE-specific DSC utility. Same fix as DGFT: try different USB port, update drivers, run as admin, check port 1585. See our DSC troubleshooting section.
• IEC not found during registration. Ensure your IEC is active and updated on DGFT. If recently modified, wait 24-48 hours for ICEGATE to sync.
• AD code mapping failed. Verify the AD code with your bank. Format is typically the bank's IFSC-like code assigned for forex operations. Contact your bank's trade desk.
• Shipping bill rejected. Check the rejection reason in ICEGATE. Common causes: HS code mismatch with product description, GSTIN not linked, or AD code not mapped.
• Drawback not sanctioned. Verify EGM is filed, drawback scheme code is correct, and there are no pending queries on the shipping bill.
• RoDTEP scrip not generated. Check that you ticked RoDTEP declaration "Y" in the shipping bill, EGM is filed, and your HS code has a valid RoDTEP rate.

ICEGATE helpdesk

Seasaw automates this

Track shipping bills, drawback, and RoDTEP from one dashboard

Seasaw connects to ICEGATE and your AD bank to track every shipping bill from LEO through EDPMS closure. Drawback status, RoDTEP scrip generation, payment matching, and eBRC readiness. No more logging into three portals to check one shipment.

See how Seasaw works →

Sources & citations

• ICEGATE portal documentation (icegate.gov.in)..
• CBIC Circulars on e-Sanchit and paperless filing..
• Customs Act, 1962..
• Section 50 (Shipping Bill), Section 149 (Amendment)..
• CBIC RoDTEP implementation guidelines. Drawback Rules, 2017.

Update history

• 2026-08-11 First published.