Any person or firm that intends to import goods into India or export goods or services out of India. Freelancers who receive foreign payments through PayPal or Wise for consulting work do not always need one; goods trade always does.

Is IEC valid across all states?

Yes. IEC is a central registration issued by DGFT and is valid across India. You do not need separate codes for different ports or states.

Do I need to renew my IEC?

The IEC itself has lifetime validity. From April 2022, holders must update or confirm their IEC profile on the DGFT portal every year between April and June, even if nothing has changed. Missing this deactivates the IEC.

What is the difference between IEC and GST for exports?

IEC is the identifier that lets customs and banks process cross-border transactions. GST governs the tax treatment of the export sale itself. Exporters typically need both, plus a Letter of Undertaking to export without paying IGST upfront.

Can freelancers exporting services get an IEC?

Yes. Service exporters can obtain an IEC to receive foreign remittances directly to a business account and, in many cases, to claim benefits under the Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) if it is active for their sector.

What is the cost of an IEC?

The DGFT government fee is Rs 500. Our all-inclusive fee of ₹1,999 covers filing, KYC preparation, bank certification support, and DGFT portal setup.

🌐 For Import and Export

Import Export Code
for your import and export plans

An Import Export Code is issued by DGFT for applicable import and export activities. We help you check whether your goods or services require an IEC, prepare the application and understand the annual profile-confirmation requirement.

Talk to a Specialist

IEC Registration, all-inclusive

Ready in 1 to 2 days

CA and CS support

Scope confirmed before payment

Service price

₹1,999

IEC Registration, all-inclusive

✓DGFT portal application

✓Digital signature integration

✓RCMC guidance (Export Promotion Council)

✓Bank certification support

✓IEC certificate delivery

✓Ongoing validity with annual profile confirmation

● Payment arranged offline. Callback within one business hour, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM

What is an IEC

One code for a lifetime of cross-border trade.

The Import Export Code was designed to be issued once and used forever. It is not a tax registration, so there are no returns to file, but it is a mandatory identifier for customs, banks and Export Promotion Councils. From April 2022, IEC holders must confirm or update their profile on the DGFT portal every year between April and June; BharathInCorp does this for clients as part of the compliance retainer.

Why Register

Why founders choose this.

Customs Clearance

Without a valid IEC, no importer can clear goods at any Indian port, and no exporter can generate a shipping bill.

Foreign Remittance

Banks require the IEC to credit or debit foreign currency to an Indian business account, whether for services or goods.

Lifetime Validity

Issued once, used forever. No annual fees or renewal, only a yearly online confirmation that takes minutes.

EEFC Account Access

An IEC lets you open an Exchange Earners Foreign Currency account to hold up to 100% of your export earnings in USD, EUR or GBP.

Export Incentives

Required to claim RoDTEP, RoSCTL and Duty Drawback benefits from the government against your export shipments.

E-Commerce Exports

Selling on Amazon Global, Etsy International or eBay across borders requires a valid IEC linked to your seller account.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility Criteria

Review these requirements before you apply. We help you check which ones apply to your business.

✓Any person or firm intending to import or export from India

✓Sole proprietors, partnerships, LLPs, private and public companies, and HUFs

✓Trusts, societies and Section 8 companies with a valid PAN

✓PAN card of the business (or proprietor) is mandatory

✓A current or savings account in the business name

✓One of: Aadhaar, DSC or e-Sign for DGFT verification

Documents Required

What you'll need to share.

We review your documents and explain any corrections or additional information needed before filing.

PAN card of the business or proprietor

Aadhaar or passport of the proprietor or authorised signatory

Business address proof (electricity bill or rental agreement)

Cancelled cheque or bank certificate on bank letterhead

Business incorporation proof (COI, partnership deed or GST certificate)

Passport-size photograph of the signatory

The Process

How we deliver.

Your dedicated specialist handles every filing. You track progress from your dashboard.

Kickoff Call

Our specialist calls within an hour to confirm business type, HS code intent (import, export or both) and collect KYC documents.

DGFT Registration

We create your DGFT portal profile using your PAN and link your Aadhaar or DSC for signing the application.

ANF-2A Filing

The IEC application (Aayat Niryat Form 2A) is filed with all mandatory annexures, business proof and bank certificate.

Fee Payment

The Rs 500 government fee is paid online through the DGFT portal. Receipt is retained on your dashboard.

IEC Issued

DGFT issues the IEC electronically, typically within 1 to 2 working days. Physical certificates were discontinued in 2018.

Post-Issue Setup

We advise on RCMC registration with the relevant Export Promotion Council if you plan to claim export incentives.

Import Export Code
for your import and export plans

One code for a lifetime of cross-border trade.

Why founders choose this.

Eligibility Criteria

What you'll need to share.

How we deliver.

Common questions.

Ready to trade across borders?

Import Export Codefor your import and export plans

One code for a lifetime of cross-border trade.

Why founders choose this.

Eligibility Criteria

What you'll need to share.

How we deliver.

Common questions.

Ready to trade across borders?

Import Export Code
for your import and export plans