IEC Registration & DGFT Consultancy — Your Export-Import Code, Handled Right
Quick answer: An IEC (Import-Export Code) is mandatory before any import or export from India — apply online via DGFT, cost ₹500, typically issued within a few working days. It never expires, but needs an annual update (April-June) or it gets deactivated. We handle registration, RCMC, and the full DGFT scheme stack — Advance Authorization, EPCG, duty drawback, RoDTEP.
The full journey — start to end, and where we step in
- IEC application. A 10-digit code (same as your PAN) applied for entirely online on the DGFT portal — business details, bank account, and digital signature or Aadhaar e-sign. We prepare the file so a name-mismatch or format issue doesn't bounce it back.
- RCMC from the right council. Not every exporter needs the same one — FIEO for general trade, APEDA for agri/food/processed-food exports, CHEMEXCIL, EEPC, PHARMEXCIL, and dozens more depending on what you export. We identify the correct council so your certificate actually unlocks the schemes you want.
- Post-IEC customs setup. ICEGATE registration for electronic shipping-bill filing, an AD Code from your bank, one-time port/airport registration, and a GST-portal LUT if you're exporting without upfront IGST. Miss any one of these and a shipment sits stuck at customs.
- Scheme enrolment. Advance Authorization (duty-free import of inputs for export production), EPCG (concessional-duty capital goods import), duty drawback, and RoDTEP — we assess which combination actually fits your trade cycle rather than enrolling you in everything.
- Annual compliance. The IEC annual update (April-June) and any scheme-specific reporting — the part exporters forget until a shipment gets held up over a lapsed formality.
Many exporters selling to government buyers also register on GeM — the two credentials complement each other for businesses wanting both domestic and export government-adjacent revenue.
Who this is for
First-time exporters getting their IEC before a first shipment, established traders adding a new product line that needs a different RCMC, and manufacturers structuring Advance Authorization or EPCG around a new export order — across Delhi-NCR and Bihar, with portal-based filing available for exporters anywhere in India. Need working capital for the shipment cycle too? See our business loan & CMA data consultancy.
Shipment waiting on a missing DGFT formality?
Frequently asked questions
What is an IEC and do I really need one?
An Importer-Exporter Code is a 10-digit number (the same as your PAN) issued by DGFT that's mandatory before you can import or export anything from India — without it, customs will not clear your shipment and banks will not process your foreign trade payment. There's no minimum turnover exemption for most businesses; if you're shipping or receiving goods/services across the border, you need one.
How long does IEC registration take and what does it cost?
The IEC application is fully online through the DGFT portal, costs Rs 500, and is typically issued within 1-3 working days once documents are in order. It has lifetime validity — but DGFT requires an annual update between April and June every year, and failing to update can get your IEC deactivated, which quietly blocks shipments until it's fixed.
What is RCMC and when do I need it?
A Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate from the Export Promotion Council relevant to your product (there are dozens — FIEO for general trade, APEDA for agri/food exports, CHEMEXCIL for chemicals, EEPC for engineering goods, and more). RCMC isn't mandatory for every shipment, but it's essential the moment you want to claim DGFT scheme benefits like duty drawback, Advance Authorization or EPCG. Since July 2023, APEDA RCMC is also processed through the DGFT portal.
What happens after IEC — what else do exporters typically need?
Depending on how you trade: ICEGATE registration (for filing shipping bills and bills of entry electronically), an AD Code from your bank (needed for customs registration at your port), one-time registration at your primary port/airport, and a LUT filed on the GST portal if you want to export without paying IGST upfront. We sequence these correctly so a shipment isn't held up by a missing step.
What is Advance Authorization and duty drawback?
Advance Authorization lets you import raw materials duty-free if they'll be used to manufacture goods for export — it removes the working-capital drag of paying duty upfront and claiming it back later. Duty drawback is the refund route instead — a rebate on customs duty already paid on inputs used in exported goods. Which one suits you depends on your cash-flow and production cycle; we assess both before recommending.
My IEC application got rejected — what's the most common reason?
A PAN-to-bank-account name mismatch is the single most common cause — the firm's PAN and the bank certificate must match exactly, including punctuation. Bank certificates that don't follow DGFT's expected format are the second most common issue. We check both before submission, not after a rejection.
Do freelancers and IT/software service exporters need an IEC?
Yes — if you receive payments in foreign currency for services provided to international clients, you need an IEC, even if you never ship a physical product. Banks processing your inward foreign remittance will ask for it as part of their compliance check, so many freelancers only discover this when a payment gets held up. It's worth getting before your first international client, not after.
Is GST registration required before I can get an IEC?
No — GST is not a prerequisite for IEC; you can obtain your IEC first and register for GST separately. That said, most ongoing import-export activity eventually needs both, so we typically sequence them together rather than leaving GST for later.
Can a business have more than one IEC, or one per branch?
No — since IEC is linked to your PAN and each entity has only one PAN, you get exactly one IEC. If you operate multiple branches, they all trade under that same IEC; there's no separate registration per location.