By S&S Co. Advocates & Solicitors · Published 20 September 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice — see our disclaimer
What an IEC Is, and Who Needs One
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a unique 10-digit number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and is mandatory for any business or individual engaging in cross-border import or export of goods or services, with limited exemptions such as for personal use unconnected to trade, manufacture or agriculture.
Applying for an IEC
The application is filed entirely online in Form ANF-2A on the DGFT portal, supported by PAN, Aadhaar, address proof, and a bank certificate or cancelled cheque, along with a photograph. The government fee for a new IEC application is a flat Rs. 500, and the certificate is typically issued within 1-3 business days of submission and payment — a genuinely fast process compared to many other business registrations.
One IEC Per PAN
IEC is PAN-based — since 2021, only one IEC is issued per PAN, so a business with multiple trade lines or branches uses the same IEC across all of them rather than obtaining separate codes for each. Businesses restructuring or expanding into new trade categories should check their existing IEC rather than assume a fresh application is needed.
Lifetime Validity, But an Annual Update Requirement
The IEC itself has lifetime validity and does not need renewal, but the holder must update or confirm their IEC details on the DGFT portal annually within the April-June window each year to keep the code active — failure to update can lead to deactivation. This annual confirmation requirement is easy to overlook precisely because the IEC has no traditional expiry date, so businesses should calendar it as a recurring annual task regardless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an IEC cost and how long does it take to get one?
The government fee is a flat Rs. 500, and the certificate is typically issued within 1-3 business days of submitting Form ANF-2A on the DGFT portal with the required supporting documents.
Do I need a separate IEC for each branch or trade line?
No. IEC is PAN-based, and since 2021 only one IEC is issued per PAN — a business with multiple trade lines or branches uses the same IEC across all of them.
Does an IEC ever expire?
The IEC itself has lifetime validity, but the holder must update or confirm IEC details on the DGFT portal annually within the April-June window each year — failure to do so can lead to deactivation, so this should be calendared as a recurring task.
References & Further Reading
This article references the following statutory provisions. Readers should always verify current rules, fees and timelines against the applicable statute and rules as amended, since these are revised from time to time.
- Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and current Foreign Trade Policy.
- DGFT IEC application procedure (Form ANF-2A) and fee schedule, current as of the date of application.