Does IEC have to be renewed every year?

No — under Para 2.05 of FTP 2023-28, the IEC is permanently valid. The earlier requirement of annual updation was discontinued by DGFT Trade Notice dated 12 June 2020. Only changes (address, bank, name, signatory) need to be updated within 30 days of the event.

What is the fee for IEC modification / updation?

There is no government fee for modification or updation. The application is filed online on the DGFT portal free of cost under Para 2.05 of FTP 2023-28.

What happens if IEC was deactivated due to non-updation in 2020?

IECs flagged inactive due to non-completion of the one-time updation exercise by 31 July 2020 must be re-activated by filing the modification form with current PAN / bank / address. DGFT's Regional Authority manually screens such applications; re-activation typically takes 5–10 working days.

Can IEC be transferred to a new owner after the sale of business?

No — IEC is PAN-linked and entity-specific. On sale of business, the new owner must apply for a fresh IEC under its own PAN. The seller must surrender its IEC by filing the online Surrender Form.

Is Aadhaar mandatory for IEC modification?

Aadhaar e-Sign is the default mode of authentication on the DGFT portal. Where the authorised signatory does not have Aadhaar linked to a mobile number, a Class-2 or Class-3 DSC registered on DGFT can be used as an alternative.

What is the time-limit for filing modification after a change?

DGFT Trade Notice dated 12 June 2020 directs updation within 30 days of the change. While no specific penalty is prescribed for delayed updation, mismatches between IEC and actual business may result in customs clearance delays and penalty under Section 11 of FT(D&R) Act 1992.

Does the modified IEC reflect automatically at Customs (ICEGATE)?

The DGFT portal pushes modified IEC data to ICEGATE overnight. The modified particulars are typically visible at ICEGATE within 24 hours of DGFT's approval.

Can IEC be surrendered if the business closes?

Yes — file the online Surrender Form on the DGFT portal. DGFT cancels the IEC and issues a Surrender Certificate within 7 working days, provided there are no pending customs or DGFT proceedings against the IEC.

Editor's pickStartup · Business Registration

Import Export Code (IEC) Application & DGFT Licensing

IEC is permanent under FTP 2023-28 — no renewal. Modify address, bank, or signatory free on DGFT portal in 1 day. Re-activate deactivated IEC in 5-10 days.

Statutory basis: Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and Foreign Trade Policy.

Turnaround

7–14 Days

₹

Starts from

₹6,499

Money-back accuracy

Guaranteed

Total starting from

₹6,499

Professional fee (no government fee)

Professional feeCustom quote

Government fee (est.)No fee

Turnaround7–14 Days

Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.

CONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026

Dedicated specialist

CA-led, named point of contact

Tracked client portal

Real-time status, end-to-end

Money-back accuracy

Refile-free if our error

Flat-fee pricing

No hidden charges, ever

About this service

Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce. It is mandatory for any commercial entity engaged in importing goods or exporting goods and commercial services outside India.

Eligibility & thresholds

Minimum

Valid identity & address proof of applicant
Active PAN & registered business premises
Authorized representative authorization

Maximum

Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
No pending statutory disqualifications
Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions

Statutory floor

Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval

What's included

Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.

Error-Free DGFT Profiling

The Ministry of Commerce portal enforces strict data validation. A minor mismatch between your PAN database and your bank records leads to instant rejection. We perform a stringent forensic check of your KYC documents before hitting submit, ensuring a 100% first-time approval rate for your Import Export Code.

Complex Corporate Filings

While individual IECs are simple, registering a Private Limited Company or an LLP requires mapping multiple directors, attaching Board Resolutions, and configuring Class 3 Digital Signatures. We handle these complex corporate architectures smoothly, ensuring all subsidiary branches are accurately listed.

Guaranteed Annual Updating

DGFT regulations mandate that every IEC must be electronically re-validated annually between April and June. If missed, your code is suspended, halting your shipments at the port. We enroll you in our automated compliance tracker, performing this update on your behalf flawlessly every year.

Bank Details PFMS Troubleshooting

The most common bottleneck in IEC generation is the failure of the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to validate the applicant's bank account. Our team knows how to troubleshoot these backend banking mismatches, working with bank managers if necessary to push the validation through.

Expedited Deficiency Resolution

If the DGFT officer flags your application for 'Deficiency' (e.g., demanding a clearer photo or questioning the rent agreement), our rapid response team drafts technical compliance letters and uploads the required proofs within hours, preventing application abandonment.

ICEGATE & AD Code Bridging

An IEC alone won't get your goods past customs; it must be registered on the ICEGATE portal, and your bank's AD Code must be integrated. We provide end-to-end bridging services, guiding you from DGFT approval to final customs port registration.

Government Fee Breakdown

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.

Fee Component	Amount (₹)	Basis / Authority
Import Export Code (IEC) Application & DGFT Licensing Statutory Filing	₹0 (No government fee)	Government fee is Nil / exempted under applicable statutory rulesOfficial Regulator
Total Government Fee	No fee	(for default assumptions stated below)

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.

Required documents

Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.

How it works

Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.

1
Customer⏱ Day 1
Requirement Review & Eligibility Check
Initial consultation to verify statutory eligibility and compile required prerequisites.
2
I-Pro⏱ Day 1–2
Document Verification & Pre-Scrutiny
Comprehensive audit of applicant KYC, business records, and address proofs.
3
I-Pro⏱ Day 2–3
Statutory Form Preparation & Drafting
Drafting official application forms, affidavits, and supporting declarations.
4
I-Pro⏱ Day 3–4
Submission on Competent Portal
Electronic filing on official department portal with fee payment and receipt generation.
5
Regulator⏱ Day 4–7
Authority Scrutiny & Liaison
Tracking department scrutiny, responding to officer queries, and milestone alerts.
6
Government⏱ Day 7–10
Final Approval & Certificate Delivery
Official statutory certificate delivery along with ongoing compliance guidance.

Post-registration compliance

What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.

Filing	Form	Deadline
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)	`One-time mandatory`	Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers	`5-year tenure`	Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually)
Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually)
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation	`Annual`	Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September

Penalties for non-compliance

Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.

Non-compliance	Provision	Penalty
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A)	One-time mandatory	₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1)	5-year tenure	Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Annual Return (Form MGT-7)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC)	Annual	₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.

1
Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofs
Why: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.
Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
2
Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leases
Why: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.
Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
3
Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity code
Why: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.
Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about this service.

Client feedback

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