Import Export Code (IEC)
An Import Export Code (IEC) is a code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that is mandatory for any business to import into or export from India. Now aligned with the business's PAN, the IEC is a one-time registration with lifetime validity (subject to annual updating).
Without a valid IEC, a business cannot file a Bill of Entry or Shipping Bill, clear goods through Customs, or receive foreign trade payments — with only limited exceptions for personal or certain government imports. It is the first registration any Indian trader must obtain.
The IEC is the licence to trade across India's borders — no IEC, no import or export. It is the foundational registration that links a business to ICEGATE, DGFT schemes and its banking for trade, so getting it right (and kept updated) is step one for any importer or exporter.
Who issues the IEC?
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Is the IEC linked to PAN?
Yes — the IEC is now based on the applicant's PAN, so each business effectively has one IEC.