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India · United States · UAE

Import Export Code (IEC)

A 10-digit DGFT code that lets your business legally import or export, filed once online and valid for the life of the business.

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How it works

★★★★★Rated on Google
|800+ businesses served since 2020

What it is

The identifier customs and banks look for on every cross-border transaction

The Import Export Code is a 10-digit number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Any business bringing goods into India or sending them abroad needs one for customs clearance, and banks require it to process the related foreign currency payments. It’s a one-time registration, not tied to a financial year, and it doesn’t need annual renewal.

The only time it needs to be touched again is if your business structure, ownership or registered address changes.

Key features

10-digit code issued by the DGFT
Valid for the lifetime of the business
No annual renewal required
Mandatory for customs clearance on imports and exports

Who needs it

Anyone moving goods or services across a border

Goods

Importers and exporters

Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers bringing goods into India or shipping them out need an IEC before customs will clear the shipment.

Services

Service exporters

IT, consulting, education and other service providers billing clients abroad need an IEC to receive and repatriate foreign payments cleanly.

Online sellers

Cross-border e-commerce

Businesses selling internationally through marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy need an IEC just as much as a traditional exporter does.

What Indefine handles

Application to certificate

Document preparation

PAN, address proof, bank details and business constitution documents, collected and checked before filing.

DGFT portal filing

We complete and submit the application on the DGFT’s online portal on your behalf.

Query response

If the DGFT raises a query or asks for a correction, we handle it so the application doesn’t stall.

Certificate and setup

Once issued, we make sure your IEC is correctly linked wherever it’s needed — bank, customs broker, marketplace account.

Modifications

Change of address, ownership or business structure — we update your IEC record to match.

Ongoing support

Questions on using your IEC for a specific shipment or payment, answered as they come up.

How it works

Four steps, filed once

You send documents

PAN, address proof and bank details — the basics the application needs.

We file on DGFT

Application prepared and submitted online, with details checked before submission.

DGFT reviews

We track the application and respond to any query that comes back.

You get your IEC

Certificate issued and ready to use for every future shipment or payment.

800+

Businesses served

Countries · IN · US · UAE

Since 2020

Founded in Bangalore

CA-led

Qualified chartered accountants

What to keep ready

Documents you’ll need

A quick checklist so we can move fast. Don’t have one handy? We’ll tell you exactly what works.

PAN Cardof the applicant

for both individuals and companies).

Aadhar Cardfor individual applicants.

Passport-size Photographof the applicant.

Bank Account Details(a canceled cheque or bank certificate).

Business Address Proof(electricity bill, lease agreement, etc.).

Partnership Deed or Company Registration Certificate(for partnership firms or companies).

Typical timeline: we confirm your exact timeline upfront and track every deadline for you.

FAQ

Questions companies ask first.

Do I need a separate IEC for every product I trade in?

No. One IEC, tied to your PAN, covers every product or service your business imports or exports. You don’t need a new one per product line.

Does the IEC need to be renewed each year?

No. It’s valid for the lifetime of the business. You only need to update it if there’s a change in ownership, structure or registered address.

I only sell through an online marketplace — do I still need an IEC?

Yes. Cross-border e-commerce sales are treated the same as any other export, and marketplaces typically require a valid IEC before they’ll process international payouts.

Let’s talk

Tell us what you need.

A short call to understand where you stand and how we would run this for you. No obligation.