IEC registration 2026: who needs it, documents, fee, annual update

In short

The IEC is a 10-character code from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and it is the same as the PAN of the business. One IEC per PAN.
It is needed to import or export goods, including exports through e-commerce and courier. Exporters of services need it only to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
Apply online on dgft.gov.in in form ANF-2A, with a cancelled cheque or bank certificate and proof of address, signed with a DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign. The fee is ₹500, and the IEC is generated online and sent by e-mail and SMS.
Update the IEC every year between April and June, even if nothing has changed. There is no fee in that window; an IEC that is not updated is deactivated.
Report changes within 30 days. Importing or exporting without an IEC can lead to a penalty of at least ₹10,000, up to five times the value of the goods.

Who needs an IEC, and who does not

Goods: no one may import or export goods without an IEC unless exempted. This covers traders, manufacturers and online sellers shipping abroad.
Services and technology: an IEC is needed only when you claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Exempt (Handbook of Procedures, para 2.07): ministries and departments of the central and state governments; individuals importing or exporting for personal use not connected with trade, manufacture or agriculture; certain small-value trade across the borders with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China; and the categories listed in the 1993 exemption order.
Since the PAN-based IEC came in with GST in 2017, one PAN can hold only one IEC; branches are added to it.

E-commerce exporters: the export credit for e-commerce exporters under the government's Export Promotion Mission asks for a valid IEC together with Udyam registration.

What you need to apply

PAN of the business (the IEC will be the same number), a mobile number and an e-mail address.
Aadhaar of the applicant matching the PAN, for Aadhaar e-Sign, or a digital signature (DSC).
A cancelled cheque with the business's name printed on it, or a bank certificate in DGFT's format. Since January 2026 the certificate format asks for the applicant's photo and a geo-tagged photo of the business premises.
Proof of the business address. A proprietor can use Aadhaar, passport or voter ID.
GSTIN, if the business is registered. The form can be filed without one by ticking "I don't have GSTIN".

How to apply on the DGFT portal

Register on dgft.gov.in with the mobile number and e-mail, and sign in.
Choose to apply for an IEC (form ANF-2A) and fill in the business, address, bank and partner or director details.
Upload the cancelled cheque or bank certificate and the address proof.
Sign the application with a DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign and pay the ₹500 fee online.
The IEC is generated online and sent by e-mail and SMS. DGFT checks the details electronically and may verify them later.

The yearly update, April to June

Every IEC holder must update the IEC details online between April and June each year, even if nothing has changed.
There is no fee for the update in that window.
An IEC that is not updated is deactivated, and imports and exports stop until it is updated. It is reactivated once the update is done, without prejudice to any other action.

Changing the details

Any change in the constitution, address, bank account or other main details is updated online within 30 days.
A change of PAN, of the type of business, or of partners or trustees goes to the DGFT regional office for approval.
A company's name is taken from its CIN; other businesses' names follow the PAN record.
If a merger or similar change gives the business a new PAN, it needs a new IEC within 30 days.

GST, service exporters and freelancers

An IEC does not need GST registration, but exporting without paying IGST under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT), and the related refunds, are open only to GST-registered businesses.
Service exporters and freelancers paid from abroad need an IEC only to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits. Under RBI's export regulations in force from 1 October 2026, a service export is declared through the bank (an individual does it by giving the bank the payment details); those regulations do not ask for an IEC.

Penalties

The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 bars importing or exporting without an IEC (section 7). The penalty is at least ₹10,000, and up to five times the value of the goods, services or technology involved, whichever is more (section 11). DGFT can also suspend or cancel an IEC (section 8).

Questions people ask

Is the IEC the same as the PAN?

Yes. The IEC is a 10-character code that is the same as the PAN of the business, and only one IEC is issued for each PAN.

How much does an IEC cost?

The government fee is ₹500, paid online on the DGFT portal. The yearly update between April and June has no fee.

Does an IEC expire?

No, but it must be updated online every year between April and June, even if nothing has changed. An IEC that is not updated is deactivated until the update is done.

Do freelancers and service exporters need an IEC?

Only to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy. Exporters of goods, including online sellers shipping abroad, always need one unless they are exempt.

Is GST registration needed for an IEC?

No. The application can be filed without a GSTIN. But to export without paying IGST under a Letter of Undertaking, or to claim export refunds, the business must be GST-registered.

How long does it take to get an IEC?

The IEC is generated online once the signed application and the ₹500 fee are submitted, and it is sent by e-mail and SMS. DGFT may verify the details later.

Sources

Written from these official pages and notifications, checked on 4 Nov 2026. Rules change by notification: before you act, check the latest position or ask us.

General information, not legal or tax advice for your case. Parishrama Consulting Services is a private firm, not a government office.

Import Export Code (IEC): who needs it, how to apply and the yearly update