Importer Exporter Code: Obtaining It, Keeping It Active and What Else Follows
This article is a practical guide to obtaining the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), maintaining it, and understanding the compliance that continues after it is issued. No new notification or amendment is reported; the requirements below are stated as current.
An IEC is the first registration an assessee needs before trading goods across the border, and lapses in updating or mismatched particulars are a common cause of delay and deactivation. Practitioners advising on a first shipment should deal with it well in advance.
What the code is
The IEC is a 10-character alphanumeric code issued by DGFT that identifies an importer or exporter in India's foreign trade system. Under the PAN-based system it corresponds to the applicant's PAN, but holding a PAN does not mean an IEC exists. A separate application to DGFT is required.