Get, modify and surrender your Import Export Code in 2026 — DGFT portal process, annual updation requirement, eligibility and pitfalls for Indian exporters.
The Import Export Code, or IEC, is the foundational permit issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for any cross-border movement of goods or services by an Indian business. In FY 2026-27 the IEC continues to be a ten-digit number linked to the entity's PAN, and the DGFT portal handles issuance, modification, renewal and surrender in a fully digital workflow. Without a valid and current IEC, banks cannot remit export proceeds, customs cannot release shipments, and zero-rated GST claims fall flat.
Who Needs an IEC
- Importers of goods or services from outside India
- Exporters of goods or services to destinations outside India
- Entities receiving foreign remittances for services rendered abroad
- E-commerce sellers exporting through marketplace fulfilment programmes
- Service providers claiming benefits under foreign trade policy schemes
Exemptions From IEC
IEC is not required for goods imported or exported for personal use that are unconnected with trade, manufacture or agriculture. Certain government ministries and statutory bodies are also exempt. Importantly, an IEC is now mandatory for service exporters claiming benefits under the foreign trade policy or for whom foreign exchange inward remittance is being treated as service export.
How to Apply for an IEC
- Create a user account on the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in
- Link the PAN of the applicant entity — proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, trust or HUF
- Fill the application form ANF-2A with business and bank details
- Upload the cancelled cheque, address proof and identity proof
- Sign with DSC for companies and LLPs or with Aadhaar OTP for individuals and proprietors
- Pay the prescribed fee and download the IEC certificate, which is auto-generated within a couple of working days
Annual Updation Requirement
IEC holders are required to update their details on the DGFT portal between April and June each year, even where there is no change in particulars. Failure to update leads to deactivation of the IEC, which in turn blocks customs clearance and bank remittances. Reactivation is possible by submitting the update and paying the prescribed fee, but it costs time during a peak shipping cycle.
Modification and Surrender
- Modification of address, bank account or directors is done online on the DGFT portal with supporting documents
- Modification of PAN is not permitted — a fresh IEC is required if the underlying entity changes
- An IEC can be surrendered by filing the prescribed online request and uploading a board resolution or partner declaration
- On surrender, DGFT cancels the code and intimates customs and banks through the integrated network
Conclusion
The IEC is one of the few permits in the Indian regulatory landscape that is genuinely simple to obtain and yet hugely consequential if neglected. Apply early, complete the annual update on the DGFT portal between April and June, keep PAN, GSTIN and bank details aligned, and surrender the code cleanly when winding down. The cost of compliance is minimal; the cost of a deactivated IEC during a shipping deadline is not.
