IEC Registration Process | Apply for IEC Online

IEC stands for Importer Exporter Code, which is the primary requirement for an export or import business in India.

It’s mandatory obtain an IEC for an exporter or importer in India in order to do export or import shipment.

IEC is allotted by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which works under Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Indian government) and headed by Director General of Foreign Trade.

So as we know the basic requirement for the establishment of a foreign trade/ international business/export, import business is to obtain Importer Exporter Code, and now we know that the IEC is allotted by DGFT.

Now the question is how to obtain IEC from DGFT?

In this article, we will understand step-by-step process of applying for IEC, so let’s begin.

Step 1: Open DGFT website: https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/ By opening this website, you will land into the home page of DGFT.

Step 2: In home page, you need to click on “Apply for IEC”

Step 3: Then it will ask you to fill a small form.

Step 4: Fill the form with all required details and click on “Send OTP”.

Here I am using dummy details only to make you understand, but you need to fill with the actual details.

In next steps, I will use my actual details but I shall make the information masked due to obvious reason.

Step 5: After clicking on “Send OTP”, you will get screen where it will ask you to enter two OTP, you would have received one OTP on your mobile phone, another one on your email. Enter both OTP and click on “Register”

After clicking on “Register”, you will receive a message as below.

So now, you have username & password.

Step 6: Login option is there at top right corner, click on that.

Then you will see the login screen. Login using your username & password, which you received in previous step.

Step 7: Once you login, you will be able to see below screen.

Step 8: Now you need to click on “Apply IEC” and it will take you to next screen where you need to click on “Start Fresh Application”.

Step 9: Once you click on “Start Fresh Application”, it will take you next screen where you shall be asked to fill the form.

Fill this form carefully, I will explain all fields here, you enter your actual data.

Nature of concern/Firm: You need to select the nature of your firm from drop down, you can select whichever is applicable for you out of these: Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Private Limited, Public Limited, Government Undertaking, Registered Society, Trust, HUF, One person company, Other.

Firm Name: Mention your company name.

PAN: Mention the PAN. If it is a proprietorship firm mention the PAN of the proprietor, if it is a company mention the PAN of your company.

Name as per PAN database: Mention the name of the firm or proprietor’s name, whichever applicable.

Date of Birth / Date of Incorporation: Mention date of incorporation if it is a company or proprietor’s date of birth, whichever applicable.

Category of Exporters: Again you need to select one category from drop down, The options are: Merchant Exporter, Manufacturer Exporter, Merchant Cum Manufacturer Exporter, Service Provider and Others.

Whether the firm is located in Special Economic Zone (SEZ): Here you need to select YES or NO. If your firm is located in SEZ location then select ‘YES’, if not then select ‘NO’.

Whether the firm is located in Export Oriented Unit (EOU) Scheme, Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme, Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme or Bio-Technology Park (BTP) Scheme: Here also you need to select ‘YES’, or ‘NO’ whichever is applicable.

CIN Number: If your firm is registered (limited, private limited, LLC etc.), you need mention the CIN number. CIN stands for Corporate Identification Number.

GSTIN Number: Mention the GST No. of your firm.

Firm Mobile No. (For correspondence with DGFT): Mention mobile No., which will be used for the communication with DGFT.

Firm Email id (For correspondence with DGFT): Mention email id, which will be used for the communication with DGFT.

Click or Drag and Drop file to upload (Upload document): Upload the statutory documents. You can upload any of these: proof of establishment, incorporation, registration. You need to upload supporting document if you firm is one of these Partnership, Registered society, Trust, HUF or others. Only 5 pdf documents up to 5 MB are allowed.

Once you fill all the fields, click on next tab “Firm Address Details”

Step 10: Here you need to mention your firm’s complete address including PIN code. After that you need to upload documents for address proof. You can upload any of these: rent/ lease agreement (if owner is third party, NOC required), sale deed, electricity bill, telephone landline bill, aadhar card/passport/voter id (only for proprietorship).

Once you fill these fields and attached address proof documents, click on next tab “Branch Details” and fill branch details.

If you don’t have any other branch, click on “Save & Next”

Step 11: Here you need to fill your branch details with address with PIN code and you need to enter GSTIN number. Also you need to mention if your firm is located under SEZ or EOU premises.

Once you filled the details of your branches, click on “Save & Next”

Step 12: Now you are in next step of application, here you need to provide the details of Proprietorship/Partners/Directors/Karta/Managing Trustee.

If your firm is ltd./ pvt ltd./llc. Etc., Director’s identification number(DIN) will be fetched automatically from Ministry of external affairs based on the CIN number. If the director is foreign national, click on the check box where it mentioned as “Is the Director a Foreign National”. If it is proprietorship or partnership firm DIN not required.

Enter PAN, name, date of birth, title, name (again), father’s name, address, PIN & Mobile number.

If you have multiple Directors, click on “Add” and mention all above details again for next director.

After filling all the fields, click on “Save & Next”

Step 13: Now you are in next step of application, here you need to fill the Bank information. Mention account number, account holder’s name, IFSC, Bank name, branch name and attach proof of the existence of bank account (it may be a cancelled cheque or bank certificate).

Once you filled bank details, click on “Save & Next”

Step 14: Now you need to provide other details, here you can see there are three check box for Import, Export & Others. Select based on your requirements, Import & export are preferred. Now you click on Import and then export one by one, select the products you want to import or export from the options. After that click on click on “Save & Next”.

Step 15: Now you are in Declaration page, read what you are going to certify, mention name of the place and click on the box where it is mentioned as “Tick the box as acceptance of declaration/undertaking and fill in the details below” and click on click on “Save & Next”

Step 16: You have entered all required details and uploaded all required documents. Now you are on Application Summary page, here you can recheck the details you have provided by clicking on “Preview IEC Application”.

Step 17: If all the details provided by you are correct, then proceed for payment, you need to pay Rs. 500 as application charges for Importer Exporter Code. Scroll down, you shall be able to see “Sign”.

It will take you to the next window, where it will ask you whether you are sure about it or not, if everything is correct click on “OK” button.

It will take to Sign submission window. There are two options available for sign submission. 1^st is you can sign using Aadhaar (known as Aadhaar e-Sign), you shall receive an OTP on your mobile number which is linked to Aadhaar, click on “Proceed” enter OTP and follow the procedures your application will be signed. If you have Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and you want to sign your application though you DSC then click on “Proceed” under DSC option and follow the procedures your application will be signed.