Home - Export Import Guide - Exporters Importers Code ( IEC CODE )

Definition : A 10 digit code that is issued to the companies by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce. It is mandatory for any person or entity to carry on with the export and import business.

Full form : It stands for "Importer Exporter Code".

IEC Code Number Notification : The Importer Exporter Code Number is issued by the policy circular no.15 which in turn is issued by the DGFT.

Eligibility : The entire list of eligibility criteria, legal provisions and conditions to avail the IEC code is found in Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, Notification No. GSR 791 (E), dated 30-12-1993 issued by the Ministry of Commerce in 1993.

How to Apply :
The grant of the IEC number has to be sought by an application by the applicant’s head/registered office. The application should be addressed to the DGFT, Regd. /Head office if the concerned entity wanting the code is a person and to the registered office if the concerned entity is a company. The “Aayaat Niryaat” form has to be accompanied by prescribed documents. For STPI, BTP and EHTP units, IEC is issued by the DGFT regional offices with judiciary powers in the district of the location of the STPI unit. One IEC can be availed against a single PAN number. If a proprietor has more than one IEC allotted to him, he should surrender it to the regional office where it will be cancelled.

Online Application :
The application form called the "ANF2A" is available in PDF and Word format. The submission of the Appendix-18B is mandatory with the online application form. The applicant must keep it in mind that the applicant’s banker has signed it in his letter head. Moreover, two passport size photographs are attached to the application.

Appendix-18D is the sure shot way to look for the regional authorities of DGFT and the corresponding RBI office.

Validity of the code : Appendix 18B declares the validity of the IEC number allocated to an applicant.

Duplicate Copy : In case of loss or misplacement, request for the duplicate copy of the IEC number has to be made to the issuing authority accompanied with an affidavit.

Surrender : In case of non-operation, the owner can surrender his IEC number to the issuing authority which in turn will be immediately cancelled by it. At the same time, the issuing authority will transmit it electronically to DGFT so that it can be further transmitted to regional and customs authorities.

Application fee and mode of payment : The application costs Rs. 250.00 and can be availed by payment through demand draft or EFT of any of the following nominated banks:

1. HDFC Bank
2. ICICI Bank
3. State Bank of India
4. UTI Bank
5. Punjab National Bank
6. Central Bank

Another option is to deposit the application fee through TR6 Challan in any of the Central Bank of India branches. Information regarding the scale of fee, payment mode, refunds and person exempted from it are available in 21-B.

Filing of application : Applications can be filed on the DGFT website. Every application should be complete in each and every respect failing which it will be rejected. The application can be submitted in MS word format.

Importer/ Exporter Profile : The Part 1 of the application requires the profile of the importer/exporter and the same is registered to the regional authority. In case of any change in the above mentioned information, the same should be immediately intimated to the regional authority.

Exempted Categories :
The importer/exporter categories that are exempted from obtaining IEC code are :

1. Importers under the clause 3(1) and exporters under the clause 3(2).
2. Central/state government ministries/depts.
3. Persons involved in import and export of personal goods.
4. Persons involved in the import/export of goods from or to Nepal in case a consignment’s CIF value remains below Rs. 25,000.
5. Persons involved in the import/export of goods from or to Myanmar in case a consignment’s CIF value remains below Rs. 25,000.

Specific code numbers have been allotted to be used by different categories of importers and exporters.

S.No	Code Number	Categories of Importers/ Exporters
1	0100000011	All Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them.
2	0100000029	All Ministries/Departments of the State Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them.
3	0100000037	Diplomatic personnel, Counselor officers in India and the officials of the UNO and its specialised agencies.
4	0100000045	Indians returning from/going abroad and claiming benefit under the Baggage Rules.
5	0100000053	Persons/ Institutions/ Hospitals importing or exporting goods for personnel use, not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture.
6	0100000061	Persons importing/ exporting goods from/to Nepal provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rupees 25000/-.
7	0100000070	Persons importing/ exporting goods from/to Myanmar through Indo- Myanmar border areas provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rupees 25000/-.
8	0100000088	Ford Foundation
9	0100000096	Importers importing goods for display or use in fairs/exhibitions or similar events under the provisions of ATA carnet.
10	0100000100	Director, National Blood Group Reference Laboratory, Bombay or their authorized offices.
11	0100000126	Individuals/Charitable Institutions/ Registered NGOs importing goods, which have been exempted from Customs duty under the Notification issued by Ministry of Finance for bonafide use by the victims affected by natural calamity.
12	0100000134	Persons importing / exporting permissible goods as notified from time to time, from/to China through Gunji and Namgaya Shipkila ports, provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25,000. In case of Nathula port, the applicable value ceiling will be Rs.100,000.
13	0100000142	Ordinance factories under the Ordinance Factories Organisation.
14	0100000151	Deleted (Deleted  (Ref. DGFT Public Notice No.36(RE-2008)/2004-2009, dated 01-07-2008.) [Old- The Directorate of Purchase and Stores, Department of Atomic Energy,Government of India.]
15	0100000169	Non-commercial imports and exports by entities who have been authorized by Reserve Bank of India.

Guidelines :
Each applicant should fulfill the following criteria to apply for IEC code number :

1. PAN number
2. Bankers Certificate
3. Current Bank Account

Before the final submission of the application, each applicant should go through the attachments.