International Trade always fascinates you?

These days it has become really easy to get good global trading opportunities. Global trade is on the rise and all thanks to Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India for making it easier to start an Export-Import Business in India and get import export code.

How to get started with Import Export Business?

The DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) issues a unique 10-digit Alphanumeric (IEC) number to any bonafide person/ company starting any International Import and Export of Goods or Services by any Manufacturer, Trader or Service Provider to maintain the unique identity of an entity.

What is IEC Code and What Are Its Benefits?

The unique 10-digit alpha-numeric number is to be called an “Importer-Exporter Code”. It is also known and recognized as the “Import Export License”. An IEC will be equal to Permanent Account Number which is also known as “PAN” and will be allotted separately by the DGFT based on an application. This 10-digit alpha-numeric number a.k.a., Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is mandatory for the start-up of any kind of import and export business/ trading on a global or international level. Without an IEC it is impossible to commence any type of trading with the neighboring countries or with any entity outside India. In short, this number works as a license for International Trading.

What are the documents required to Get Import Export Code in India?

There are some mandatory documents required for obtaining IEC Code. Whereas to get the IEC Code, a different type of company/entity has to submit different additional documents. Type of Companies/entities such as Proprietor, Partnership, Private limited, HUF, Registered Society, etc has to submit different additional documents required for IEC code along with the mandatory documents mentioned below.

[If you want to know the full details of documents required for IEC Code and its valid format read our definite article on “documents for IEC Code“]

1. Documents required for IEC Code for Proprietorship:

Scanned copy of the PAN (Front and back page) card of the Proprietor.
Any of these – Scanned copy of Passport (first & last page)/Voter’s Card/ Driving License/Aadhar Card.
Address proof of the Head Office and all the existing branches —Rent/lease agreement, Electricity/telephone bill or sales deed in case of a self-owned premise.
Bank Certificate in prescribed format or Cancelled Cheque bearing pre-printed name of the applicant and A/C No.

2. Documents required for IEC Code for Partnership:

Scanned copy of the PAN Card of all the managing partners and the Company.
Residential proof of all the Managing Partner: Scanned copy of Passport (first & last page) or Voter’s Card or Driving License or an Aadhar card.
Address proof of the Head Office and all the existing branches: Electricity/telephone bill or Rent/lease agreement, or sales deed in case of the self-owned premise.
Bank Certificate or a canceled cheque with the name of the entity and Account Number.

3. Documents required for IEC Code for LLP /Government Undertaking/Public Limited Company/Private Limited Company/Section 25 Company:

Scanned copy of the PAN card of all the directors and the Company.
Residential proofs of all the Managing Partner/Director signing the application – Scanned copy of Passport (first & last page) or Voter’s Card or a Driving License or an Aadhar card.
Address proof of the Head Office and all the existing branches: Electricity/telephone bill or Rent/lease agreement, or sales deed in case of self-owned premise
Certificate of incorporation as issued by the RoC.
Bank Certificate as per prescribed format/Cancelled cheque having the name of the company and Account number.

4. Documents required for IEC Code for Registered Society:

Copy of PAN card of the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and the Society.
Residential proofs of the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary – Scanned copy of Passport (first & last page) or Voter’s Card or Driving License or an Aadhar Card.
Address proof of the entity: Electricity/telephone bill or Rent/lease agreement, or sales deed in case of the self-owned premise.
Registration Certificate of the Society/Copy of the Trust Deed.
Bank Certificate as per the prescribed format or a canceled cheque with applicant name and Account number.

5. Documents required for IEC Code for HUF:

Scanned Copy of Karta’s PAN Card.
Any of these residential proofs of the Karta’s Documents – Scanned copy of Passport (first & last page) or Voter’s Card or Driving License or Aadhar card.
Address proof of the Head Office and all the existing branches: Electricity/telephone bill or Rent/lease agreement, or sales deed in case of self-owned premise
Bank Certificate or a canceled cheque with applicant name and account number.
HUF registration number

Note: All the copies should be self-attested/ certified except the photograph on the bank certificate which should be attested by the banker of the applicant.

How to Apply for IEC Code?

To obtain IEC, an application in the Aayaat Niryaat Form 2A (ANF 2A) format, accompanied with the required documents and application fees Rs. 500/- should be made to the Regional Authority of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the area where the registered office of the company is located. Submitting of Application to wrong DGFT Branch Office will lead to rejection of IEC Application.

Initially, the applications were tendered physically with the Regional Director General of Foreign Trade Office. But vide Policy Circular No. 10 (RE-2010)/ 2009-14 DATED 31ST December 2010, feature for Online Application for IEC Code has been given to the applicants w.e.f. 01.01.2011 at the DGFT website (http:/ /dgft.gov.in) to reduce the Transaction cost and time for the application. Please note that there is no offline procedure to apply for IEC Code, it has to be compulsorily made online.

In order to get import export code Online, you are required to visit DGFT web site at http://dgft.gov.in
Click on the “IEC Online Application” option.
You will be asked to enter a valid PAN after you enter the details of pan and press enter, you will be directed to the IEC Main Menu
To create a new IEC Application, select the “Create” option from the “File” menu. The system will generate and exhibit new “ECOM Reference No.
On clicking the “OK” button the user is forwarded to the “IEC Master” Screen for updating of party details.
After you fill the form completely, upload the required documents and move forward towards payment section
Click on the EFT button to make the online payment of a fee.
Fill the IEC Fee amount in Indian Rupees (RS- 500). After selecting the bank and filling the amount, click on the OK button to submit it.
After the payment has been done Bank will generate a BID number which can be used for future reference to the bank.
Click on the Close button. The status message will be displayed on the screen whether the transaction was successful or not.
Once all the documents are submitted properly, they have verified once again with the help of the digital signature: a digital code which is generated and authenticated by public key encryption, which is attached to an electronically transmitted document to verify the present contents in the documents and the applicant’s/ sender’s identity. And once the verification is successful the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India issues the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) against the name of the applicant and his firm/ company.

This is all you required to do to fill your online IEC application form and get the 10-digit code from DGFT.

[This is the overview of the IEC registration procedure. To know detail about the application process read our article on“IEC Online Application“]

Note: Only one IEC number is issued against one PAN Card.

How many days does it take to get Import Export license?

The dispensation of IEC applications is assumed to be completed in two working days, which means you can get it in 3 days or a week at most.

How much does it Cost to get Import Export Code?

Government Fees for IEC Application is Rs. 500. Professional Fees for IEC Code is in the range of 2000 to 2500 only.

[There are updates in the fees for applying IEC Code to know about the precise and updated fees for IEC Code read our article on “ Import Export License Fees”]

So get your IEC Code Registration done today for the issuance of your unique 10 digits Import Export Code (IEC) number and start your own International trading venture.

How Afleo can help you?

Afleo is one of the leading firms when it comes to Import or Export Consulting. We are very well versed in the mechanisms of DGFT and the schemes that are exercised by them. So, when it comes to applying for an IEC license, we can minimize all the confusion and complicated procedures involved.

Happy Trading!

We at AFLEO would love to help you, for further details or in case of any queries regarding the same, please fill below form.