No business in Chennai can import or export goods without an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, and getting one costs Rs 500 under DGFT’s fee schedule. The application is entirely online and the number is auto-generated, so the Shastri Bhavan regional office on Haddows Road rarely needs a visit for a fresh code.
What trips people up is not getting the IEC but keeping it alive. An IEC that is not updated every year can be de-activated, and customs will then stop clearing your shipments. This guide covers both.
Who needs an IEC
The DGFT portal is blunt: no import or export may happen except under an IEC number. For services or technology, you need one only if you are claiming benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy or dealing in specified services. Proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, companies, trusts, HUFs and societies can all apply. Since GST came in, the IEC number is the same as the firm’s PAN, though DGFT still issues it separately, and only one IEC is allowed per PAN.
Some categories are exempt, and DGFT keeps a short list of permanent IEC numbers for non-commercial users such as government ministries. A small online seller sending the occasional parcel abroad should still check whether its courier or platform route needs its own IEC.
How to apply
- Register on the DGFT portal using the firm’s PAN and a working mobile number and email.
- Fill form ANF-2A online. Chapter 2 of the Handbook of Procedures lists the documents: proof of address, and a cancelled cheque or bank certificate for the firm’s account.
- Pay the Rs 500 fee online.
- The IEC is generated automatically and sent by email and SMS. You can download the e-IEC from your dashboard, and anyone can verify it on the DGFT website.
The code covers all your branches and units, and stays valid whether a unit sits in the domestic tariff area, an SEZ such as those near Sriperumbudur, or an export-oriented unit.
The yearly update most firms forget
An IEC has permanent validity unless suspended or cancelled, but the holder must update the profile at least once a year. DGFT’s fee schedule sets the annual update window as April to June and charges nothing for it. Separately, changes to constitution, address, bank details and other primary details must be updated within 30 days.
Skipping the update has consequences. In Trade Notice 18/2021-22, DGFT moved to de-activate IECs not updated since 2005 under Foreign Trade Policy para 2.05(e). The same notice says a de-activated IEC can be re-activated by updating it online, without visiting a regional office. In practice, put the April to June window in your compliance calendar alongside GST and income tax dates.
Fees at a glance
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| New IEC | Rs 500 |
| Annual update (April to June) | Nil |
| Amendments to licences, authorisations and certificates (general entry) | Rs 200 |
The Rs 200 line is the schedule’s general amendment fee; the schedule does not name the IEC specifically, so check the amount shown at payment.
Mistakes that hold up Chennai shipments
Customs brokers at Chennai port and the airport cargo complex see the same problems again and again. Most can be avoided with a little care at the IEC stage.
- Bank account mismatch. The bank details on the IEC should match the account you use for export proceeds. Update within 30 days if you switch banks.
- Old address. Firms that move from, say, Ambattur to Guindy often forget the IEC. Address is a primary detail and must be updated within 30 days.
- Missed annual update. A de-activated IEC blocks customs clearance until you update it, which can mean demurrage at the port.
- Using a relative’s PAN. The IEC belongs to the PAN of the entity actually trading. A proprietor’s IEC does not carry over to a new partnership or company formed later.
When a firm changes constitution, for example a proprietorship turning into a private limited company, the new entity has a new PAN and needs its own IEC.
Help in Chennai
The DGFT Regional Authority for Chennai sits at Shastri Bhavan Annexe, Haddows Road, Chennai 600 006, phone 044-2828 3400, according to a DGFT memorandum of 24 August 2026 listing its RTI officers. Cancellation of old numeric IECs and PAN changes after mergers go to the regional authority. For portal problems, DGFT’s toll-free helpdesk numbers are 1800-572-1550 and 1800-111-550, and you can raise a ticket online.
Many export promotion councils headquartered in Chennai, such as those for leather, also help members with IEC and related paperwork.
Quick answers
How much does an IEC cost?
Rs 500, paid online. The annual update is free.
Does an IEC expire?
No, but it can be de-activated if you do not update it every year.
Can I surrender my IEC?
Yes, online, once all authorisations and export obligations are closed.
Do I need a separate IEC for each branch?
No. One IEC per PAN covers all branches and units.
For complex trade questions, consult a customs broker or chartered accountant.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- DGFT Common Portal: IEC overview and helpdesk (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
- Handbook of Procedures, Chapter 2 (DGFT)
- Appendix 2K: schedule of fees (DGFT)
- Trade Notice 18/2021-22 on de-activation of non-updated IECs (DGFT)
- Office memorandum on CPIOs and appellate authorities, 24 August 2026 (DGFT)
