How to get your IEC and start exporting

An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is the single mandatory registration for any business that wants to import or export from India — no shipment clears customs without one attached to the exporter of record.

Applying is done entirely online through the DGFT portal: PAN, bank account details, a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, and your business address proof are the core documents. Most applications are approved within one to two working days once the paperwork is complete and correctly matched to your PAN.

A few details trip up first-time applicants — the IEC name must match PAN exactly, and the registered bank account has to belong to the same entity. Getting these right the first time avoids a resubmission cycle that can add a week to your timeline.