What is Import Export Code (IEC)?
- What is this service?
- IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- Who needs it?
- IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- When is it required?
- Typically when: a legally established business entity. Review full eligibility below.
- Key outcome / deliverable
- e-IEC certificate — delivered to your dashboard vault with supporting references.
- Basic conditions
- A legally established business entity · Premises proof — ownership, rent agreement or NOC · KYC of owner / directors
Quick answers
- Definition
- IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- Who needs it
- A legally established business entity
- Documents required
- PAN & Aadhaar of owner/directors, Photograph of applicant, Premises proof
- Cost
- From INR 1,499 professional fee; government fee shown separately and confirmed before payment.
- Professional timeline
- 1-3 working days
- Process
- 5 tracked steps: PAN & entity verification → Bank proof preparation → File ANF-2A on DGFT portal…
- Authority
- Concerned licensing authority (FSSAI / DGFT / BIS / Udyam portal as applicable)
- After approval
- e-IEC certificate
Packages & transparent pricing
What you pay, line by line
Our professional fee and the government charge are always shown separately.
- Professional feeLegal Munshi's fee for the agreed scope
- INR 2,799
- Government feePaid to the authority
- FREE
- GST (18%)On the professional fee
- INR 503.82
Where your money goes
- Our fee INR 2,799
- GST 18% INR 503.82
- Government fee FREE
Standard — you are only ever charged the professional fee plus GST at checkout; government fees are collected at actuals.
Starter
INR 1,499INR 2,999
- Professional fee
- INR 1,499
- Government fee
- FREE
- Taxes
- ~18% as applicable
Standard — 1-3 working days
- 1 expert consultation session
- Personalised document checklist
- Document review & verification
- Application drafting & filing
- Acknowledgement tracking
- Email support
Standard
INR 2,799INR 3,799
- Professional fee
- INR 2,799
- Government fee
- FREE
- Taxes
- ~18% as applicable
Priority — 1-3 working days
- Everything in Starter
- Dedicated compliance expert
- Government fee coordination
- Faster priority processing
- Objection / query handling
- 2 progress review calls
- Phone & WhatsApp support
Premium
INR 4,599INR 5,999
- Professional fee
- INR 4,599
- Government fee
- FREE
- Taxes
- ~18% as applicable
Fast-track + 12 months support
- Everything in Standard
- Dedicated CA / advocate
- 12 months post-completion support
- Zero hidden charges guarantee
- Free 3-month bookkeeping
- Annual compliance calendar
- Priority 24×7 concierge
| Component | How it's shown |
|---|---|
| Professional fee | Package price above (verified live) — this is what Legal Munshi charges for its service. |
| Government fee | Shown per package above when verified.Government fee varies by licence type and turnover slab. NOT CONFIGURED in catalogue — confirmed item-wise before payment. |
| Taxes | As applicable on the professional-fee invoice — shown before payment, never hidden. |
| Add-ons | Only admin-configured add-ons in the calculator below; nothing invented at checkout. |
What you get
- Dedicated expert & single point of contact
- 100% online document vault
- Application drafting & multiple review
- Government filing & fee coordination
- Real-time status tracking dashboard
- Certificate delivery & digital storage
- Final certificate/outcome: e-IEC certificate
Eligibility & applicability
5 criteria- A legally established business entity
- Premises proof — ownership, rent agreement or NOC
- KYC of owner / directors
- Category-specific documents (layout, food list, scope…)
- PAN-linked bank account of the business
Documents required
Provided by you (the applicant) unless noted. Accepted formats: clear phone scans or PDFs — your expert verifies each file before filing.
Mandatory (3)
PAN & Aadhaar of owner/directors
Required- Format:
- Clear scan / PDF / JPG
- Provided by:
- Customer / applicant
- Self-attested
Photograph of applicant
Required- Format:
- Clear scan / PDF / JPG
- Provided by:
- Customer / applicant
- Passport size
Premises proof
Required- Format:
- Clear scan / PDF / JPG
- Provided by:
- Customer / applicant
- Rent agreement / sale deed / NOC + utility bill
Conditional / optional (3)
Business registration proof
OptionalGST certificate / firm registration / COI
Category-specific annexures
OptionalLayout plan, food category list, water test report, equipment list etc.
Cancelled cheque
OptionalBusiness bank account
Step-by-step: Import Export Code (IEC) journey
- Step 1Data / Form
PAN & entity verification
Day 1
Verify entity PAN and authorised signatory details.
- Step 2Data / Form
Bank proof preparation
Day 1-2
Bank certificate or cancelled cheque in prescribed format.
- Step 3Documents
File ANF-2A on DGFT portal
Day 2-3
Application with DSC and INR 500 government fee paid online.
- Step 4Approval
Regional Authority approval
Day 3-5
Auto/digital approval; discrepancies clarified immediately.
- Step 5Approval
e-IEC certificate
1-3 working days
Lifetime-valid IEC certificate delivered — no renewal needed.
Timeline & SLA
Our professional work
1-3 working days
Drafting, review & filing by our team.
Authority-controlled time
Varies — never promised
Registrations, examinations & approvals depend on Licensing authority workload.
Dependencies
Complete documents, prompt OTP/e-sign responses and query replies keep the file moving.
Estimate your cost
Base = verified package price. Add-ons come from admin-controlled rules — nothing hardcoded.
Estimated total
INR 2,799
Estimate only. Government fees and taxes are confirmed item-wise before payment. Taxes as applicable.
Check your eligibility
1/4Question 1 of 4
Which best describes you or your organisation?
Real-time application journey
The same status vocabulary you'll see in your dashboard once your application begins — tap each stage to see your responsibilities and who acts.
Your application journey
The same status vocabulary used in your dashboard once you order — no conflicting systems.
Tap any stage to see exactly what you must do — and what Legal Munshi handles.
Import Export Code (IEC) vs alternatives
An honest comparison so you pick the structure that fits your stage. Not sure? Book a free consultation.
| Factor | Import Export Code (IEC) | FSSAI Food License ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade | An FSSAI license or FoSCoS registration legally authorises food manufacturing, storage, transport, packaging or sale anywhere in India |
| Starting professional fee | INR 1,499 | INR 999 |
| Typical professional timeline | 1-3 working days | 15-45 working days |
| Complexity | Moderate | Moderate |
| Liability protection | Depends on structure | Depends on structure |
| Annual compliance burden | Per activity | Per activity |
| Factor | Import Export Code (IEC) | Udyam / MSME Registration ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade | Udyam registration certifies your micro, small or medium enterprise, unlocking subsidies, tender preference, cheaper bank loans and protection under MSME law |
| Starting professional fee | INR 1,499 | INR 499 |
| Typical professional timeline | 1-3 working days | Same day |
| Complexity | Moderate | Moderate |
| Liability protection | Depends on structure | Depends on structure |
| Annual compliance burden | Per activity | Per activity |
FAQs about Import Export Code (IEC)
The basics (8)
IEC is a PAN-based 10-digit code mandatory for importing into or exporting from India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Learn from “How long does the complete process take?” — read the full answer below before you apply.
- Learn from “What if my application gets rejected or objected to?” — read the full answer below before you apply.
- Submitting Import Export Code (IEC) with mismatched names across PAN, Aadhaar and address proof — the single most common cause of queries.
- Choosing the wrong category, class or form on day one and paying twice to correct it later.
- Ignoring the first query notice instead of replying with evidence within the deadline.
How we prevent them: document verification before filing, category/class checks, and written query replies with evidence.
Rejections, queries & risks
- What if my application gets rejected or objected to?
- Legal Munshi is not the government and cannot promise authority-controlled timelines or approvals. Professional work is guaranteed; authority decisions are not.
Compliance & renewal
- Do you provide support after completion?
- Does IEC need renewal?
Guides on Import Export Code (IEC)
Written and reviewed by the same practising experts who prepare and file your application.
Import Export Code (IEC): Who Needs It and How to Get It
The IEC is the ten-digit code every importer and exporter in India needs. Here is the process and the common pitfalls.
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