Every company involved in the import-export business shall obtain an IEC( Import Export Code) by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Without an import-export registration, a company will not be able to make any export or import in the country unless specified otherwise by the DGFT. Earlier, the filing for IEC was only available in physical mode, but in 2020, e-filing was introduced by the DGFT. The applicant can download and get a print of import-export certificate in case of online filing quickly and use it without any hassle. The procedure for obtaining such a certificate is discussed in this article.

Meaning of IEC

The IEC or the Import-Export code is a ten-digit business identification number to be used mandatorily for any export or import in India, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

With the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax Act in 2017, the Import-Export code has been shifted to a PAN-based Import Export Code through an amendment by the DGFT. It means that instead of getting a separate Import Export code,  the PAN of the company can be used as Import Export Code upon registration. During processing an application for import-export business registration to the DGFT, the PAN will be recorded as the IEC. This amendment has made the system more simple for all businesses.

Procedure to Obtain a Print of Import Export Certificate 

Following are the steps that need to be followed to download and get a print of the import export certificate:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade^[1] 

Step 2: Click on ” Apply for IEC” and then fill in the required details along with Captcha.

Step 3: After filling in the details, an OTP will be sent to the mobile number and e-mail id as  mentioned in the box

Step 4: Enter the OTP as received on the mobile number, and the registration will be completed.

Step 5: After the registration is done, the applicant can go to the “Services” menu and click on the IEC profile management option

Step 6: The applicant will be directed to the IEC profile management to find the ” Print IEC” option.

Step 7: Click on the Print IEC option to download the PDF version of the import-export certificate. 

Conclusion

It is mandatory for all the companies involved in foreign markets to obtain an import and export certificate by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The procedure to obtain such a  certificate is elementary and does not require renewal. Companies can avail various benefits and avoid penalties attracted by the absence of the IEC code through the import export certificate.

Read our article:Procedure to Obtain Print of Import Export Certificate