Do IEC certificates expire?

No, IEC (Importer Exporter Code) certificates do not expire. Once issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), an IEC is valid for a lifetime and does not require periodic renewal. Whether you are an individual, proprietorship firm, company, or any other legal entity, the 10-digit IEC remains permanent unless it is voluntarily surrendered, canceled by DGFT, or deactivated due to non-compliance with update requirements.

However, as per DGFT’s latest mandate, all IEC holders must update their IEC details annually—even if there are no changes. This update should be done online on the DGFT portal between April and June each year. Failure to do so can lead to the deactivation of the IEC, although it can be reactivated later by updating the required information.

This annual update ensures that DGFT maintains up-to-date records and that the IEC holder remains compliant with trade regulations. The process is simple, free of charge, and can be completed online through the IEC profile on the DGFT portal.

In summary, while the IEC certificate never technically expires, maintaining its active status requires compliance with the annual update requirement. Neglecting this obligation doesn’t invalidate the IEC permanently but can restrict its usage until it is revalidated. Therefore, timely updates are crucial to avoid disruptions in import-export operations.