To reactivate your Importer Exporter Code (IEC) in India, follow these steps via the DGFT portal. IECs that haven’t been updated annually are deactivated as per DGFT guidelines, but you can reactivate them easily:
- Visit DGFT Portal:
Go to https://www.dgft.gov.in and log in using your registered credentials (PAN-based login). - Update IEC Details:
From the dashboard, select “Update IEC”. Review and confirm all existing details, including business address, contact, bank, and product/service categories. - Confirm Annual Update:
If your IEC was deactivated due to non-updation, you only need to submit the Annual IEC Update Declaration. Even if no changes are needed, submission is mandatory. - Submit and Sign:
After verifying, digitally sign the application using DSC or Aadhaar e-sign, and submit it. - Acknowledgement:
Once submitted, you’ll receive an acknowledgment and a fresh IEC certificate (if any changes were made). The IEC is instantly reactivated upon submission of the update.
Note:
There are no government fees for IEC updates or reactivation. It’s advisable to keep your IEC updated every year between April and June, even if there are no changes, to avoid deactivation in the future.
This process is entirely online and can usually be completed within a few minutes.