Can I apply for IEC online? Yes, you can, entirely on your own, and there is no offline route any more. The Importer Exporter Code is issued only through the DGFT portal, so there is no government office to visit, no physical form to post, and no in-person verification to sit through. If you have a PAN, a bank account in the entity name, and basic address proof, you can start and finish the application from your own desk.
That is the short answer. Below we explain what that actually means for you, what you can comfortably do yourself, and the few situations where it is worth having someone handle it.
It genuinely is. You create a login on the DGFT portal using your PAN, email, and mobile, verify with an OTP, fill in your business and bank details, upload your documents, pay the Rs. 500 government fee online, and sign digitally with Aadhaar e-Sign or a Digital Signature Certificate. The certificate then comes back to you on the portal, usually within a couple of working days, with no paperwork changing hands. For the exact click by click, see our full how to apply IEC online guide.
Honestly, if you are asking can I apply for IEC online by myself, the answer for many people is yes. If you are a proprietor or a straightforward business with your PAN, bank proof, and address documents in order, and the name on your PAN matches everywhere, self filing on the portal is perfectly doable and costs you only the Rs. 500 government fee.
Where people tend to get stuck is the detail. A name that does not exactly match the PAN database, an address proof not in the firm name without the right No Objection Certificate, a company or LLP that needs a Class 3 DSC, or a blurry upload that fails verification, any of these can bounce the application and cost you the fee a second time. If your case has any of those wrinkles, or you simply would rather not risk the back and forth, that is when handing it over makes sense.
Individuals, proprietors, partnership firms, LLPs, companies, trusts, HUFs, and societies can all apply online, as long as there is a valid PAN and a bank account in the applicant name. Only one IEC is issued per PAN. To check whether your specific situation qualifies, see who is eligible for an IEC code.
If you would rather skip the portal entirely, JParks India files your IEC registration end to end for a flat all-inclusive fee, checks every document before submission so it does not get rejected, and hands you the finished certificate. Call or WhatsApp +91 9167379073 to get started.
Yes. The entire IEC application is digital on the DGFT portal, from registration to payment to the digitally signed certificate. There is no offline or in-person route.
Yes, if your documents are in order and your PAN name matches everywhere. A consultant is mainly useful when there are complications such as a DSC requirement, a name mismatch, or a NOC for the address.
No. There is no office visit and no physical verification at the application stage. Everything is completed on the DGFT portal.
The e-IEC certificate is usually issued within 1 to 2 working days after the application is verified.
The government fee is a flat Rs. 500 if you file yourself. See our cost of IEC license guide for the full breakdown of every charge.
