Activate my IEC is the most common search from traders whose code has lapsed, so here is exactly what you need. To activate my IEC, or any IEC, you need an active PAN, valid bank account details, updated business address proof, a working email and mobile number, and a Digital Signature Certificate or Aadhaar e-Sign for authentication. The process to activate my IEC is done online on the DGFT portal, and the IEC usually becomes active within 1 to 3 working days.
Most people who want to activate your IEC are in one of two situations. Either you are setting up a new IEC, or your IEC has been deactivated because the mandatory annual update was missed. This guide covers both, with the exact documents, the step by step process, and the fee rules so there are no surprises.
Since FY 2021 to 2022, the DGFT requires every IEC holder to update and confirm their IEC details once a year, between 1st April and 30th June. This is mandatory even when nothing about your business has changed. If you miss this window, your IEC is automatically deactivated and the deactivated status is transmitted to Customs (ICEGATE), which means your shipments will not clear and your bank will not process international trade payments until you reactivate it.
The good news is that deactivation is never permanent. You can reactivate your IEC at any time by completing the pending update on the DGFT portal, and there is no penalty or late fee for doing it after the deadline. Every day it stays deactivated, though, is a day you cannot trade, so it pays to act quickly.
To activate your IEC, keep the following ready before you log in:
If you are only confirming existing details with no changes, you generally do not need to upload fresh documents. You simply review and confirm what is already on record.
Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement. Your IEC status is restored to active and the updated status is transmitted to Customs, usually within 1 to 3 working days. You can then download the fresh digitally signed IEC certificate from the portal.
This is where many businesses get confused, so here is the accurate position. The annual IEC update or confirmation is completely free when completed within the April to June window and when you are only confirming details with no changes. A fee of Rs. 200 applies only when you are modifying details such as address, bank account, or directors. There is no government late fee for updating after 30th June, only the risk of trade disruption while the IEC sits deactivated.
Once your IEC shows as active on DGFT, the status flows to ICEGATE and Customs automatically. If your IEC is active on DGFT but still not reflecting on ICEGATE after a few days, that usually points to a separate ICEGATE or AD Code registration issue rather than a problem with your IEC itself. If you changed your bank account during the update, you may also need to refresh your AD Code registration so that duty drawbacks and IGST refunds continue reaching the correct account.
Set a reminder every year for April so your annual update is done well before the 30th June deadline. Keep your registered email and mobile current, because every authentication step depends on OTPs reaching you. Confirming early also helps you avoid the portal congestion that builds up near the deadline.
If you would rather not handle the portal, documents, and authentication yourself, our team at JPARKS INDIA manages the process to activate your IEC and complete the annual update end to end, with the same speed whether it is a simple confirmation or a full modification.
Learn more about IEC Renewal and the full annual update process.
Read what happens if your IEC is not updated till 30th June.
To activate your IEC you need an active PAN, current bank account details in the firm name with IFSC, updated business address proof, a registered email and mobile number, DGFT login credentials, and a valid DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign for authentication. The entire process is completed online on the DGFT portal.
Log in to the DGFT portal, go to IEC Profile Management, select Update or Modify IEC, review and confirm your details, authenticate with DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign, and submit. The annual update declaration is what reactivates the code, usually within 1 to 3 working days.
The annual IEC update is free when done within the April to June window with no changes. A fee of Rs. 200 applies only when you modify details such as address, bank account, or directors. There is no government late fee for updating after 30th June.
After you submit the update on the DGFT portal, the IEC status is usually restored to active within 1 to 3 working days, and the updated status is transmitted to Customs automatically.
Yes. Every IEC holder must log in and confirm details on the DGFT portal between 1st April and 30th June each year, even when no business details have changed. Non-submission results in automatic deactivation.
Yes. The DGFT portal allows updates even after the deadline, and there is no penalty or late fee. Once you submit the update successfully, your IEC is automatically reactivated, though trade stays frozen until then.
