Important Documents Required for IEC Code (2026 Checklist)

The documents required for IEC code registration are short in number but exact in form. Every application needs three things: PAN, proof of business address, and proof of a current bank account. What changes is the supporting paperwork, and that depends entirely on your entity type.

Get the format wrong and DGFT does not always reject outright – it returns the application for deficiency, which costs you days. The checklists below are the ones we actually use.

Documents Required for IEC Code by Entity Type

Entity type	Documents required	Signing method
Proprietorship	Proprietor’s PAN; Aadhaar; passport-size photograph; address proof of business premises; cancelled cheque or bank certificate of the current account	Aadhaar e-Sign or OTP – no DSC needed
Partnership firm	Firm’s PAN; partnership deed; PAN and Aadhaar of the signing partner; address proof; cancelled cheque of the firm’s current account	Class 3 DSC of the authorised partner
LLP	LLP’s PAN; Certificate of Incorporation; LLP agreement; PAN and Aadhaar of the designated partner; address proof; cancelled cheque	Class 3 DSC of the designated partner
Private Limited / Public Limited	Company PAN; Certificate of Incorporation; MOA and AOA; board resolution or authorisation letter; PAN and Aadhaar of the authorised director; address proof; cancelled cheque	Class 3 DSC of the authorised director
Trust / Society / Section 8	Entity PAN; registration certificate; trust deed or bye-laws; PAN and Aadhaar of the authorised signatory; address proof; cancelled cheque	Class 3 DSC of the authorised signatory

Is GST registration required for an IEC code?

No. GST registration is not a prerequisite for obtaining an IEC. DGFT does not ask for a GSTIN in the IEC application, and you can hold an IEC without being GST-registered.

But read the second half of that answer carefully. You will need GST to actually trade. A GSTIN is required to claim IGST credit on imports, to export under LUT or with refund, and to complete AD Code registration and ICEGATE registration in most practical setups. So GST is not required for the IEC – it is required for what you plan to do with the IEC.

Acceptable address proof

DGFT accepts any one of the following, provided it shows the business name and the premises address:

Sale deed where the premises are owned.
Registered rent or lease agreement, current and in the entity’s name.
Electricity, telephone, mobile or landline bill for the premises.
Municipal or property tax receipt.
Bank statement or passbook page showing the address.

If the premises are in a director’s or partner’s personal name, add a No Objection Certificate from that person along with their address proof. This is the second commonest deficiency after bank proof.

Bank proof: the document that causes most rejections

DGFT accepts a cancelled cheque or a bank certificate in the prescribed format, drawn on the entity’s current account. In our experience this is where most applications stumble:

Name mismatch. The account holder name on the cheque must match the entity name on the PAN exactly. “M/s” prefixes, abbreviated words and missing suffixes all cause rejection.
Savings account instead of current. A proprietor’s personal savings account is frequently submitted and is not acceptable.
Unprinted cheque. A cheque leaf without the printed account holder name cannot be used – request a bank certificate instead.
Illegible IFSC or account number. Scan quality matters; the portal reviewer is reading a compressed upload.
Closed or dormant account. The account must be live at the time of application.

Upload format requirements

Documents must be uploaded in PDF or JPEG/JPG.
Keep each file small and legible – the portal enforces per-file size limits and over-sized scans fail silently.
Scan in colour where the document carries a seal or signature.
Photographs should be passport-size and recent.
Do not upload password-protected PDFs. They are treated as unreadable.

What you do not need

A GST certificate – as explained above, not required for the IEC itself.
A shop and establishment licence – not a DGFT requirement.
Physical submission of anything. The entire IEC process is online; there is no hard-copy filing.
Import or export contracts. DGFT does not ask for evidence of trade before issuing an IEC.
A minimum turnover or capital. There is no threshold.

How JPARKS INDIA Helps With Documents Required for IEC Code

JPARKS INDIA Pvt. Ltd. files IEC applications for proprietors, partnerships, LLPs and companies from our Vashi, Navi Mumbai office. We know the exact documents required for IEC code for every entity type, and we check them before filing, which is why our applications rarely come back for deficiency.

Pre-filing document review against the exact checklist for your entity type, including name-match verification on bank proof.
Complete IEC registration filed and signed correctly, typically issued within 1 to 3 working days – see IEC code activation cost for pricing.
Class 3 DSC issuance and DGFT registration where your entity type requires it.
Deficiency resolution where DGFT has already returned an application.
Trade-readiness beyond the IEC – AD Code, ICEGATE and product compliance handled in the same engagement, plus the annual update you will need every year.

Call or WhatsApp +91 9167379073 and we will tell you exactly what is missing.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Q1. What documents are required for IEC code?

Every application needs the entity’s PAN, proof of the business address, and a cancelled cheque or bank certificate for a current account. Companies, LLPs and partnerships additionally need incorporation or constitution documents and the PAN and Aadhaar of the authorised signatory.

Q2. What documents are required for IEC code for a proprietorship?

The proprietor’s PAN, Aadhaar, a passport-size photograph, address proof of the business premises, and a cancelled cheque or bank certificate for the current account. A proprietor can sign with Aadhaar e-Sign and does not need a DSC.

Q3. Is GST required for an IEC code?

No. GST registration is not required to obtain an IEC. However, you will generally need a GSTIN to claim IGST credit on imports, to export under LUT, and to complete AD Code and ICEGATE registration.

Q4. Can I use a savings account for IEC registration?

No. DGFT requires a current account in the name of the business entity. This is one of the most common reasons proprietorship applications are returned.

Q5. Do I need a rent agreement if the office is in my own name?

If the premises are held personally by a director or partner rather than by the entity, submit a No Objection Certificate from that person along with their address proof.

Q6. How long does IEC registration take once documents are ready?

Typically 1 to 3 working days, and often within 24 hours where the application is clean and correctly signed.

Related guides

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