The cost of IEC code activation is one of the first questions importers and exporters ask when their Import Export Code goes inactive. The straight answer is that the government charges no fee to activate or reactivate an IEC through the DGFT portal when you complete the mandatory annual update. The confusion online comes from mixing up four separate things: the free annual update, the Rs 200 modification fee, the Rs 500 new registration fee, and optional professional assistance. This page separates all four so you know exactly what IEC code activation costs in your situation.
No. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) does not charge any government fee to activate or reactivate an IEC when you complete the annual update or confirmation. If your IEC was deactivated because you missed the annual update window, you reactivate it simply by logging in to the DGFT portal, confirming or updating your details, and submitting the form. The IEC is reactivated automatically once the update is processed. There is no separate reactivation charge for this.
This is the single most misunderstood point about IEC code activation cost. Many pages quote Rs 500 or Rs 200, but those figures apply to different actions, not to reactivating a deactivated IEC through the annual update.
Your IEC code activation is completely free in these cases:
Annual update within April to June. Every IEC holder must update or confirm their IEC details once each financial year between April 1 and June 30, even when nothing has changed. Completing this within the window carries no government fee and keeps your IEC active.
Reactivating a deactivated IEC by completing the overdue update. If your IEC was deactivated only because the annual update was missed, you reactivate it by completing that update online. DGFT auto reactivates the IEC on successful submission, with no separate government fee.
There are situations people confuse with activation that do carry a government fee:
Modification of IEC details. If you are changing your business address, bank details, name, or other particulars, that is a modification, and DGFT charges Rs 200 for it. This is an amendment fee, not an activation fee, but it often gets bundled with reactivation when details have changed. You can read more on our IEC Renewal service page.
New IEC registration. If you do not yet have an IEC and are applying for the first time, the government fee is Rs 500. This is registration, not activation, and the two are frequently mixed up in online guides. If you need a fresh code, you can apply for IEC online with our team.
So if someone tells you IEC activation costs Rs 500, they are quoting the new registration fee. If they say Rs 200, they are quoting the modification fee. Pure reactivation through the annual update is free.
Handling IEC code activation yourself on the DGFT portal is free apart from any applicable modification fee. Many businesses still choose a professional consultant to avoid portal errors, OTP and DSC issues, and shipment delays at customs. A consultant typically charges a service fee for filing the update, verifying your registered email and mobile, linking PAN and GST where needed, and tracking the application until your IEC shows as active.
At JPARKS INDIA, our IEC Activation Assistance service is available for Rs. 1,700/-. This fee is separate from the Rs. 200 government modification fee, which applies only if there have been changes to your IEC details.
With over 40 years of experience in EXIM compliance, we ensure your IEC reactivation is completed accurately and efficiently the first time, helping you avoid unnecessary delays and ensuring your consignments move without disruption.
Once you submit the annual update on the DGFT portal, reactivation is usually automatic and immediate, with the updated active status transmitted to the Customs system shortly after. Where DGFT verification is involved, it can take up to a few working days. Because the April to June window gets congested, completing your update early avoids portal slowdowns and last minute problems. If your code is currently down, see our guide on the IEC renewal and reactivation process.
A deactivated IEC stops your business cold. Customs will not clear your import or export consignments, banks will not process international trade payments, and pending export incentive claims can be frozen. Keeping your AD Code registration and ICEGATE registration in order alongside an active IEC is what lets shipments clear without delay. Reactivating costs nothing in government fees when done through the annual update, so there is no reason to leave an IEC inactive. The safest habit is to complete the update every year between April and June, even when nothing has changed.
If your IEC is deactivated and you want it reactivated without errors or delays, our team handles the full process for you. We confirm your details, file the update, and track it until your IEC is active. Learn more about our IEC Renewal service, or if you need a fresh code, apply for IEC online. You can also verify the official rules directly on the DGFT portal.
No. DGFT does not charge a government fee to activate or reactivate an IEC when you complete the annual update or confirmation on the portal. Reactivation is automatic on successful submission.
Reactivating a deactivated IEC through the overdue annual update is free of government fee. A Rs 200 modification fee applies only if you are also changing details like address or bank account. Professional assistance, if you choose it, is charged separately.
No. The Rs 500 fee is for new IEC registration, not activation. Activating or reactivating an existing IEC through the annual update carries no government fee.
You must update or confirm your IEC every financial year between April 1 and June 30. Missing this window deactivates the IEC, and you reactivate it by completing the overdue update.
It is usually immediate and automatic once you submit the annual update, though DGFT verification can add a few working days in some cases.
