Who will issue an IEC certificate?

The Importer Exporter Code (IEC) certificate in India is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The DGFT is the designated authority responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to foreign trade, including the issuance and regulation of IECs.

The IEC is a 10-digit unique code required by any individual or business intending to engage in import or export activities from India. The process of obtaining this certificate is fully online and centralized through the DGFT’s official portal at www.dgft.gov.in. Applications are not processed by physical offices; instead, they are reviewed and approved digitally by the DGFT’s centralized system.

When an applicant submits the online IEC application form—complete with PAN details, business information, and required documents such as bank details and address proof—the DGFT portal validates the information. After successful verification and fee payment of ₹500, the DGFT system issues the IEC certificate, usually within 1 to 2 working days.

The certificate is issued in digital format and sent to the applicant’s registered email. It can also be downloaded anytime from the DGFT portal. No physical copy is provided by DGFT, as the entire process is paperless and electronic. The certificate remains valid for a lifetime, subject to annual updates.

In short, DGFT is the sole issuing authority for IEC certificates in India through its online platform.