IEC explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
An Importer Exporter Code does not expire, but it deactivates. Every holder must update it between April and June each year — and the requirement applies whether or not anything has changed. That single annual step is the most commonly missed compliance in the whole FTP framework.
Every exporter or importer must obtain an IEC on the DGFT portal. "The IEC must be annually updated by its holders between April and June, as per Notification number 58/2015-2020 dated February 12, 2021. Failure to update the IEC within the stipulated timeframe may result in its deactivation." The IEC is PAN-specific, and only one IEC can be granted to a PAN holder. Alongside it sit the RCMC from an Export Promotion Council, the e-Certificate of Origin, and the e-BRC / EDPMS / IDPMS systems that link DGFT, Customs and the RBI.
The IEC, and what can be modified
One code per PAN. "The IEC is specific to a PAN holder, and only one IEC can be granted to a PAN holder."
The annual update is unconditional. It is done "through the IEC profile management on the DGFT portal", and the Handbook is blunt about the consequence — deactivation — so "businesses must adhere to the deadline."
What can be changed:
- Entity name
- Address
- Bank details
- Directors, partners, or members' information
- Branch details
Branch details matter beyond the IEC itself. Under the EPCG scheme, transferring capital goods between units requires "that both the addresses are mentioned in IEC and RCMC" — so an unrecorded branch can block an unrelated scheme benefit. EPCG scheme →
The RCMC
The Registration-cum-Membership Certificate is "a pivotal document for Indian exporters, primarily serving to authenticate their registration with a designated Export Promotion Council (EPC) or other authorized entity."
Its purpose is twofold — "to verify compliance with regulatory standards and facilitate eligibility for various government incentives and programs."
It is a gateway document, not a formality. The RoSCTL claim, for instance, requires "Valid RCMC" among only three documents. Without it, several scheme applications simply cannot be filed.
IEC holders register for the RCMC through the unified DGFT portal, with "amendment, renewal, and related processes" executed electronically thereafter.
The e-Certificate of Origin
An e-COO is "a digital document that verifies the country of origin of a product", significant because "customs authorities frequently require it to ascertain tariffs, duties, and ensure compliance with trade agreements" and because it "can be utilized to claim tariff reductions or other benefits under specific trade agreements."
Obtained online at coo.dgft.gov.in.
And FTP 2023 added self-certification. Manufacturers who are also Three Star, Four Star or Five Star status holders "will be enabled to self-certify their manufactured goods as originating from India" to qualify for preferential treatment under PTAs, FTAs, CECAs and CEPAs — with the policy's headline change being a "Self-certified Certificate of Origin with automatic approval."
How DGFT, Customs and the RBI see the same data
The Handbook describes an ecosystem in which the three agencies are "interconnected… primarily through the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and associated regulations" — DGFT sets policy, Customs enforces it, and the RBI regulates the foreign exchange.
Four mechanisms do the linking:
1. e-BRC (Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate). "Banks directly transmit Inward Remittance Messages (IRMs) to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), confirming the receipt of export proceeds by exporters… This streamlined process facilitates various export promotion schemes."
2. EDPMS (Export Data Processing and Monitoring System). "The Reserve Bank of India has developed the EDPMS for monitoring export data and facilitating Authorized Dealer (AD) banks in reporting returns to the DGFT."
3. IDPMS (Import Data Processing and Monitoring System). "Similar to the EDPMS, the IDPMS tracks import transactions through the banking system. Customs modifies the Bill of Entry format to display the AD Code of the bank."
4. API Message Exchange. DGFT has established API exchange "with CBIC (for Import Export Certificates, authorizations, shipping bills, and bills of entry), CBDT (for PAN-related services), RBI (for Export Realisation details), and other agencies."
The practical significance is that inconsistency is now visible by default. A shipping bill filed with Customs, a remittance reported by the bank, and a scheme claim made to DGFT are matched automatically — which is why realisation conditions have become the commonest ground of scheme clawback.
And realisation is a condition, not a formality. Under RoSCTL, "All benefits received… must be returned with a 15% annual interest if the sales proceeds are not realized within the specified time." RoSCTL →
The dashboard, and where policy stops and procedure begins
"A customized online dashboard is available for Exporters/Importers at https://dgft.gov.in/CP."
And the division of labour is stated plainly: "Policy formulation is done by the Central Government (Ministry of Commerce), while procedure specification is done by the DGFT." To facilitate trade, "the DGFT consults Export Promotional Councils and trade and industries bodies." FTP against HBP →
Key takeaways
- One IEC per PAN, obtained on the DGFT portal.
- The IEC must be updated annually between April and June — Notification No. 58/2015-2020 dated 12.02.2021 — or it is deactivated.
- Entity name, address, bank details, directors/partners, and branch details are the modifiable elements.
- Unrecorded branch addresses in the IEC and RCMC can block scheme benefits such as EPCG inter-unit transfers.
- The RCMC authenticates EPC registration and gates several scheme claims.
- The e-COO at coo.dgft.gov.in supports preferential tariff claims; Three Star and above manufacturers may self-certify origin.
- e-BRC transmits bank realisation messages directly to DGFT; EDPMS and IDPMS monitor export and import data; API exchange links DGFT with CBIC, CBDT and the RBI.
- Non-realisation of proceeds triggers clawback of scheme benefits — under RoSCTL, with 15% annual interest.
Read next
- FTP 2023: The Legal Framework, and FTP Against HBP
- Status Holder Scheme: Thresholds, Privileges and Double Weightage
- RoSCTL for Apparel and Made-Ups
Disclaimer: Positions stated as on 5 September 2026, based on the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, DGFT Notification No. 58/2015-2020 dated 12 February 2021 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, as reproduced in the ICAI Handbook on Foreign Trade Policy – Incentives, Schemes & Related FAQs (November 2025, 2nd Edition).