Zum Inhalt springen

Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) | Freight-Academy™

IEC(

GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)

Any entity wishing to import or export goods through Indian customs must hold a valid Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)—a unique ten-digit identifier issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Quick Answer

Any entity wishing to import or export goods through Indian customs must hold a valid Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)—a unique ten-digit identifier issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade…

The IEC is mandatory on every customs clearance declaration and serves as the primary reference by which Indian customs authorities and the Reserve Bank of India track all cross-border trade…

Without a valid IEC, goods cannot be cleared through customs, nor can foreign currency payments be processed through the banking system.

Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.dgft.gov.in/

Category

Logistics Concept

Reading time

1 min

Words

122

Mentioned in

–

Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)

Related links1 Bereiche/Sections • 5 Links▾

Navigation

Glossary overview
News
Information
Tools
Transport cost calculator

Definition & Explanation

Any entity wishing to import or export goods through Indian customs must hold a valid Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)—a unique ten-digit identifier issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The IEC is mandatory on every customs clearance declaration and serves as the primary reference by which Indian customs authorities and the Reserve Bank of India track all cross-border trade transactions of a given business or individual. Without a valid IEC, goods cannot be cleared through customs, nor can foreign currency payments be processed through the banking system. The code is obtained through a one-time application and does not expire, though periodic digital renewal confirmation is required. It should not be confused with the GST Identification Number (GSTIN), which serves tax purposes.

Next steps

Matching tools and partners

Calculate customs valueWork out import duties and customs valueOpen Find HS codeDetermine the tariff number for customsOpen Compare IncotermsClarify duties, cost and riskOpen Find a matching partnerFreight forwarders and logistics partners worldwideOpen

Related Terms

You might also be interested in these terms

eVV (electronic assessment decision)

The eVV (elektronische Veranlagungsverfügung, electronic assessment decision) is the Swiss customs (BAZG) digital record of a comp…

Customs regulation

When goods cross a border, customs regulation comes into play: it is the statutory framework governing the conditions for import a…

Export-Import Data Management Systems

A freight forwarder discovers moments before filing that the commodity code on the commercial invoice doesn't match the system ent…

Export Product Classification Systems

Export product classification systems give every traded commodity a standardized numeric code, allowing exporters, customs authori…

EU Customs Data Requirements

EU Customs Data Requirements are the mandatory information fields that the European Union prescribes for every customs declaration…

EU Customs Export Declaration

Exporting goods from the EU legally – and securing VAT exemption on the supply – requires an EU customs export declaration. The ex…

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Free · No password · Never a paywall. Weekly top news and facts from logistics.

I agree to my email being processed for the newsletter. Unsubscribe any time.

Cite this page

Writing a report, paper or LinkedIn post? Use one of these citation templates.

Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-exporter-code-iec), accessed 2026-09-26
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). Importer-Exporter Code (IEC). Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-exporter-code-iec
BibTeX: @misc{importerexportercodeiec2026, title = {Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-exporter-code-iec}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-26} }

Content reviewed and editorially cleared.

Community Questions & Answers

Share your knowledge, ask follow-up questions, or add practical insights to this page. Every contribution is moderated before publication.

No community answers yet. Be the first.

Every contribution is reviewed before publication. Your email is never shown publicly.