Your Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is issued electronically by DGFT, and you may need a copy of the e-IEC for trade-related or business processes. This guide shows how to download the IEC certificate (e-IEC) from the DGFT portal, how to print it, and what to do if you can’t find it. New to IEC? Here’s how DGFT and IEC differ.
Log in to the DGFT portal, open Manage IEC, and use Print Certificate to download your IEC certificate. DGFT also emails the certificate to the email address used in the application when the IEC is issued, and again after a modification.
What Is the e-IEC?
The IEC is issued electronically after the online application, and an electronic copy can be downloaded from your DGFT dashboard (Handbook of Procedures 2023, paras 2.08(b) and 2.09). The IEC number is a 10-character alpha-numeric number. For a standard PAN-based IEC, it corresponds to the entity’s PAN and is separately issued by DGFT (FTP 2023, para 2.05).
Ways to Get Your IEC Certificate
| Option | When It Applies |
|---|---|
| Email from DGFT | When your IEC is issued, and again after an IEC modification. It goes to the email address used in the application. |
| Manage IEC → Print Certificate | Any time, after logging in to the DGFT portal with the IEC linked to your profile. |
Source: DGFT IEC Module User Help File V4.1, pp. 18 and 38.
How to Download Your IEC Certificate (Step by Step)
- Step 1: Log in to the DGFT portal
Go to the official DGFT website (https://www.dgft.gov.in) and log in with the account linked to your IEC. - Step 2: Open “Manage IEC”
From your dashboard, open Manage IEC for your IEC. - Step 3: Use “Print Certificate”
Click Print Certificate to generate the certificate, then save it as a PDF.
DGFT updates its portal from time to time, so labels may change slightly. To view your IEC details (rather than the certificate), use Services → IEC Profile Management → View IEC Profile.
Security note: Don’t share your DGFT password or OTP with anyone, including when someone is helping you download the certificate.
How to Print the IEC Certificate
Open the downloaded PDF and print it using your normal PDF-printing settings. Keep the PDF itself as your main copy.
Before You Download: Check That the IEC Is Valid
A certificate copy doesn’t tell you whether the IEC is still active. If you’re sharing it for a new transaction, first check whether your IEC is valid. IEC details must be updated on DGFT every April–June, and an IEC that isn’t updated will be deactivated (FTP 2023, para 2.05(d)–(e)).
Keep the Certificate Up to Date
If your address, bank account or other IEC details change, first update the IEC through the DGFT portal and then download the updated certificate. DGFT’s IEC manual states that the certificate is emailed after a modification and can also be downloaded through Manage IEC → Print Certificate. See how to change your IEC address or other details.
Important: the 30-day rule. The annual April–June IEC confirmation is separate from event-based modifications. If the firm’s constitution, address, bank details or other primary IEC details change, the IEC holder must update the IEC details online within 30 days of the change (Handbook of Procedures 2023, para 2.14(b)). Don’t wait for the next April–June window. For the yearly confirmation, see the annual IEC update.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Your IEC isn’t showing on the dashboard | Your login may not be linked to the IEC. Use Link IEC, enter the IEC number and complete the digital-signature step. |
| You forgot your DGFT password | Use Forgot Password on the DGFT login page and follow the one-time-password steps sent to your registered email/mobile. |
| You can’t find the email from DGFT | Check the email address used in the application (including spam), or download the certificate through Manage IEC → Print Certificate. |
| You don’t remember the IEC number | For a standard PAN-based IEC, the IEC number is the entity’s PAN. It is also in DGFT’s certificate email. For a legacy/numeric IEC, use your existing IEC records. |
| Details on the certificate are outdated | Update the IEC through Update/Modify IEC, then download the new certificate. |
| Your application hasn’t been issued yet | There is no certificate until the IEC is issued. Track your IEC application instead. |
Need help getting your IEC in order? Our team can help with a new IEC, the annual update or a modification. See our IEC renewal and update service, or leave your details in the form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I download my IEC certificate?
Log in to the DGFT portal, open Manage IEC and use Print Certificate. DGFT also emails the certificate when the IEC is issued and after a modification.
Is the IEC certificate issued as a physical document?
The IEC is issued electronically, and an electronic copy can be downloaded from your DGFT dashboard (HBP 2023, paras 2.08(b) and 2.09).
Can I download my IEC certificate without logging in?
The certificate-download route documented in DGFT’s current IEC manual requires logging in to the DGFT portal and uses Manage IEC → Print Certificate. The certificate is also sent to the email address used in the application. (DGFT’s separate “View IEC Related Details” facility shows IEC details; it isn’t a certificate download.)
Why is my IEC not showing in my DGFT account?
Your login may not be linked to the IEC. Use Link IEC, enter the IEC number and complete the digital-signature step.
I forgot my IEC number. How do I find it?
For a standard PAN-based IEC, the IEC number is the entity’s PAN. You can also find it in DGFT’s certificate email. If you have a legacy or numeric IEC, use your existing IEC records or the IEC details in your DGFT profile.
Does downloading a new copy change anything?
No. It is just a copy. To change details, update the IEC through Update/Modify IEC, within 30 days of the change (HBP 2.14(b)), then download the new certificate.
Is an IEC certificate the same as an import-export licence?
No. An IEC identifies an importer or exporter. It does not by itself authorise the import or export of goods that are subject to restrictions or require a separate authorisation or permission.
I haven’t got an IEC yet. Where do I start?
Apply for IEC registration. Once the IEC is issued, you can download the certificate as above.
Sources
- DGFT, IEC Module User Help File V4.1 (updated Feb 2026): certificate email, Manage IEC → Print Certificate, View IEC Profile, Link IEC, Forgot Password.
- DGFT, Handbook of Procedures 2023: paras 2.08(b), 2.09 (e-IEC download), 2.10 (validity), 2.14(b) (30-day modification rule).
- DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2: para 2.05 (IEC = PAN), 2.05(d)–(e) (annual updation, deactivation).
