To update your IEC code, log in at the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in). Go to Services → IEC Profile Management → Update/Modify IEC, check every section, and sign with a Class 3 DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign OTP. The annual update is free and has to be filed between 1 April and 30 June every year, even if nothing has changed. If your IEC was deactivated because you missed that window, you file the same update. There's no separate reactivation form, and DGFT says the IEC "shall be activated again" once the update goes through.
Yeh page tumhare liye hai if you're a first-time exporter of a GI or ODOP product (Guntur chillies, Araku coffee, makhana, wooden toys) and ICEGATE has just rejected your shipping bill, or your bank is holding a foreign payment. Neeche the exact path, the February 2026 bank-check rule behind a lot of failed updates, and how to verify any IEC, yours or a supplier's.
TL;DR (as of 1 November 2026): Open the IEC Profile Management page on DGFT and file Update/Modify IEC. The annual confirmation costs ₹0. The 2026 window closed on 30 June 2026 and no extension was announced, so if you didn't file, your IEC is most likely deactivated. File now to reactivate it, then confirm the status on View Any IEC.
Why everyone is searching "how to update IEC code" right now
Google Trends data fetched on 1 November 2026 shows searches for "how to update iec code" up +450% over the past 7 days. "How to activate iec code online" is up +100%, "verify iec code" +70%, and both "how to activate iec code" and "check iec code" +50%.
We couldn't find a new DGFT notice on IECs from October 2026. The most recent trade notice, 33/2026-27 dated 30 October 2026, is about the RELIEF export scheme. The spike most likely has three causes:
- IECs deactivated after the 30 June 2026 deadline. Exporters who missed the window are finding out only now, when customs or their bank blocks a shipment or payment.
- DGFT has run autumn deactivation drives before. According to export promotion council circulars, DGFT flagged about 59,000 non-updated IECs in September 2025 and deactivated them from 16 September 2025. Earlier drives started on 6 October 2021 and 6 December 2021. Check the trade notices on dgft.gov.in in case a new drive has started.
- The NPCI bank check is making updates fail. More on this below.
The rule: why you must update your IEC every year
An IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) is a 10-digit code issued by DGFT under the Ministry of Commerce. It's valid for life, but it has to be confirmed every year. Para 2.05(d) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 says IEC details must be "updated electronically every year, during the April-June period", even when nothing has changed. Para 2.05(e) says an IEC that isn't updated gets deactivated. The rule first came in through DGFT Notification 58/2015-20 on 12 February 2021.
Renewal vs update vs modification vs reactivation
| Term | What it actually means | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal | A popular term for the annual update. There's no separate "renewal" form because the IEC never expires. | ₹0 |
| Annual update | Confirming your details between 1 April and 30 June, even if nothing has changed | ₹0 (Public Notice 49/2015-20, as cited by Skydo) |
| Modification | Changing your address, bank account, directors/partners or branches through the same Update/Modify IEC route | Guides contradict each other (₹0 vs ₹200). Check the amount shown on the portal before you pay. |
| Reactivation | Filing the pending update on a deactivated IEC. It goes active again once the update is successful. | No late fee mentioned by DGFT |
| New IEC | First-time application | ₹500 |
How to update IEC code: step-by-step on DGFT
Pehle yeh ready rakho: your PAN and IEC number, a Class 3 DSC or Aadhaar linked to your current mobile number (for the e-Sign OTP), your current address proof, partner/director details, and the details of every active bank account linked to your PAN.
- Log in at dgft.gov.in. If you're new to the portal, register with your PAN and link your existing IEC to the account.
- Open IEC Profile Management (Services → IEC Profile Management) and click Update/Modify IEC.
- Check each section: firm details, partners/directors, branches and bank details. Correct anything that has changed. If nothing has changed, still go through every tab and save it.
- Bank section: declare every active bank account linked to your PAN. The name and PAN have to match the bank's records exactly (see the NPCI section below).
- Fill in the declaration, then sign with your DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign OTP and submit.
- Download the updated e-IEC and check that its status shows Active.
- Verify it on ICEGATE before you file your next shipping bill. Guides say customs can take 24–48 hours to show the change (that's not an official DGFT figure).
Stuck on a screen? DGFT's official IEC user manual (PDF) has screenshots of every tab.
The NPCI bank check: why your update keeps failing
Since Trade Notice 23/2025-26 (6 February 2026), DGFT checks your bank details against NPCI records in real time whenever an IEC is issued or modified. According to JurisHour's report on the notice, the check returns one of three results: Success, In Progress or Failed.
- One failure marks the application Deficient.
- A second failure gets it rejected.
- Applicants have to declare every active bank account linked to their PAN.
Practical fix: before you submit, compare your firm name exactly as it appears on the PAN card, the bank passbook and the IEC. "Sri Lakshmi Exports" vs "Shri Laxmi Exports" ka chhota sa difference bhi fail kara sakta hai. Get your bank to correct its record first, then file. Don't spend your one deficiency on a typo.
Also note: Public Notice 32/2025-26 (20 November 2025) merged form ANF-1A into a revised ANF-2A and allowed electronic verification of IEC details under HBP para 2.08 (TaxGuru summary). If an older guide mentions ANF-1A, it's out of date.
How to activate IEC code online (if it's deactivated)
No separate "activate" button exists. Reactivation simply means filing the update you missed:
- Log in at dgft.gov.in with the account your IEC is linked to.
- Go to IEC Profile Management → Update/Modify IEC.
- Complete every section, pass the NPCI bank check, and sign with DSC or Aadhaar OTP.
- Once the update is successful, DGFT reactivates the IEC.
- Check it on View Any IEC, wait for ICEGATE to sync (guides say 24–48 hours, some say longer), then refile your shipping bill or bill of entry.
Kitna time lagega? Third-party guides quote anything from 24 hours to 7 days, and DGFT doesn't publish a timeline. If you have a container booked, file the update as soon as you can and tell your CHA and buyer about a possible delay.
How to verify IEC code or check IEC status
On DGFT: View Any IEC
- Open View Any IEC. If the link doesn't open, go to dgft.gov.in → Services → View IEC Related Details → View Any IEC.
- Enter the 10-digit IEC, the first few letters of the firm name, and the captcha.
- The result shows the IEC status (active or deactivated) and whether the firm is on the Denied Entity List.
You can use this to check anyone, not just yourself. Before you pay an aggregator or merchant exporter who says they'll ship your Saharsa makhana under their IEC, run their code through View Any IEC.
On ICEGATE
Use "Check IE Code/BIN Status" on icegate.gov.in. This shows what customs sees, which is the status that decides whether your shipping bill goes through.
What a deactivated IEC costs a first-time ODOP exporter
- Customs clearance blocked: ICEGATE rejects shipping bills and bills of entry.
- Payments held: banks may hold inward remittances against an inactive IEC. Paise kaise aayenge if the bank won't release them?
- Benefits paused: RoDTEP, Advance Authorisation and EPCG benefits are on hold until the IEC is active again.
Hypothetically, suppose a ₹3 lakh consignment of Guntur chillies or Araku coffee is waiting at port. Every day of delay adds port and detention charges and strains your relationship with the buyer, all because of a free form that takes about 15 minutes.
Who needs to act, and who can skip
Act straight away if: you hold an IEC and didn't file between 1 April and 30 June 2026, you changed bank, address or partners recently, or a recent update came back "Deficient."
You can skip this if: you filed the 2026 update, it shows active on View Any IEC, and nothing has changed since. Just set a reminder for 1 April 2027.
Still planning your first export? A new IEC costs ₹500 and doesn't need GST registration. Once you have one, the annual update becomes a permanent job. Browse our ODOP district guides to pick a product. Craft exporters can start with Etikoppaka wooden toys.
Your yearly IEC calendar
- 1–15 April: check your PAN, bank and address records so they match.
- By 30 April: file the annual update. Don't leave it to the last week of June.
- Within 48 hours of filing: confirm Active status on View Any IEC and ICEGATE.
- Any time you change bank, address or directors: file Update/Modify IEC straight away, not just in April–June.
- Keep your DSC valid: an expired DSC is one of the most common reasons an update fails. If it lapses, use Aadhaar e-Sign instead.
Quick troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can't submit, bank error | NPCI mismatch between name, PAN and account | Get the bank record corrected, then refile |
| Signature fails | Expired DSC | Renew the DSC or switch to Aadhaar e-Sign |
| No Aadhaar OTP | Aadhaar not linked to your current mobile | Update the mobile number with UIDAI first |
| Updated, but ICEGATE still shows inactive | Sync lag | Wait 24–48 hours, then raise a DGFT helpdesk ticket via dgft.gov.in |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to update my IEC if nothing has changed?
Yes. Para 2.05(d) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 requires the IEC to be updated electronically every year between April and June, even if none of your details have changed. If you skip it, the IEC gets deactivated under para 2.05(e). The annual confirmation is free and is done through Update/Modify IEC on dgft.gov.in.
What is the IEC update deadline, and was it extended in 2026?
The window runs from 1 April to 30 June every year. For 2026 it closed on 30 June 2026, and no extension was announced. Deactivation follows the deadline. Most guides say it happens from 1 July, although DGFT hasn't published that exact date. If you missed it, file the update now to get your IEC reactivated.
How do I activate a deactivated IEC code online?
There's no separate activation form. Log in at dgft.gov.in, go to IEC Profile Management, then Update/Modify IEC, complete every section, pass the NPCI bank check and sign with a DSC or Aadhaar OTP. DGFT says the IEC is activated again once the update succeeds. Guides say ICEGATE may take 24 to 48 hours to show the change.
How can I verify someone else's IEC code?
Use View Any IEC on the DGFT portal (Services, then View IEC Related Details, then View Any IEC). Enter the 10-digit IEC, the first few letters of the firm name and the captcha. It shows whether the IEC is active and whether the firm is on the Denied Entity List. ICEGATE's Check IE Code/BIN Status shows what customs sees.
Is there a fee or late fee for the IEC update?
The annual confirmation is free. Skydo cites Public Notice 49/2015-20 dated 31 March 2021 for this. DGFT hasn't mentioned any late fee for reactivating. Some guides say a modification that actually changes details costs ₹200, but the guides contradict each other, so check the amount shown on the portal. A brand-new IEC costs ₹500.
Why does my IEC update keep failing?
The most common cause is the NPCI bank validation added by Trade Notice 23/2025-26 on 6 February 2026. Your PAN, firm name and bank details must match the bank's records exactly. One failure marks the application Deficient, and a second gets it rejected. Other common causes are an expired DSC and an Aadhaar number not linked to your current mobile for the OTP.
Sources
- IEC User Manual V4.1 · Directorate General of Foreign Trade
- DGFT Trade Notice 24 dated 2 Nov 2021 · APEDA
- DGFT NPCI bank account validation for IEC applications (Trade Notice 23/2025-26) · JurisHour
- DGFT merges ANF-1A and ANF-2A to streamline IEC applications · TaxGuru
- TEXPROCIL E-Serve 154 of 2025 · TEXPROCIL
- Reminder for importers and exporters: DGFT mandates annual IEC updation to avoid deactivation · Taxscan
- IEC renewal · Skydo