Is IEC the same as PAN now?

Yes. Since 1 July 2018 the DGFT issues the entity PAN itself as the IEC. Older, purely numeric IECs continue to exist but are internally mapped to the PAN of the holder.

Do I need an IEC to export software or freelance services from India?

Not strictly, if you do not claim any Foreign Trade Policy benefit and the payment comes through banking channels as a professional service. However, an IEC is inexpensive and is often required by banks for foreign inward remittance clearance.

Is there a fee to apply for an IEC?

Yes. The DGFT charges a nominal application fee of ₹500 (subject to periodic revision) and the IEC is issued online, usually within a working day of a complete application.

What is the annual update requirement?

IEC holders must log into the DGFT portal every year, between April and June, to confirm or update their business details. IECs that are not updated are deactivated and cannot be used for customs filings until reactivated.

Can this validator confirm that my IEC is active on DGFT?

No. This tool checks only the structure of the code. For live active-status verification you should use the "IEC Print" or "Know Your IEC" facility on the DGFT portal.

IEC Validator

For live status, use the DGFT IEC portal. Format validation here does not confirm active registration.

Guide

The IEC Validator confirms whether an Importer Exporter Code follows the current PAN-based format prescribed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Any individual or business that imports goods into or exports goods out of India needs an IEC — and after the 2018 reform, that IEC is simply the entity’s 10-character PAN.

This tool gives a quick, offline check that catches typos, wrong-length entries and mis-formatted codes so that downstream shipping, banking and DGFT filings do not fail on a preventable data-entry error.

What is an IEC?

The Importer Exporter Code is a 10-character identifier issued by DGFT under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. It is a mandatory precondition for any person or firm engaged in the import or export of goods, and for many categories of service exports that seek benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Before 1 July 2018, IEC was a separate 10-digit numeric code issued by DGFT. After that date, DGFT harmonised the code with the entity’s PAN — every fresh IEC is simply the 10-character alphanumeric PAN.

IEC format checklist

10 characters in total
First 5 characters — uppercase letters
Characters 6–9 — digits
Character 10 — an uppercase letter
Effectively identical to the PAN pattern

When is an IEC needed?

Mandatory situations

Filing a shipping bill or bill of entry through ICEGATE
Sending or receiving foreign inward or outward remittances for trade
Claiming any benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy (RoDTEP, RoSCTL, etc.)
Applying for a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate with an Export Promotion Council

Situations where IEC is not required

Import or export of goods for personal use, not for trade
Import or export by Central and State Government departments and specified charitable institutions
Service export by a taxpayer not claiming FTP benefits (though it is still recommended)

How to use this validator

Step 1Enter the 10-character IEC / PAN in the input box.
Step 2The tool checks the pattern of 5 letters + 4 digits + 1 letter.
Step 3On success, the tool confirms that the structure is correct.
Step 4For live status of the IEC, click through to the DGFT portal.

DGFT compliance reminders

IEC holders must update or confirm their IEC details every year between April and June
Failure to update on time results in temporary deactivation of the IEC
Any change in business name, address or ownership must be reflected in the DGFT IEC record
Modifications and updates are done through the DGFT online portal only