Import Export Code (IEC) Registration in Ludhiana
Get your DGFT Import Export Code online. We check your documents, file the application and keep your IEC active, for importers and exporters in Ludhiana.
Get a free consultation Call +91 79738 78209IEC registration in Ludhiana with Alpha Services
Ludhiana is Punjab’s biggest manufacturing city and one of its largest export centres. Hosiery and woollen knitwear, bicycles and bicycle parts, hand tools, sewing-machine parts, auto components and machine tools all leave Ludhiana for buyers abroad, and many units import yarn, steel and machinery.
Alpha Services files Import Export Code applications for Ludhiana manufacturers, merchant exporters and traders. We check your documents, file on the DGFT portal and set reminders for the annual update, so your code is active when your next container is ready.
What is an Import Export Code?
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is the same as your PAN, and you need it to clear goods through Indian customs and to send or receive payments for imports and exports through your bank.
| How to apply | Online on dgft.gov.in using Form ANF-2A, verified by Aadhaar OTP or a digital signature |
|---|---|
| Government fee | ₹500 for a new application, paid online |
| Issued by | Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Annual update | Every year between 1 April and 30 June, free of charge |
| Code number | 10 characters, the same as the PAN of the business or proprietor |
| Validity | Lifetime, provided you complete the annual update |
Who needs it
- Anyone importing goods for business needs an IEC to clear customs and pay the foreign supplier through the bank.
- Exporters of goods need an IEC on every shipping bill and to receive foreign payments.
- Service exporters need it only if they want benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, though many banks ask for it.
- Imports for personal use, and some government bodies and charities, are exempt.
Businesses in Ludhiana we file IEC for
Hosiery and knitwear units
Woollen and cotton knitwear makers exporting to Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.
Bicycle and parts manufacturers
Makers of bicycles, rims, chains and components shipping to export markets.
Hand tool and machine tool units
Engineering units in Focal Point and Industrial Area exporting tools and importing machinery.
Auto-component makers
Suppliers exporting parts and importing raw material and dies.
Yarn and fabric importers
Traders and mills importing yarn, fibre and fabric for the hosiery industry.
Merchant exporters
Traders who buy from Ludhiana units and export under their own name.
Documents you need for your IEC
Contact details
A working mobile number and email ID, which DGFT uses for OTPs and updates.
PAN
PAN card of the proprietor, firm or company. The IEC is issued against this PAN.
Identity proof
Aadhaar of the proprietor, managing partner or director, used for OTP verification.
Address proof of the business
Rent agreement, electricity bill, property papers or GST certificate showing the business address.
Bank proof
A cancelled cheque or bank certificate in the name of the business, showing account number and IFSC.
Entity documents
Partnership deed for firms, or incorporation certificate for companies and LLPs.
How we get your IEC
A short call to understand what you plan to import or export.
We review your PAN, Aadhaar, address proof and bank details for mismatches.
We complete the ANF-2A form on the DGFT portal and send you the OTP to verify.
₹500 is paid online through the DGFT payment gateway.
Once issued, we share the IEC certificate and explain the annual update.
DGFT office and trade routes for Ludhiana
IEC applications are filed online, so you never have to visit a DGFT office. For later schemes such as Advance Authorisation or EPCG, Ludhiana businesses deal with the DGFT Regional Authority, Ludhiana, Niryat Bhawan, BSNL Telephone Exchange, E-Block, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab 141012, which covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh UT and Panchkula district (Appendix 1A, Handbook of Procedures 2023).
Ludhiana has container depots at Dhandari Kalan and Sahnewal, so many exporters clear and stuff containers in the city itself before they are railed to ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Your IEC is quoted on every shipping bill filed there.
After you get your IEC
- Annual update: Confirm your IEC details on the DGFT portal between 1 April and 30 June every year, even if nothing has changed. If you miss it, the IEC is deactivated until you complete the update.
- AD code at the port: Register your bank’s Authorised Dealer (AD) code with customs at each port you export from.
- GST registration: Most importers and exporters need GST to pay IGST on imports, claim input credit and get export refunds.
- RCMC: A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate from the right export promotion council, if you want Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- Product approvals: Food importers need an FSSAI licence covering imports, many agricultural exports need APEDA registration, and some electronics need BIS registration.
Areas we serve in Ludhiana
We work with Ludhiana businesses over phone, WhatsApp and email from our Ropar office, with in-person meetings by appointment.
Why work with Alpha Services
- One team for IEC, GST, FSSAI, MSME/Udyam and trademark registration.
- We remind you before the April to June annual update, so your IEC never gets deactivated.
- A real office in Ropar, Punjab, with a team you can call.
- The professional fee is agreed in writing before we start.
- We check every document before filing, so your application is not returned for a mismatch.
FAQs about IEC registration in Ludhiana
Is the DGFT office in Ludhiana where my IEC is issued?
The IEC is applied for and issued online. Ludhiana is home to the DGFT Regional Authority for Punjab, at Niryat Bhawan in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, which handles later schemes such as Advance Authorisation and EPCG.
My hosiery unit already has GST. Can I still apply for an IEC?
Yes. GST registration is helpful but separate. Your IEC is issued against your PAN, and the details should match your GST and bank records.
Do I need an RCMC as well as an IEC to export knitwear?
The IEC is enough to export. An RCMC from the relevant export promotion council is needed if you want to claim benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy. We can guide you on which council fits your products.
Can I have more than one IEC?
No. One PAN can hold only one IEC. If you have branches, they are added under the same IEC.
What is the government fee for an IEC?
The DGFT charges ₹500 for a new IEC application. The annual update is free. Our professional fee is shared upfront before we start.
Does an IEC expire?
No. The IEC is valid for life, but it must be updated on the DGFT portal between 1 April and 30 June every year, or it is deactivated.
Is GST registration required for an IEC?
No. GST is not mandatory to apply for an IEC, but most active importers and exporters need GST for their business anyway.
Related services
- Import Export Code (IEC) registration across India
- GST registration for importers and exporters
- FSSAI Central Licence for food importers
- MSME / Udyam registration for small manufacturers and traders
- Trademark registration to protect your brand abroad
- Trademark registration in Ludhiana
Nearby cities
Ready to get your Import Export Code?
Call or WhatsApp +91 79738 78209 or email officialalphaservices@gmail.com. Alpha Services, #43-C, Dashmesh Colony, Ropar, Punjab 140001.
Get a free consultation