The DGFT application fee for an Importer Exporter Code is ₹500, paid online when you submit. That is the government's charge, and it is the only mandatory fee to obtain the code.
Most people searching for IEC fees are really asking a different question: why is a consultant quoting ₹3,000? This page separates the two.
What you will actually spend
| Item | Typical cost | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| DGFT application fee | ₹500 | Yes |
| Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) | ₹800–₹2,500 for 2 years | No — Aadhaar e-sign is free |
| Consultant or agent fee | ₹1,000–₹4,000 | No |
| Annual updation (Apr–Jun) | Nil | Yes, every year |
| Modification of IEC details | ₹200 (typical) | Only when details change |
Fees change. Confirm the current figure on the payment screen at dgft.gov.in — that is authoritative, this page is not.
The DSC question
You can sign an IEC application either with a Digital Signature Certificate or with Aadhaar-based e-sign. Aadhaar e-sign costs nothing and works for most applicants, which makes the DSC optional for the IEC itself.
The catch: you will likely need a DSC anyway. Many DGFT services beyond IEC — licence applications, scrip transfers — and a good deal of ICEGATE and GST activity expect one. If you plan to apply for an Advance Authorisation or an EPCG licence later, buying the DSC now is not wasted.
Is the annual updation free?
Yes. Confirming your IEC details between April and June each year carries no fee. It is still mandatory — an IEC that is not updated in that window gets deactivated, and the cost of discovering that at the port is considerably more than ₹500. See IEC annual updation and deactivation.
Should you pay an agent?
Honestly: for a straightforward proprietorship or private limited application, with your documents in order, the DGFT portal is manageable in an hour. The ₹500 is the only cost you need to incur.
An agent earns their fee in three situations:
- Your entity type is unusual — trust, society, HUF — where the document requirements are less obvious
- You have been rejected once already and do not know why
- Your time is genuinely worth more than the fee, which for a working exporter it often is
What an agent cannot do is make the code arrive faster or make a mismatched PAN pass. If someone quotes an "express" IEC, they are selling you the standard process.
Before you pay anything
Get the documents right first — that is where the money is actually lost, in resubmissions rather than fees. Our list of documents required for an IEC covers the four mistakes that cause most rejections.
Try Eximly free to keep your IEC, AD code and licence validity in one place once you are trading.
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