AD Code Registration
An AD (Authorised Dealer) Code is a 14-digit number issued by the bank branch that handles your export proceeds. It has to be registered with Customs at each port you intend to ship from, which is what links your shipping bills to the bank account your money lands in.
- Issued by
- Your bank (issues) + Customs at each port (registers)
- Typical time
- 3–7 working days, depending on your bank and the port
- Government fee
- No government fee. Some banks charge a small issuance fee
- Validity
- Lifetime per port — but every new port needs its own registration
Who needs it
Every exporter, without exception. A shipping bill cannot be generated at a port where your AD Code is not registered — this is the single most common reason a first-time exporter's shipment stalls at the docks.
Documents required
- IEC certificate
- AD Code letter from your bank, on their letterhead, in the customs-prescribed format
- GST registration certificate
- PAN of the business
- Board resolution or authority letter for the signatory
- Cancelled cheque
How it works
- 1
Request the AD Code letter
We give your bank the exact customs-prescribed wording — banks routinely issue a letter in the wrong format, which customs then rejects.
- 2
Prepare the port registration
We assemble the registration set for each port you ship from, whether that is Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Mundra, an ICD or an air cargo complex.
- 3
Register with Customs
The AD Code is registered against your IEC at the port, increasingly through ICEGATE rather than over the counter.
- 4
Confirmed
We confirm the code is live at that port so your first shipping bill goes through, and register additional ports as you expand.
After it is issued
Eximly holds your AD Code and port registrations against your company profile, so the right one is applied to each shipping bill automatically.
Start a 30-day free trial of Eximly →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate AD Code for each port?
The code itself is one number from your bank, but it must be registered separately at every port you ship from. Exporters routinely discover this when a shipment reaches a new port and the shipping bill will not generate.
Is there a government fee for AD Code registration?
No government fee. Some banks charge a nominal fee to issue the AD Code letter.
How long does it take?
Typically 3–7 working days end to end. The bank's letter is usually the slow part, not customs.
Can I do it before I get my IEC?
No — the AD Code is registered against your IEC, so the IEC must exist first. The two are usually done back to back.
Other registrations
Want us to handle AD Code Registration?
Send us your details and we will confirm what applies to your business, what the department charges, and what we charge — before anything is filed.
Enquire now →