IEC Apostille for Your Importer Exporter Code Certificate
An IEC apostille is how an Indian exporter proves to an overseas authority that it holds a valid Importer Exporter Code. The IEC is allotted by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) through its online platform at dgft.gov.in, and the certificate is downloaded from there. INFINITYGRO handles the signing, chamber authentication, MEA apostille and, where needed, embassy legalization.
By the INFINITYGRO documentation teamUpdated Facts checked against MEA and HCCH
MEA attestation stamp and Apostille sticker
Can the DGFT IEC certificate be apostilled for a foreign buyer? Yes. The e-IEC certificate is downloaded from the DGFT portal, signed and stamped by the authorised signatory, and notarised where required. A recognised chamber of commerce authenticates it, and MEA issues the apostille. That is the IEC apostille route for Hague countries. For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait or China, MEA attestation and embassy legalization replace the apostille.
Start by checking your IEC is active
Before anything else, log in to the DGFT portal and confirm your IEC status. Under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, every IEC holder must update its details electronically each year between April and June, or confirm that nothing has changed. An IEC that is not updated in that window is deactivated.
Legalizing a certificate for a deactivated IEC wastes the chamber, MEA and embassy fees. A foreign buyer who later checks with Indian contacts will also notice. So the yearly update comes first, then the download.
If you have changed your address, partners or bank details since the last update, update the IEC and download a fresh certificate.
Key facts
| Document | Importer Exporter Code (IEC) certificate |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Number | 10-character code, the same as the holder's PAN |
| Annual duty | Update or confirm IEC details online every April to June |
| Who signs the printout | Proprietor, partner, director or authorised signatory |
| First step | Notary where needed, then Chamber of Commerce |
| MEA step | Apostille at Rs 50 per document, or normal attestation free |
| Embassy route | UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, China and others |
What the IEC is and why it matters
DGFT describes the IEC as a 10-character alphanumeric number allotted to an entity. It matches the entity's PAN, but DGFT issues it separately after an online application. Export or import of goods from India needs an IEC unless a specific exemption applies.
For a foreign party, the IEC shows that the Indian side is a registered trader in the eyes of the Indian government. Customs, banks and freight forwarders in India use it on every shipment, so overseas importers see it as basic proof that you can actually ship. A legalized copy takes that proof one step further, because an Indian chamber and the Ministry of External Affairs have stamped it.
Who asks for a legalized IEC
- Importers registering an Indian supplier in their customs or vendor systems.
- Gulf and African ministries that register foreign exporters before allowing imports, for example of rice or meat.
- Distributors signing an agency agreement with an Indian principal.
- Foreign banks reviewing a trade finance file.
It usually travels with the GST certificate, company registration papers and, for each shipment, the certificate of origin.
IEC route by destination country
Each card shows whether the country takes an MEA Apostille or embassy legalization. Click a flag for that country.
UAEEmbassy legalization
QatarEmbassy legalization
KuwaitEmbassy legalization
Saudi ArabiaApostille
OmanApostille
EgyptEmbassy legalization
IraqEmbassy legalization
ChinaEmbassy legalization
VietnamApostille
IndonesiaApostille
United KingdomApostille
United StatesApostille
No country matches. Call us: we handle most embassies in New Delhi.
Apostille MEA Apostille is the final stepEmbassy legalization MEA attestation, then the embassy in New DelhiGerman verification verified through the German Embassy
Preparing the e-IEC for attestation
The IEC certificate is generated online. Notaries and chambers need a signed paper document, so the printout is prepared like this.
- Download the latest IEC certificate from your DGFT profile and print it clearly.
- The authorised signatory signs and stamps it with the company seal.
- A notary attests it if the chamber or the destination embassy requires that.
- Prepare a covering letter on company letterhead if the embassy route applies.
Do not laminate the page. Check that the firm name and address match your GST certificate, invoices and packing list word for word. We confirm the preparation for your chosen chamber and destination in writing before you courier anything.
The IEC apostille process for Hague countries
For the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, most of Europe except Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Turkey, the IEC apostille has three stages.
- Notary, where required.
- Chamber of Commerce authentication by a recognised body such as FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber or the Delhi Chamber of Commerce.
- MEA Apostille by the CPV Division, through its authorised outsourced centre.
MEA verifies only the authenticating officer's signature. The government fee is Rs 50 per document. Vietnam joins the Apostille system from 11 September 2026, so Vietnamese buyers can accept an apostille from that date. Our MEA apostille guide covers the ministry step.
When the buyer is in the UAE, Qatar or China
Many IEC requests come from countries that do not accept an apostille from India.
- UAE: chamber, MEA attestation, UAE Embassy in New Delhi, then UAE MOFA in the UAE. See UAE attestation charges.
- Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Yemen: chamber, MEA attestation, then embassy legalization.
- China: red-sticker notary, chamber, MEA attestation, then the Chinese Embassy. India objected to China's accession to the convention.
- Germany: no legalization of Indian documents; German authorities may ask their embassy to verify instead.
MEA normal attestation is free. Embassies charge their own fees, often higher for commercial documents.
A one-time document, unlike shipment papers
Exporters often send us a mix of documents, and it helps to separate them. Shipment papers such as the commercial invoice and packing list change with every consignment. The IEC certificate does not. It describes your business, not a shipment.
That means one legalized IEC can often serve a buyer for a long period, as long as your details stay the same and the buyer accepts it. Some ministries ask for a recently issued copy, so check their rule before reusing an older set.
When your company details change, the IEC must be updated on the DGFT portal. Any legalized copy showing the old details should then be replaced with a new one.
What to send INFINITYGRO
- Signed and stamped printout of the current IEC certificate.
- Destination country and the receiving organisation.
- Authorisation letter on company letterhead for embassy-route countries.
- Other documents in the same file, so names can be cross-checked.
Delhi NCR clients may drop off at our New Ashok Nagar office. Others courier documents in, and we return them by Blue Dart or a similar tracked courier. We do not collect from homes. A written per-document quote comes first; courier is extra.
Common IEC attestation errors
- Legalizing an IEC that was deactivated for missing the April to June update.
- Firm name on the IEC differs from the name on invoices or the GST certificate.
- Printout signed by an employee who is not an authorised signatory.
- Apostille taken for a UAE buyer, or embassy legalization for a UK buyer.
Need the IEC in Arabic or French? We arrange certified translation as part of the same job.
What the MEA stamps look like
Click any sample to enlarge. Personal details are masked.
IEC apostille FAQs
Is the IEC number the same as my PAN?
Under the current Foreign Trade Policy, the IEC matches the holder's PAN, but it is still a separate registration issued by DGFT.
Do I need to renew my IEC?
There is no renewal, but you must update or confirm your details online every year between April and June. Otherwise the IEC is deactivated.
Does MEA check my IEC status with DGFT?
No. MEA verifies the signature of the officer who authenticated the document before it.
Is an IEC apostille valid in Oman?
Oman is an Apostille country, so the apostille route normally applies.
Can I legalize the IEC with my GST and MSME certificates?
Yes. Exporters often legalize them as one set. Each document is quoted and charged separately.
Does a proprietorship need a different process?
No. The proprietor signs the printout as the authorised signatory. The chamber and MEA steps are the same as for a company.
What does an IEC apostille cost?
MEA charges Rs 50 per apostille. Chamber and embassy fees are separate. We send a written per-document quote before you courier anything.
Need your IEC legalized?
WhatsApp a photo of the document and the destination country. We reply with the route and a written quote.