Legal Metrology India

How to Get an Import Export License in India: Step-by-Step Guide with Fees

India's economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, and commerce with other countries is essential to its growth. Getting an import-export license is the first need if you want to launch a firm that deals with importing or exporting items across international borders. This blog will provide you with a thorough overview of the steps, necessary paperwork, and expenses associated with obtaining an import-export license in India.

What is an Import Export License (IEC)?

The Import Export License, also known as the Import Export Code, is a 10-digit registration number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is a key business identification number required for the import or export of goods and services from India.

Without an IEC, you cannot legally import or export anything from India. It is valid for a lifetime and doesn’t require renewal, which makes it one of the most hassle-free government registrations.

Who Needs an Import Export License?

Whether you're a:

Manufacturer looking to export your products,
Trader wanting to source raw materials from abroad,
E-commerce business selling internationally,
Amazon or Flipkart seller looking to go global,

you’ll need an IEC registration to legally operate across international markets.

Even freelancers offering digital services internationally (in some cases) may require IEC if the payment crosses through foreign bank channels.

Key Benefits of Getting an Import Export License

Global Market Access: IEC opens doors to international markets, allowing you to expand your business beyond national borders.
Easy Registration: The registration process is online, simple, and quick.
No Renewals Required: IEC is valid for a lifetime unless cancelled or surrendered.
Government Incentives: Once you have an IEC, you can avail export promotion schemes like MEIS, SEIS, RoDTEP, etc.
Legal Compliance: It ensures your business complies with all DGFT and Customs requirements.

Documents Required for Import Export License in India

The following documents are required for IEC application:

For Individuals or Proprietors:

PAN Card of the individual
Aadhaar card / passport / voter ID
Passport-size photograph
Cancelled cheque of personal bank account
Address proof (electricity bill, rental agreement)

For Companies/LLPs/Partnership Firms:

PAN Card of the entity
Certificate of Incorporation
Partnership Deed (for partnerships)
Director’s or partner’s identity and address proof
Cancelled cheque of business account
Company’s address proof

Ensure all details are consistent across documents to avoid rejection.

How to Apply for Import Export License Online (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the step-by-step process to apply for an IEC online:

Step 1: Visit the DGFT Website

Go to https://www.dgft.gov.in
Create a login with your business PAN and contact details.

Step 2: Fill Out the IEC Application Form (ANF 2A)

Navigate to “Apply for IEC”
Fill in details like applicant name, PAN, business details, address, bank details, etc.

Step 3: Upload Required Documents

Upload scanned copies of the PAN, photo, identity/address proof, and bank certificate.

Step 4: Pay the Government Fees

Government application fee: INR 500 (as per DGFT portal)

Step 5: Submit and Verification

Submit the application and wait for verification.
After successful validation, IEC will be issued and downloadable from your DGFT profile.

Most applicants receive their IEC within 1–3 working days of submission.

Import Export License Fees in India (2025 Update)

Here is a breakdown of the potential fees involved:

Component	Cost (INR)
DGFT Government Fee	₹500
DSC (if required)	₹1,000 – ₹1,500
Professional Consultancy (optional)	₹1,000 – ₹3,000
PAN and Other Document Fees (if not available)	Variable

So, overall, the total cost for obtaining IEC could range from ₹500 to ₹5,000, depending on whether you apply yourself or through a legal consultant.

Do You Need a Digital Signature for IEC?

As per recent DGFT updates, a Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is not mandatory for individual proprietors but is recommended for companies and LLPs to digitally sign the application.

Things to Know After Getting an IEC

IEC Update Requirements: Any change in address, ownership, or contact info must be updated within 30 days on the DGFT portal.
Linking with PAN and GST: Your IEC is now automatically linked to your PAN. No separate renewal or update is needed unless your PAN details change.
Export/Import Reporting: Once you start importing/exporting, you’ll need to file your shipping bills, bills of entry, and GST filings accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mismatched information between PAN and application
Uploading incorrect or blurry documents
Applying with a personal bank account for business entities
Ignoring post-registration compliance like GST or bank AD code registration

Is There Any Penalty for Not Having an IEC?

Yes. Importing or exporting without an IEC is illegal under Indian law and may result in:

Seizure of goods by customs
Heavy fines and penalties
Loss of shipment
Ban from international trading

Thus, it's highly recommended to complete your IEC registration before starting any import-export activity.

FAQs on Import Export License

Q1. How long is the IEC valid?

IEC is valid for a lifetime, unless voluntarily surrendered or cancelled by DGFT.

Q2. Can I have more than one IEC?

No, only one IEC per PAN is allowed.

Q3. Can an IEC be cancelled or modified?

Yes, you can request modification or cancellation by logging into the DGFT portal.

Q4. Is GST mandatory for IEC?

While not mandatory for IEC application, GST is required for most import/export businesses to avail tax benefits and avoid compliance issues.

Conclusion

Getting an Import Export License (IEC) is your gateway to entering the global trade ecosystem. The process is straightforward, and with minimal fees, it’s accessible to startups, individuals, and enterprises alike. With just a few documents and a one-time cost, you can unlock new growth opportunities and establish your business on a global platform.

If you want expert guidance, professional consultants like Legal Metrology India offer end-to-end IEC registration support, ensuring error-free filing, quick processing, and compliance with all legal norms.

Ready to take your business global? Start by applying for your IEC today!
For any assistance, feel free to contact our expert team or visit LegalMetrologyIndia.com.

International Organisation of Legal Metrology

Introduction

Legal Metrology is well known for the application of legal requirements to measurement and measuring instruments. We all are very much aware that legal metrology has a wide role in the entire world wherever we talk about the weights and measurement. It is always covered under Legal Metrology.

New Rules Which Have Been Framed Under the Legal Metrology Act

Rules under the Act

There are several rules have been framed under the act by the way of amendments and various changes, some of the amended rules we are going to discuss and given below:

Rules Related to The Package of Commodity

Pre-packaged commodities defined under the act as a commodity without the purchaser being present are placed in a package of whatever nature whether it is sealed or not so that the product contained herein is a predetermined quantity.

As per the legal metrology packaging rules, there is a mandatory LMPC declaration that has to be made on every package which is given below:

Country origin in case of imported packages.
Month and year of manufacture pack import.
Retail sale price in form of maximum retail price inclusive of all the taxes.
Customer care number.
Net quantity in terms of standard units of weight or measures or numbers.
Month and year of manufacture/ back/ or import of the commodity.

Rules Related to Model Approval

The new rules related to model approval legal metrology have been laid down which are as follows:

Some of the equipment like brass, bullions, or carat weight or any be midscale, length measure this should not be measuring tapes and which are ordinary use in retail trade for measuring textiles or timber capacity measures not exceeding 12-litre incapacity are not required to obtain model approval.
However, any manufacturer or importer of vain canned measuring equipment which is prescribed under the Act 2009 and rules made their render are required to take the approval of the Government of India before manufacturing or importing such measuring equipment.

Rules Related to the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology

Indian Institute of Legal Metrology having its branches in various states of India. All the Legal Metrology institutes is a training institute for providing training in the field of Legal Metrology to all the Legal Metrology officers of union territories, the union of India, states, under the administrative control of the legal metrology department.

However, under these rules provision regarding courses to be imparted at the institute has obligatory functions of the institute which includes the qualification of a person to be eligible for admission in the institute in a prescribed manner.

Rules Related to Government-Approved Test Center rules, 2013

The Government-Approved Test Center rules are framed for the approval of GATC establishment by the private person for the verification of some of the weights and measures in addition to the verification done by the state government officers. The weights and measures prescribed under rules for verification by GATC are as follows:

Water Meter
Sphygmomanometer
Clinical thermometer
Automatic rail weighbridges
Tape measures
No automatic weighing measuring instrument of accuracy class three class 4, load sales, beam sales.
Counter machine.
Weights of all categories.
The state government is also framed there are state legal metrology enforcement rules for the implementation of Act 2009.

Read Related Blog: National Measurement System

National Measurement System

The wide application of measurement after World war was prompted by the development of electronic technologies and anti-physical measurement into a wide range of new applications with a proliferation of industry-based units for physical quantities. However, a major advance in bringing coherence to this highly diverse and fragmented system was the adoption in 1960 of the international system of units (SI) that established a single unit for each physical quantity fully.

Economic Analysis of National Measurement System

Introduction

An analysis of the total measurement system, especially in the quantitative benefit-cost is bound to fail since our modern society could not function without a systematic way of acquiring measurement data; the value of having a measurement system is incapable. In this article we are going to discuss the role of legal metrology weights and measures for economic analysis.

Legal Metrology Benefits to Indian Economy

There are various benefits to the Indian economy of legal metrology as protecting the rights of the consumer plays an important role in the market and if the consumer has confidence in the product and trusts the product it will ultimately increase the economic system of the country and have a positive impact on this thing. Here we are going to discuss a few of the major points where the Indian economy is getting the benefits of the legal metrology system in the country.

What is not allowed on the Declarations under Legal Metrology?

Introduction

There are lots of declarations under legal metrology which play an important role and the same has been discussed by us earlier as well. In this article, we are going to discuss some important points and facts which are not allowed on the declaration made and which are important for every manufacturer, packer, importer, and dealer of the legal metrology packaged commodity rules to comply with.

Introduction

As we all are aware that there is a requirement for changes from time to time to make proper coordination with a world which is moving faster.

Declaration on packages is the most important part to check while purchasing the product. It is concerned with protecting the interest of the consumer. The importance of declarations on every packed commodity that is available in the market will help the consumer to know the followings:

The Legal Metrology system has a wider scope than we think, it plays an important role in our day-to-day lives and most people are not even aware of its vital role in their purchasing or dealing in the market. The salient features of the legal metrology act there as follows:

Procedure of Issuing a Certificate of Approval under Legal Metrology

Legal Metrology: Delegation Power of Government

The central government in consultation with the state government and by its notification directs that any power exercisable by or under the legal metrology act or any rule made thereunder not being a power conferred by section 15 relating to appeal or section 52 relating to power to make rules concerning such matter and subject to such conditions as may be specified may exercise also by such officer subordinate to it as may be specified in the notification.

Legal Metrology: Rule Making Power of State Government

The state government by its notification and after consultation with the central government may make rules to carry out the provision of the legal metrology act. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the following power such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters:

Subject to the provision of an act the appeal shall lie from every decision or order under sections 15 to 20, section 22, section 25, section 27 to 39, section 41 or any rule made thereunder by a legal metrology officer appointed under section 13 to the director.

Delegation of Power Under Legal Metrology

The central government may with the consent of the state government and subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions as may specified in the behalf delegate the power of director under the act as it may think fit to the controller of Legal Metrology in a state.

Penalty for Non-Production of Documents

Any person whoever being required by or under the legal metrology act or the rules made thereunder to do the followings:

Penalty Quoting Publishing Etc for Nonstandard Units

Section 29 of the legal metrology act deals with the penalty coating publishing etc. for nonstandard units by the manufacturer, importer, and Packer of the commodity.

Current Punishment

Current punishment under this section 29 of the act for the second or subsequent offence is imprisonment which may extend up to one year or fine or both.

Proposed Amendments

The proposed amendment for section 29 of the act is the penalty which may increase up to rupees two lacs.

If the compounding is not done after the appeal is a stage then the process of cancellation of a licence issued by the central or state government will be initiated by providing the prior information to the applicant about the initiation of cancellation of license.

Penalty for Contravention in Standard Weights or Measures, Non-Standard Packages Quantity

Section 30 of the legal metrology act deals with penalties under section contravention as standard weights and measures for non-standard package quantity.

Current Punishment

Current punishment under section 30 of the act for a subsequent or second offence is imprisonment which may extend up to one year or fine or both.

Proposed Amendments

The proposed amendment under section 30 of the ACT is the penalty which may increase up to Rupees 2 Lacs.

If the compounding is not done after the appeal stage then the process of cancellation of the licence issued by the central state government will be initiated with information to an applicant.

Penalty for non-production documents by manufacturer importer of the commodity

Section 31 of the legal metrology act deals with the penalty for non-production of documents, or for the production of false documents by the manufacturer, importer, and packer of the commodity to conduct the fraud and to harm the interests of the consumer.

Current Punishment

The current punishment under section 231 of the legal metrology act for second or subsequent offence is imprisonment which may extend up to one year and fine.

Proposed Amendments

Proposed amendment under section 31 of the act is the penalty which may increase up to two Lac rupees.

If compounding is not done after the stage of appeal, then the process of cancellation of the licence issued by the central or state government will be initiated with prior information to the applicant.

Penalty For Failure to Get Model Approval

Section 32 of the legal metrology act deals with the penalty for failure to get approval by the manufacturer, importer, seller, or packer of the commodity.

Current Punishment

The current punishment for the failure to get model approval by the manufacturer, packer, seller or importer of the commodity to commit a second or subsequent offence is imprisonment which may extend up to one year and with a fine.

Proposed Amendment

A proposed amendment to decriminalise the act under this section is the penalty to be increased up to rupees two lacs.

If compounding is not done after the appeal stage then the process of cancellation of the licence issued by the state or central government will be initiated with informing the applicant about the same.

Read Related Blog: GATC Cerifiacte Under Legal Metrology

GATC Cerifiacte Under Legal Metrology

Certificate of Government Approved Test Centers

For the purpose of verification, the office specified weights and measures the certificate of government approved test centers may be suspended by the director in the event of omission or failure on the part of the holder of such certificate. And the proper inspection is conducted for various purposes.

Mark the verification by GATC

Discussing the legal and upcoming amendments under legal metrology with certain verifying just to save the interest of public and consumer to make aware that in this particular weight and measures is legal when it is verified and stamped.

Introduction

Several offences cause a violation under legal metrology. Any person who fails or omits to submit models of any weights or measures for approval commits the violation under legal metrology and shall be liable to be punished with a fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees.

The first thing is the name and address of the manufacturer, Packer, and importer should be mentioned on the package of commodity.

Now if you look at the silent features of the legal metrology act, there are followers of every unit of legal metrology weight and measure with the basic metric system. These features will be based on the following standards.

Introduction

Legal metrology law in India has a wider scope than people usually know about it or think about it. Here we want to make it very clear that every single thing that deals in the Legal Metrology weights measurement of anything whether it's the instrument to measure the temperature of a body, temperature of the weather, weight of gas in the cylinder instrument, an instrument which tells about the petrol supply to the petrol pump, weights of any product, the weight of anything, comes under the ambit of legal metrology.

Offences under legal metrology are committed by the manufacturer, importer, Packer, or seller of the commodity.

While considering the Legal Metrology Rules the government has created four quarters for the facility for the traders and searched four quarters:

If the consumer has any doubt about the correctness of weights and measures used by any trader or industrial establishment, then he should look for the seal of verification stamp of the department and demand a copy of the certificate of verification issued by the legal metrology department. If the consumer is still not satisfied, then he may contact the enforcement officer in the area of jurisdiction.

Control of Legal Metrology Department on Manufacturing Unit

The department of legal metrology has control over the manufacturer, seller, and dealer, of weights and measures, weighing and measuring instruments. It is the power of the legal metrology department to issue the LMPC license to the manufacturer, packer, and importer of the commodity. Legal Metrology Department has control over the following:

Introduction

The one who keeps an eye on the businesses, Legal metrology for e-commerce websites, LMPC manufacturers, packers, and sellers of the commodity is the legal metrology department.

All the states of India have offices of Legal Metrology in their respective states. The officers of Legal Metrology, such as the controller of legal metrology, inspector, etc., keep an eye on the manufacturer, importer, or packer of the commodity, checking out whether they are following the rules and regulations of the act and making proper compliance with the act.

Union Minister Mr Piyush Goyal has addressed a workshop on the decriminalization of offenses under legal metrology by states.

On May 9th, 2022, the central government created penalties for minor offences committed under the act by the offender for the very first time.

On February 2, 2022, a surprise inspection and various raids were conducted by the legal metrology department in various parts of Goa. During that surprise inspection and raids, several shop products and units were seized by the Legal Metrology department due to the non-compliance of the act, improper declarations made on the packages, and considering other factors.

LMPC Inspection of Errors & Quantity in Package

Inspection of errors and quantity in a package is done as per the Legal Metrology Act.