Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Section 01

Start exporting from India

Seven steps, in this order. Most of them are online and cost little or nothing; do them before you promise a buyer a date.

steps
7
IEC fee on DGFT
₹500
IGST on exports under LUT
0%

The path

From zero to first shipment

  1. 01Choose your business form and get a PAN

    Decide who will export: you as a proprietor, a partnership, an LLP or a company. Every later registration hangs on that entity’s PAN.

    Fee A proprietorship needs no registration fee. Company and LLP fees are set by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs — check on mca.gov.in.Time PAN is usually issued online within a few days; check the timeline on the Income Tax portal.Read step 1 →
  2. 02Open a current account with a bank that handles foreign exchange

    Export money must come through an Authorised Dealer (AD) bank. Get a current account in the business name and ask the bank for its AD code.

    Fee No government fee. Banks set their own account and forex charges, and must publish them under the RBI 2026 regulations — compare before you choose.Time Usually a few working days, depending on the bank’s KYC checks.Read step 2 →
  3. 03Get your Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT

    The IEC is the 10-character code every Indian exporter and importer needs. It is issued online by DGFT for a fee of ₹500 and must be updated every April–June.

    Fee ₹500 for a new IEC (Appendix 2K, DGFT). Annual update in April–June: Nil.Time Generated online on submission (auto-generated by the DGFT system).Read step 3 →
  4. 04Register for GST and file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT)

    Exports are zero-rated under GST. With an LUT in Form GST RFD-11 you export without paying IGST, so no money gets stuck waiting for a refund.

    Fee Free — no government fee for GST registration or for filing an LUT.Time LUT is acknowledged online on filing. GST registration time depends on verification — check the status on gst.gov.in.Read step 4 →
  5. 05Get an RCMC from the right Export Promotion Council or Board

    The Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) makes you eligible for export benefits. It is now applied for on DGFT’s common digital platform and is valid for five years.

    Fee Each council or board sets its own membership fee — check on the council’s site or on the e-RCMC screen before paying.Time Depends on the council’s review — check the application status on the DGFT e-RCMC dashboard.Read step 5 →
  6. 06Get the licences your product needs

    IEC, GST and RCMC are the same for everyone. Food, medicines, marine goods and some other products need an extra licence, registration or test certificate.

    Fee Varies by licence. Check the current fee on the issuing body’s portal (FSSAI, APEDA, Spices Board, MPEDA, CDSCO, Plant Quarantine).Time Varies by licence — check each body’s citizen charter.Read step 6 →
  7. 07Make your first shipment

    Register on ICEGATE, link your AD code and bank account, hire a licensed customs broker and a freight forwarder, file the shipping bill, get Let Export Order, and collect your e-BRC once paid.

    Fee No fee is listed for ICEGATE registration. Customs broker, freight, port and container charges are private quotes — get them in writing.Time Shipping bill to LEO is often the same or next day if no examination is ordered; ocean transit then takes days to weeks.Read step 7 →

Once you are set up

What next