If you want to send imitation jewellery out of India as a business, the first registration you need is the Importer Exporter Code (IEC). It is a 10-character code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and Indian customs will not clear a commercial export shipment without it. Banks also ask for it before they will receive export payments into your account.
The good news: for most small businesses it is quick, cheap and done online. This guide covers who needs one, how to apply, what it costs, the yearly update most new exporters forget, and what else to set up before your first shipment of jewellery leaves the country.
Who needs an IEC
You need an IEC if you are exporting goods commercially: invoicing a buyer abroad, receiving payment in foreign currency, and shipping through customs, whether by courier, air cargo or sea.
You generally do not need your own IEC when:
- you buy from a manufacturer who is the exporter of record and ships to your overseas customer under their own IEC, or
- you are sending personal gifts or goods for personal use, not for sale.
Many first-time traders start with the first route: the factory exports, you handle the customer. Once you ship regularly under your own name, get your own code.
How to apply for an IEC
The application is made on the DGFT website using form ANF-2A. In outline:
- Register on the DGFT portal with the mobile number and email linked to your business.
- Keep the PAN of the business ready. The IEC is issued against a PAN: an individual's PAN for a proprietorship, the firm's or company's PAN otherwise.
- Enter business details: name, address, bank account (a cancelled cheque or bank certificate), and the nature of business.
- Upload the address proof of the business premises.
- Sign with Aadhaar e-sign or a digital signature, and pay the fee of Rs 500 online.
When the details are right, the IEC is usually issued within a few working days. It is emailed and can be downloaded from the portal.
Validity and the annual update
The IEC has no expiry and no renewal fee. But every year between 1 April and 30 June, DGFT requires you to log in and confirm or update your IEC details online. The update is free, and it is required even if nothing has changed.
Miss that window and the IEC can be marked inactive. An inactive code cannot be used at customs, so a shipment can be held until you reactivate it. Put a reminder in your calendar for April every year.
What else to set up before your first shipment
The IEC opens the door, but a first export of imitation jewellery usually needs a few more things in place:
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| GST registration | Needed to invoice, and to export with a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) or claim an IGST refund |
| LUT on the GST portal | Lets you export without paying IGST upfront; filed once each financial year |
| AD code registered with customs | Your bank's Authorised Dealer code, registered at the port you export from, so export payments are tracked |
| ICEGATE registration | Customs' online system, used by you or your customs broker for shipping bills |
| A customs broker (CHA) or courier | Files the shipping bill and handles clearance at the airport or port |
| Correct HS code | Imitation jewellery falls under heading 7117; the exact subheading goes on every invoice |
Your customs broker or courier company will often help with ICEGATE and AD code registration. For the GST side, see our guide to GST and the LUT for jewellery exports.
Common mistakes new jewellery exporters make
- PAN and bank details that do not match. The name on the PAN, the GST registration and the bank account should line up. Mismatches hold up the IEC and, later, payments.
- Skipping the annual update. It is the most common reason a working IEC suddenly stops working at customs.
- Using a vague product description. "Artificial jewellery" alone invites questions. Describe the item: "Imitation jewellery necklace set of zinc alloy, gold plated, with glass stones and plastic pearls".
- Forgetting the buyer's side. Your IEC gets goods out of India. The buyer still pays import duty and taxes at their end, and may need documents from you to claim a lower duty. See certificate of origin and trade agreements.
Where the manufacturer fits in
Whether you export under your own IEC or ask the factory to ship for you, the manufacturer's paperwork feeds your export documents: an accurate GST invoice, clear product descriptions, weights and carton details.
At Jagruti we make wholesale imitation jewellery to order in Kandivali East, Mumbai, with a minimum of 200 pieces per design (400 for earrings and pendants). For export orders, tell us the destination country at the start. That decides the finish, the packing and the documents we prepare, and it saves a round of changes later. Our export supply page explains how we quote and ship.
Next steps: read the export documents checklist and the guide to HS code 7117.