Sub-Guide · India-Specific Guidance
Last updated: August 2026
If you're exporting or importing from India, you legally need an IEC — but a growing number of overseas buyers and trade platforms also expect a DUNS number, even though no Indian law requires it. Here's exactly how the two are different, and how they work together in practice.
The Import Export Code is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under India's Ministry of Commerce, and it's mandatory — without it, customs won't clear your shipments and banks won't process your trade payments. It costs ₹500, is usually issued within 1-3 business days, and lasts for the lifetime of your business, provided you complete a yearly update between April and June.
None of that has anything to do with Dun & Bradstreet. But once you start dealing with overseas buyers, freight partners, or B2B trade platforms, a second, unrelated request often shows up: a DUNS number. This isn't a DGFT requirement — it's simply that foreign parties have no easy way to verify an Indian government registration, and a DUNS number gives them something globally recognizable instead.
If you haven't registered for a DUNS number yet, see our Getting Started guide, or the parent India-Specific Guidance pillar for how DUNS compares to GST, CIN, and MSME/Udyam as well.
One is a legal requirement to trade; the other is a trust signal for your trading partners.
| IEC (Import Export Code) | DUNS Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | DGFT (Government of India) | Dun & Bradstreet (global) |
| Legally required? | Yes — mandatory for import/export | No — never legally required |
| Cost | ₹500, one-time | Free (standard registration) |
| Processing time | 1–3 business days | Up to 30 business days |
| Validity | Lifetime (needs annual update Apr–Jun) | Permanent |
| Recognized by | Indian customs, banks, DGFT systems | Overseas buyers, global platforms |
Get your IEC first — it's mandatory, quick, and inexpensive, and you can't legally ship anything internationally without it. Since 2021, your IEC number is directly tied to your PAN, so the application itself is fast: register on the DGFT portal, complete Form ANF-2A with your business and bank details, upload your documents, and pay the ₹500 fee. Most applicants receive their certificate within 1-3 business days.
Apply for your DUNS number after your IEC is in hand — not because it's required, but because it gives you one more verifiable government record to reference if D&B needs supporting documentation during the DUNS verification process.
Your IEC certificate and DUNS application should list your business under the exact same legal name, address, and entity type. Since your IEC is tied to your PAN, this is usually straightforward — but double-check spelling, abbreviations, and suffixes before submitting either application.
When D&B's DUNS application asks for proof your business exists, your IEC certificate — alongside GST or Udyam if you have them — is a valid document to reference. It's especially useful for exporters who may not have a CIN if they're not incorporated as a company.
Once you have both, share your DUNS number directly with overseas buyers, freight forwarders, or trade platforms that request it — most simply want it listed on your business profile or included with your export documentation, not submitted through any formal government channel.
The most frequent issue isn't confusion between IEC and DUNS themselves — it's forgetting that IEC requires an annual update. DGFT requires exporters to confirm their details are current every year between April and June; miss this window and your IEC gets deactivated, which can quietly stall shipments even if your DUNS number and everything else is in order.
The second most common issue is applying for a DUNS number with a business name that doesn't exactly match the IEC or GST certificate being used as supporting proof — this triggers manual review and adds days or weeks to processing.
No. The IEC is issued independently by the DGFT and has no legal connection to your DUNS number. You can apply for and receive an IEC without ever having a DUNS number.
No, a DUNS number doesn't require an IEC either. However, if you already have one, D&B can accept it as one of the supporting documents that helps verify your business during DUNS registration.
Because your IEC is an Indian government registration that most foreign buyers, banks, and trade platforms have no way to independently verify. A DUNS number gives them a globally recognized identifier they can check instead.
Get your IEC first since it's mandatory for any import/export activity and only takes 1-3 business days. Apply for your DUNS number afterward, using your IEC certificate as one of your supporting documents if needed.
No. They are completely separate identifiers issued by separate organizations, and neither one affects or replaces the other. Your IEC is tied to your PAN; your DUNS number is a standalone global identifier.
Tell us what registrations you already have — IEC, GST, Udyam, or none yet — and we'll tell you exactly what to prepare next. Free, no sales pitch.
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