Importer Exporter Code Number : Exempted Categories

The following categories of importers or exporters are exempted from obtaining Importer - Exporter Code (IEC) number:
1. Importers covered by clause 3 (1) [except sub-clauses (e) and (l)] and exporters covered by clause 3(2) [except sub-clauses (i) and (k)] of the Foreign Trade (Exemption from application of Rules in certain cases) Order, 1993.
2. Ministries/Departments of the Central or State Government.
3. Persons importing or exporting goods for personal use not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture.
4. Persons importing/exporting goods from/to Nepal provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25,000.
5. Persons importing/exporting goods from/to Myanmar through Indo-Myanmar border areas provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25,000.

However, the exemption from obtaining Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) number shall not be applicable for the export of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipments and Technologies (SCOMET) as listed in Appendix- 3, Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) except in the case of exports by category(ii) above.
6. The following permanent IEC numbers shall be used by the categories of importers/ exporters mentioned against them for import/ export purposes..
S.No Code Number Categories of Importers/ Exporters
1 0100000011 All Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them.
2 0100000029 All Ministries/Departments of the State Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them.
3 0100000037 Diplomatic personnel, Counselor officers in India and the officials of the UNO and its specialised agencies.
4 0100000045 Indians returning from/going abroad and claiming benefit under the Baggage Rules.
5 0100000053 Persons/ Institutions/ Hospitals importing or exporting goods for personnel use, not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture.
6 0100000061 Persons importing/ exporting goods from/to Nepal provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rupees 25000/-.
7 0100000070 Persons importing/ exporting goods from/to Myanmar through Indo- Myanmar border areas provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rupees 25000/-.
8 0100000088 Ford Foundation
9 0100000096 Importers importing goods for display or use in fairs/exhibitions or similar events under the provisions of ATA carnet.
10 0100000100 Director, National Blood Group Reference Laboratory, Bombay or their authorized offices.
11 0100000126 Individuals/Charitable Institutions/ Registered NGOs importing goods, which have been exempted from Customs duty under the Notification issued by Ministry of Finance for bonafide use by the victims affected by natural calamity.
12 0100000134 Persons importing / exporting permissible goods as notified from time to time, from/to China through Gunji and Namgaya Shipkila ports, provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25,000. In case of Nathula port, the applicable value ceiling will be Rs.100,000.
13 0100000142 Ordinance factories under the Ordinance Factories Organisation.
14 0100000151 Deleted (Deleted (Ref. DGFT Public Notice No.36(RE-2008)/2004-2009, dated 01-07-2008.) [Old- The Directorate of Purchase and Stores, Department of Atomic Energy,Government of India.]
15 0100000169 Non-commercial imports and exports by entities who have been authorized by Reserve Bank of India.
Note: Commercial Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) who have obtained PAN will however be required to obtain Importer Exporter Code number. The permanent IEC number as mentioned above, shall be used by non-commercial PSUs.