What is DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)?
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Short answer
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is an office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.1 DGFT administers the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP).12 The Director General of Foreign Trade notifies the Handbook of Procedures and forms that exporters follow.2 DGFT issues the Importer-Exporter Code (IEC).3 Exporters self-generate e-BRCs on its portal.4
| Full form | Governed by | Who needs it | Where it is used | Related terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directorate General of Foreign Trade | Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and Foreign Trade Policy 20232 | Service exporters who want an IEC, e-BRCs or Foreign Trade Policy benefits34 | The DGFT online portal1 | IEC, e-BRC, Foreign Trade Policy, status holder, RCMC |
DGFT is the Indian government office that runs foreign trade policy. Goods exporters deal with it constantly; service exporters mostly meet it when they get an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) or generate an e-BRC.
What does DGFT mean in simple words?
DGFT is the government office that administers India's Foreign Trade Policy and the codes and certificates that go with it.12 It is the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with its headquarters at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.1
- Issues: the Importer-Exporter Code (IEC).3
- Runs: the portal where exporters self-certify e-BRCs from bank inward remittance data.4
- Administers: Foreign Trade Policy schemes and status holder certification.2
Why does DGFT matter for Indian exporters and freelancers?
DGFT matters for Indian exporters and freelancers for three things: the IEC, the e-BRC and any Foreign Trade Policy benefit you want to claim.
| What | DGFT's role | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) | Issues it online; it is the same as your PAN and must be updated every April to June3 | Service exporters who want FTP benefits3 |
| e-BRC | Runs the system where exporters self-certify e-BRCs from bank inward remittance data4 | Exporters who need proof of realisation, for example for GST refunds |
| Foreign Trade Policy benefits | Administers schemes and status holder certification (FTP paragraph 1.25)2 | Exporters claiming specific schemes |
- GST: an agency or IT company that claims GST refunds uses e-BRCs as proof of realisation.
- Bank compliance: DGFT does not handle your EDF, purpose codes or realisation deadlines, which sit with your Authorised Dealer bank under the FEMA rules.
How does DGFT work?
DGFT works under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 is notified by the Central Government under section 5 of that Act, and it came into force on 1 April 2023 with no fixed end date.2 Paragraph 1.03 lets the Director General of Foreign Trade notify the Handbook of Procedures, its Appendices and the Aayat Niryat Forms (ANF) by Public Notice.2
- Coverage: the FTP covers both goods and services.2
- Notices: when you read a DGFT trade notice or public notice, check whether it applies to services exports or only to goods.
How do you deal with DGFT as a service exporter?
You deal with DGFT through its online portal.1
- Register: register on the portal and apply for or link your IEC. Start with how to apply for an IEC.
- Update yearly: update the IEC each year between April and June.3
- Generate e-BRCs: generate e-BRCs against inward remittances your bank reports to DGFT.4 See e-BRC.
- Apply for schemes: apply for recognition or schemes where you qualify. See DGFT status holder.
For example, a freelance editor or a tutor who only wants to be paid may never deal with DGFT, while an agency that claims GST refunds generates e-BRCs on the portal as routine.
What is the difference between DGFT and RBI for exporters?
DGFT runs the Foreign Trade Policy, while RBI regulates foreign exchange under FEMA, including the realisation of export proceeds and the EDF your bank processes.12
| Body | What it handles for exporters | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DGFT | IEC, e-BRC and Foreign Trade Policy benefits234 | Exporters claiming FTP benefits or needing e-BRCs |
| RBI, through your Authorised Dealer bank | How you receive money, the EDF, purpose codes and realisation deadlines | Every exporter receiving foreign payments |
What do people get wrong about DGFT?
People most often assume every exporter must register with DGFT before getting paid, when the IEC is needed for services only to claim FTP benefits.3
- Registration: an IEC is necessary for export of services only if you want benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.3
- One-time IEC: an IEC that is not updated between April and June is de-activated until it is updated.3
- Goods-only notices: not every DGFT notice applies to services.2
- Bank matters: DGFT does not handle the EDF or purpose codes.
Which terms are related to DGFT?
These terms come up alongside DGFT for service exporters.
- IEC code: the code DGFT issues to exporters.
- e-BRC: the realisation certificate generated on the DGFT portal.
- RCMC: the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate issued by an export promotion council.
- SEZ: a Special Economic Zone, with its own export rules.
- FEMA: the foreign exchange law that RBI administers.
How did we verify this?
We checked this page against the sources below on 30 October 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.
- [1]DGFT: website, About and contact information (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) (checked 28 October 2026)
- [2]DGFT: Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 1 (Revised FTP v1.2.2), paragraphs 1.00, 1.01, 1.03 and 1.25
- [3]DGFT: Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2 (Revised FTP v1.2.2), paragraph 2.05 (Importer-Exporter Code)
- [4]DGFT: eBRC services page (Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023; Trade Notice 02/2025-26 dated 21 April 2025)
Frequently asked questions
Does a freelancer need to register with DGFT?+
A freelancer does not need to register with DGFT to receive foreign payments. FTP paragraph 2.05 says an IEC is necessary for export of services only on the date of rendering the services if you want benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, so registration depends on claiming those benefits.3
Is the IEC from DGFT different from my PAN?+
The IEC is the same number as your PAN, but DGFT issues it separately on an online application, according to paragraph 2.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy.3 Having a PAN therefore does not by itself mean you hold an IEC; you still apply for one on the DGFT portal.
How often must I update my IEC with DGFT?+
You must update your IEC with DGFT every year, online, during April to June, even if nothing has changed. An IEC that is not updated in that window is de-activated until it is updated, according to paragraph 2.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy.3
Where is DGFT based?+
DGFT has its headquarters at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, and works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.1 Exporters deal with DGFT mainly through its online portal, where they apply for or link an IEC and generate e-BRCs from bank remittance data.4
When did the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 that DGFT runs come into force?+
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 came into force on 1 April 2023 with no fixed end date; it continues unless otherwise specified or amended.2 The Central Government notifies it under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and DGFT administers it.
This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.
Keep reading
How do you apply for an IEC code on the DGFT portal?
Step-by-step IEC application on the DGFT portal: ANF-2A, documents, the ₹500 fee, annual updation, and when a service exporter actually needs an IEC.
SetupDo freelancers in India need an IEC code to export services?
Whether an Indian freelancer billing foreign clients needs an Importer Exporter Code under FTP 2023, when it becomes useful, and how a sole proprietor applies.
GlossaryWhat is an e-BRC (electronic Bank Realisation Certificate)?
An e-BRC is an electronic Bank Realisation Certificate that exporters self-generate on the DGFT portal from their bank's inward remittance data. What it is for.
SetupHow does a service exporter become a DGFT status holder?
How DGFT status holder recognition works under FTP 2023 for service exporters: One to Five Star thresholds, eligibility, ANF 1B application, validity and privileges.