How to Register on DGFT — Complete Guide to the DGFT Portal

If you plan to export from India, the DGFT portal is where almost everything starts. Import Export Code applications, export incentive claims, advance authorisations, certificates of origin — all of it runs through dgft.gov.in. Yet most first-time exporters treat DGFT registration as a formality and then spend months figuring out the portal, missing out on schemes they were eligible for from day one.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the DGFT — what it is, how to register, what services are available to you, how to get your RCMC, and how to use the portal to access export incentive schemes that can significantly improve your margins.

What Is DGFT?

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the government body that regulates India's foreign trade. It operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce. In practical terms, DGFT is the authority that:

• Issues Import Export Codes (IEC)
• Administers India's Foreign Trade Policy
• Grants export incentives and authorisations (RoDTEP, Advance Authorisation, EPCG)
• Issues and manages digital Certificates of Origin
• Maintains the ITC (HS) classification system — the legal basis for what you can import and export
• Issues Registration Cum Membership Certificates (RCMC) through Export Promotion Councils

Every Indian exporter interacts with DGFT regularly. The portal at dgft.gov.in is your single window for nearly all trade-related government services.

Why You Need DGFT Registration

Registering on the DGFT portal is not optional — it is the gateway to doing business in international trade. Here is what DGFT registration enables:

Mandatory requirements:

• Applying for and obtaining your IEC (Import Export Code) — without which you cannot clear goods through Indian Customs
• Filing for RCMC through your relevant Export Promotion Council
• Declaring RoDTEP claims on your shipping bills

Incentive schemes:

• RoDTEP and RoSCTL e-scrip management — view, transfer, and use your export incentive credits
• Advance Authorisation applications — import raw materials duty-free for export production
• EPCG scheme applications — import capital goods at zero duty with an export obligation
• DFIA (Duty Free Import Authorisation) applications

Trade facilitation:

• Digital Certificate of Origin — required by buyers in countries with preferential trade agreements
• Status Holder applications — recognition and benefits for exporters meeting turnover thresholds
• Licence management — tracking all your authorisations and obligations in one place
• Access to trade policy notifications and amendments

If you are not registered on the DGFT portal, you cannot access any of these services. It is that simple.

Services Available on the DGFT Portal

Here is the full range of services you can access once registered:

Service	What It Does	Who Needs It
IEC Application	Apply for Import Export Code	Every exporter/importer
IEC Modification	Update address, bank, directors	IEC holders with changes
RCMC Application	Registration with Export Promotion Council	Every exporter claiming incentives
Advance Authorisation	Duty-free import of inputs for export production	Manufacturer exporters
EPCG Scheme	Import capital goods at 0% duty	Exporters buying machinery
DFIA	Duty-free import authorisation (post-export)	Exporters of standard products
RoDTEP/RoSCTL Scrip	View and manage export incentive e-scrips	All exporters
Certificate of Origin	Digital CoO for preferential tariff access	Exporters to FTA partner countries
Status Holder	Recognition for high-performing exporters	Exporters meeting turnover thresholds
SION	Standard Input-Output Norms lookup	Manufacturer exporters
Licence Management	Track authorisations and export obligations	Exporters with active licences

Each of these is accessed through the DGFT portal after login. The portal is organised by service type, and most applications follow a similar workflow — fill form, upload documents, pay fee (if any), sign digitally, and submit.

Step-by-Step DGFT Portal Registration

Step 1: Visit the DGFT Portal

Go to dgft.gov.in. The portal has been redesigned in recent years and now runs on a modern interface. Look for the "Register" button on the top right of the homepage.

Step 2: Click "Register" and Enter Basic Details

You will be asked to provide:

• PAN number — this is validated against the Income Tax database in real time
• Aadhaar number — of the authorised signatory
• Email address — use a business email if possible, as all DGFT communications go here
• Mobile number — must be the number linked to your Aadhaar for OTP verification

Step 3: OTP Verification

DGFT sends OTPs to both your registered email and mobile number. Enter both OTPs to verify your identity. If the mobile number does not match your Aadhaar records, the verification will fail. Make sure your Aadhaar-linked mobile is active and accessible.

Step 4: Set Your Password

Create a strong password for your DGFT account. This account will eventually hold your IEC, scrips worth lakhs of rupees, and authorisations with export obligations. Use a password manager and do not share credentials.

Step 5: Complete Your Profile

After initial registration, log in and complete your profile with:

Business details:

• Firm name and constitution (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company)
• Registered office address with PIN code
• GSTIN (if registered under GST)
• Nature of business — merchant exporter, manufacturer exporter, or both

Bank account details:

• Bank name, branch, IFSC code
• Account number — must be a current account for companies (savings account is acceptable for sole proprietors)
• Upload a cancelled cheque or bank certificate

Address proof:

• Electricity bill, rent agreement, or sale deed for registered office
• Document should be recent (not older than 3 months for utility bills)

Step 6: Upload Your Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Use Aadhaar e-Sign

DGFT requires digital authentication for all applications. You have two options:

Option A — Digital Signature Certificate (DSC):

• Purchase a Class 2 or Class 3 DSC from a licensed Certifying Authority (cost: Rs 500-1,500)
• Register the DSC on the DGFT portal under your profile
• The DSC must be in the name of the authorised signatory
• Valid for 1-2 years, after which you need to renew

Option B — Aadhaar e-Sign:

• No upfront cost
• Authenticates using Aadhaar OTP each time you sign
• Convenient but slightly slower for frequent users

For exporters who will be filing multiple applications (Advance Authorisation, EPCG, scrip transfers), a DSC is worth the investment. For occasional use, Aadhaar e-Sign works fine.

Step 7: Profile Approval

Once your profile is complete and all documents are uploaded, your DGFT account is active. For most users, profile setup is instant — there is no waiting period for basic registration. The approval steps come later when you apply for specific services like IEC or Advance Authorisation.

Navigating the DGFT Portal — Key Sections

The DGFT portal can be overwhelming at first. Here are the sections you will use most frequently:

Services Menu: This is the main navigation hub. Key sub-sections include:

• IEC — apply, modify, update, surrender
• Authorisations — Advance Authorisation, EPCG, DFIA
• RoDTEP/RoSCTL — scrip ledger, transfer, utilisation
• RCMC — apply and track
• Certificate of Origin — apply for digital CoO

Dashboard: After login, the dashboard shows your active IEC details, pending applications, scrip balance, and any DGFT notifications relevant to your account. Check this regularly.

Notifications and Circulars: DGFT publishes trade policy updates, amendments to export incentive rates, and procedural changes here. This is where you find out about changes to RoDTEP rates, new products added to restricted lists, or amendments to the Foreign Trade Policy.

Help and Support: The portal has a helpdesk section with contact numbers for each regional DGFT office. If your application is stuck, contact the regional authority that has jurisdiction over your registered address.

RCMC — Registration Cum Membership Certificate

The RCMC is one of the most important registrations for Indian exporters, yet many first-time exporters skip it or delay it. This is a mistake. Without an RCMC, you cannot claim export incentives under most government schemes.

What Is RCMC?

The RCMC is a certificate issued by an Export Promotion Council (EPC) that confirms you are a registered exporter in their product category. It serves two purposes:

1. Proof of registration with a recognised trade body
2. Eligibility certificate for government export incentive schemes — including RoDTEP, market development assistance, and participation in government-sponsored trade fairs

Which EPC Should You Register With?

India has over 30 Export Promotion Councils, each covering a specific product category. Here are the major ones:

Export Promotion Council	Products Covered	Annual Fee Range
FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organisations)	General merchandise, any product not covered by a specific EPC	Rs 5,000 - 25,000
APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)	Rice, spices, processed food, fresh fruits, meat, dairy	Rs 5,000 - 15,000
Spices Board	Spices — cardamom, pepper, chilli, turmeric, cumin, etc.	Rs 2,500 - 5,000
CAPEXIL (Chemical and Allied Products Export Promotion Council)	Chemicals, dyes, cosmetics, plastics	Rs 3,000 - 10,000
EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts)	Handicrafts, home decor, artisanal products	Rs 2,500 - 10,000
AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council)	Ready-made garments, fashion apparel	Rs 5,000 - 11,250
Pharmexcil	Pharmaceuticals, drug formulations, bulk drugs	Rs 5,000 - 11,800
EEPC India	Engineering goods, machinery, auto components	Rs 5,000 - 25,000
TEXPROCIL (Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council)	Cotton textiles, yarn, fabric	Rs 3,000 - 10,000
Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council	Shellac, forest-based products	Rs 2,500 - 5,000
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council	Gems, diamonds, gold jewellery	Rs 5,000 - 25,000

How to decide: Register with the EPC that covers your primary export product. If your product does not fit neatly into a specific EPC, FIEO is the catch-all option. You can register with multiple EPCs if you export products across different categories.

RCMC Application Process

1. Log in to the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in
2. Navigate to Services → RCMC → Apply for RCMC
3. Select the Export Promotion Council you want to register with
4. Fill in the application form — your IEC details, product categories, expected export turnover
5. Upload supporting documents — IEC certificate, GST registration, bank details, company incorporation documents (if applicable)
6. Pay the membership fee — varies by EPC and your turnover slab
7. Submit and sign digitally (DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign)

The EPC reviews your application and issues the RCMC. Most RCMCs are issued within 5-10 working days. The RCMC is valid for 5 years and must be renewed before expiry.

RCMC and Export Incentive Eligibility

This is the critical link most new exporters miss: without a valid RCMC, you cannot claim RoDTEP scrips, participate in MAI-funded trade fairs, or access several government-sponsored export support programmes. Apply for your RCMC immediately after receiving your IEC — do not wait until your first shipment.

Key DGFT Schemes for Exporters

Once registered on the DGFT portal with your IEC and RCMC, you have access to several schemes that can substantially reduce your costs.

Advance Authorisation

Advance Authorisation allows you to import raw materials and inputs duty-free, provided they are used in manufacturing goods for export. This is one of the most valuable schemes for manufacturer-exporters.

How it works:

• Apply on the DGFT portal with details of the export product and the inputs you need to import
• DGFT issues an authorisation based on Standard Input-Output Norms (SION) — these define how much input is needed per unit of export product
• Import your inputs without paying customs duty
• Fulfil your export obligation within 18 months (extendable)

Key conditions:

• You must be a manufacturer-exporter (or have a supporting manufacturer)
• Inputs must be consumed in the export product — you cannot divert them to domestic sales
• Export obligation must be fulfilled, failing which you pay the duty with interest and penalty
• Use the Duty Calculator to estimate how much you save by importing duty-free versus paying full duty

EPCG (Export Promotion Capital Goods) Scheme

The EPCG scheme lets you import capital goods — machinery, equipment, tools — at zero customs duty. In exchange, you must export goods worth 6 times the duty saved within 6 years.

Example: You import a packaging machine worth Rs 50 lakh with a normal customs duty of Rs 10 lakh. Under EPCG, you pay zero duty. Your export obligation is Rs 60 lakh (6x the duty saved) over 6 years.

Application process:

• Apply on the DGFT portal under Services → Authorisations → EPCG
• Specify the capital goods, their HS codes (use the HS Code Finder to identify the correct code), and the export product
• DGFT issues the EPCG authorisation
• Import the capital goods and install them
• Start fulfilling your export obligation and submit annual reports

Status Holder Recognition

DGFT grants Status Holder certificates to exporters who achieve specified cumulative export turnover thresholds. Status Holders receive benefits like faster customs clearance, priority processing of applications, and self-certification privileges.

Status	Cumulative Export Turnover Required
One Star Export House	Rs 3 crore
Two Star Export House	Rs 25 crore
Three Star Export House	Rs 100 crore
Four Star Export House	Rs 500 crore
Five Star Export House	Rs 2,000 crore

For MSME exporters, the One Star threshold of Rs 3 crore is achievable within the first few years of active exporting. The recognition is valid for 5 years and carries tangible benefits in customs processing and DGFT application handling.

Common Mistakes on the DGFT Portal

Not keeping your profile updated. If you change your bank account, registered address, or add/remove directors, you must update your DGFT profile. Outdated information causes problems when applying for authorisations and when RoDTEP scrips are generated — they are linked to your profile details.

Not applying for RCMC. Many exporters get their IEC and start shipping, but never register with an EPC. They then discover — sometimes months later — that they have been losing RoDTEP scrips on every shipment because they did not have a valid RCMC.

Not linking IEC to GST. Your IEC and GSTIN should be linked on both the DGFT portal and the GST portal. This linkage is important for claiming GST refunds on exported goods (exports are zero-rated under GST, but you need the IEC-GST link for the refund mechanism to work smoothly).

Ignoring the annual IEC update. DGFT requires all IEC holders to confirm or update their details between April and June every year. Failure to update for two consecutive years can lead to IEC deactivation. Log in to the DGFT portal and complete the update even if nothing has changed.

Not monitoring DGFT notifications. Policy changes, RoDTEP rate revisions, new product restrictions, and procedural updates are communicated through DGFT notifications. If you are not reading these, you might miss a rate increase for your product or a new compliance requirement.

Letting authorisations expire. If you hold an Advance Authorisation or EPCG authorisation, you have specific export obligations with deadlines. Missing these deadlines results in duty recovery with 15% interest. Set calendar reminders for all obligation deadlines.

Tips for Efficient DGFT Portal Usage

Bookmark the direct login page. The DGFT homepage changes frequently. Bookmark the login URL directly to avoid navigating through the homepage each time.

Keep a DSC ready. If you are an active exporter filing multiple applications, a DSC saves significant time compared to Aadhaar e-Sign. Renew it before it expires — an expired DSC will block all your pending applications.

Download and save all authorisations. When DGFT issues an IEC, RCMC, Advance Authorisation, or any other document, download it immediately and store it securely. You will need these for customs clearance, bank transactions, and audits.

Check your scrip balance regularly. RoDTEP and RoSCTL e-scrips have a validity of 2 years from the date of generation. If you do not use or sell them within that window, they expire worthless. Log in to the DGFT portal monthly to check your scrip ledger.

Use DGFT helpdesk for stuck applications. If your application has been pending beyond the normal processing time, contact the DGFT helpdesk or the regional DGFT office. Applications sometimes get stuck in queues, and a follow-up call can move things along.

What to Do After DGFT Registration

Once you are registered on the DGFT portal, here is your action sequence:

1. Apply for IEC if you have not already — follow our complete IEC guide
2. Apply for RCMC with the relevant Export Promotion Council — do this immediately after IEC
3. Register on ICEGATE for electronic customs filing — you will need this for every shipment
4. Identify your HS codes using the HS Code Finder — correct classification determines your RoDTEP rate, duty rates in destination countries, and regulatory requirements
5. Research destination markets using the Market Finder and country export guides to identify where your products have the best demand
6. Understand your export documentation requirements — commercial invoice, packing list, shipping bill, certificate of origin
7. Check RoDTEP rates for your product's HS code — know your incentive before your first shipment

The DGFT portal is not a one-time registration. It is the operational backbone of your export business. The more familiar you are with it, the more efficiently you can access schemes, manage incentives, and stay compliant with India's foreign trade regulations.

Key Takeaways

• DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) is the central government body regulating India's foreign trade, operating under the Ministry of Commerce
• Registration on the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in is mandatory for all exporters — it is the gateway to IEC, RCMC, export incentives, and authorisations
• Registration requires PAN, Aadhaar, email, mobile, business details, bank account, and a DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign
• After registering, apply for your IEC first, then RCMC with the relevant Export Promotion Council
• RCMC is essential for claiming RoDTEP scrips and accessing government export support programmes
• Key DGFT schemes include Advance Authorisation (duty-free inputs), EPCG (duty-free capital goods), and Status Holder recognition
• Update your DGFT profile annually between April-June and whenever business details change
• Monitor DGFT notifications regularly for policy changes and rate revisions that affect your business