All businesses engaged in importing and exporting goods must have an Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Without one, you cannot import or export. You don’t need to be a registered entity to apply for one; you can apply even as an individual. The IEC does not apply to technology and services. However, it does in certain cases in which international trade is restricted, such as nuclear weapons and automatic guns. The IEC is a 10-digit code with permanent validity issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.