Don't let your shipment get stuck. Register your 14-digit Authorized Dealer Code on ICEGATE to generate Shipping Bills and claim Duty Drawback.
Verify if your AD Code is active.
An Authorized Dealer (AD) Code is a 14-digit numerical code issued by the bank where you maintain your business current account. It acts as a bridge between the Customs Department and your bank.
To export goods from India, you must register this code at every port (Air, Sea, or ICD) where you intend to file your shipping documents. Without this registration, the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system will not allow the generation of the Shipping Bill.
AD Code registration is port-specific. If you register at Mumbai Port, it does not automatically register you at Delhi Airport — you must file a separate online application for each port.
The Shipping Bill number is the primary document for exports. Customs EDI system blocks generation if the AD Code is not mapped to your IEC.
Benefits like Duty Drawback (DBK) and RoDTEP are credited directly to your bank through PFMS, which relies on AD Code validation.
If IGST is paid on exports, refund processing happens only when the AD Code and Bank Account are correctly registered and validated in the Customs system.
The most critical document is the Bank Authorization Letter. It must be in the exact format prescribed by the Customs Public Notice.
Incorrect format leads to REJECTION.
Obtain the letter from your bank in the prescribed format.
Login to ICEGATE portal. If not registered, create ID first.
Upload digitally signed documents to generate IRN / DRN.
Submit the AD Code request to the specific Custom Port online.
Customs officer verifies and approves via system (2–4 days).
Per Port Charges
+ GST
One-time Charges
+ GST
*Note: If ICEGATE ID is not created, additional charges apply for ID creation.
Getting the 14-digit code from your bank is only 20% of the job. The remaining 80% is mapping it correctly to the Customs EDI system.
Exporters often believe they only need to register at one port. In reality, you need registration at every port you ship from (Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Sahar Air Cargo, etc.). CloudDesk’s One-Click Port Expansion feature allows you to push your bank's AD Code to multiple ports simultaneously, saving weeks of manual filing.
The AD Code is for shipping, but the IFSC registration is for money. If your IFSC is not mapped correctly, your Duty Drawback and RoDTEP refunds will be rejected by the system.CloudDesk performs a "Financial Handshake" test to ensure your bank's IFSC is active in the Customs "Drawback Ledger."
Customs is notoriously strict about the Bank’s AD Code Letter format (Annexure-A).If a single sentence is missing or the bank official's signature isn't stamped properly, the EDI officer will reject it.CloudDesk provides a Pre-Filled Template for you to give your bank manager, ensuring a 100% acceptance rate on the first upload.
Once submitted, AD Code approval can take 24 hours or 10 days depending on the port.CloudDesk’s Status Pulse monitors the ICEGATE "Bank Management" dashboard and alerts you the second your status moves from "Pending" to "Customs Approved."
Generally, no. The process is now 100% online via ICEGATE. However, in rare cases or specific ports, the Customs Officer may request physical verification of the original Bank Letter.
Yes, you can modify your AD Code. You will need to obtain a new letter from the new bank and follow the same modification process on ICEGATE online.
Once the application is submitted successfully online, it usually takes 3–5 working days for Customs to approve, provided there are no queries or document discrepancies.
An Authorized Dealer (AD) Code is a unique 14-digit identifier assigned by the RBI to bank branches authorized to deal in foreign exchange. It links your bank account to your Import-Export Code (IEC) in the Customs database.
Yes. While it is most critical for Exporters (for Shipping Bill generation), Importers need it to ensure that their foreign remittances (Bill of Entry payments) are tracked correctly under FEMA guidelines.
ICEGATE does not charge a fee for AD Code registration. However, some banks may charge a nominal "Processing Fee" (ranging from ₹500 to ₹2,000) for issuing the AD Code letter on their letterhead.
No. As of 2026, you still need to map your bank account to the specific "Port Location Code" (e.g., INNSA1 for Nhava Sheva, INMUN1 for Mundra) on the ICEGATE portal. You don't need a new code, but you do need a new registration for that location.
You must obtain a new AD Code letter from your new bank and perform a "Modify Bank Account" request on ICEGATE. Note: Your existing shipping bills will still be tied to the old account until the new one is approved.
This happens when the documents uploaded on e-Sanchit are not digitally signed or the IRN (Image Reference Number) was incorrectly entered in the form. CloudDesk’s automation ensures the IRN is "Live" before we hit submit.
Occasionally, certain ports (like smaller ICDs) require a physical copy of the bank letter and self-attested documents for "one-time verification." CloudDesk’s local agents can assist in these physical submissions to avoid travel for the exporter.
Yes. If you use one bank for exports and another for imports, or different banks for different product lines, you can register multiple AD Codes under the same IEC.