Quick answer
What is AD code registration and why do exporters need it?
AD code registration is the step where an exporter records the authorised dealer code of its foreign-exchange bank branch on ICEGATE against its IEC. Customs needs it before shipping bills for goods can be processed. As of November 2026, details are verified with the bank online, and customs approval usually takes 7 to 10 working days.
- AD code is issued by your authorised dealer bank
- Registered on ICEGATE against IEC and port
- Bank API check from 1 October 2026
- Name, PAN, IEC and account must match everywhere
What is an AD code and who needs AD code registration?
An AD code is the code a bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange gives to the branch that handles your export account. Every exporter of goods who files shipping bills through customs needs AD code registration on ICEGATE before the first export, because customs links the shipment and the export proceeds to that bank account.
It sits in the export setup sequence after the IEC and before the first shipment:
- IEC from DGFT (our import export code page);
- a current account with an authorised dealer bank, and the AD code letter from that bank;
- registration on ICEGATE, then AD code registration against the ports you will use;
- GST registration and an LUT if you will export without paying IGST.
Importers who never export usually do not need it. Service exporters who file no shipping bills generally do not either, but ask your bank about its own export reporting rules.
Documents and details needed for AD code registration
The key document is the AD code letter from your bank on its letterhead. ICEGATE's 1 October 2026 advisory says that for banks integrated through the API, you no longer select document types or upload files with an IRN: the system fetches and checks details with the bank. For other banks, the passbook or bank certificate is uploaded on e-SANCHIT.
| Item | Why ICEGATE or the bank checks it |
|---|---|
| AD code letter from the bank | Proves the code is valid and mapped to your account and branch |
| IEC | The AD code is registered against this number |
| PAN of the exporter | Must be linked to the bank account in the bank's records |
| Bank account number and IFSC | Account must be active; IFSC must be the account branch |
| ICEGATE login | AD code is added from the registered user profile |
| Port codes | Ports or ICDs you will export from |
| Bank passbook or certificate (non-API banks) | Uploaded on e-SANCHIT and quoted by IRN |
Sources: ICEGATE advisory, 1 October 2026 and ICEGATE FAQ, checked 10 November 2026.
Need help with AD code registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
AD code registration process on ICEGATE: step by step
ICEGATE's FAQ says AD code registration is done online from your user profile. The flow below reflects the October 2026 bank-verification changes.
- 1
Update records at the bank first
Ask the bank to map your IEC and PAN to the same customer ID as the account and confirm KYC is current.
- 2
Collect the AD code letter
Get the code on bank letterhead for the branch authorised to handle foreign exchange.
- 3
Register or log in on ICEGATE
Use the IEC holder's ICEGATE account and add all ports of operation to the profile.
- 4
Add the AD code account
Enter the AD code and click get details; ICEGATE shows the bank and branch, or a branch list to choose from.
- 5
Submit and verify
Enter account number and IFSC, submit, and complete the OTP; the bank's API returns the verification result.
- 6
Customs approval
Track the status; ICEGATE's FAQ puts the wait at 7 to 10 working days when it shows customs pending.
What does AD code registration cost and how long does it take?
We found no government fee for AD code registration on ICEGATE; banks may have their own charges for issuing the letter. The time it takes depends mainly on whether your bank records match. Once submitted, a request marked customs pending usually clears in 7 to 10 working days, according to the ICEGATE FAQ.
| Stage | Typical timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bank AD code letter | Depends on the bank | Ask the branch that handles forex |
| ICEGATE submission and bank API check | Same day if records match | Fails on any PAN, IEC or account mismatch |
| Customs approval | 7 to 10 working days | As stated in the ICEGATE FAQ |
| ICEGATE government fee | None found | Bank charges, if any, are separate |
Source: ICEGATE FAQ, checked 10 November 2026. ICEGATE has also said it auto-approves additional port locations once one port is approved, and auto-rejects requests left pending over 90 days.
Do you need AD code registration at every port?
Add every port or ICD you will use to your ICEGATE profile. An older ICEGATE advisory allows only one AD code bank account per IEC for one location, and ICEGATE has since said that customs approval for additional port locations is auto-approved once the account is approved for one port. In short: register once properly, list all ports, and the extra locations follow quickly.
For Delhi exporters this usually means ICD Tughlakabad, ICD Patparganj or the air cargo terminal at IGI Airport, plus any sea port your forwarder uses. Ask your customs broker which locations they will file from before you submit.
Why does AD code registration fail?
ICEGATE's October 2026 advisory lists the common reasons for verification failure. Nearly all are mismatches between ICEGATE, DGFT and bank records, so fix the bank side before you submit.
- Incorrect account number or IFSC.
- Invalid AD code, or a code not mapped to your account or branch.
- PAN or IEC mismatch, or PAN and IEC mapped to different customer IDs at the bank.
- Outdated KYC or customer master data.
- Inactive, dormant, frozen, restricted or closed account.
- Wrong branch selected, or different entity names across ICEGATE, DGFT and the bank.
If customs rejects the request, the ICEGATE FAQ says to submit a new application rather than edit the rejected one. ICEGATE does not override the bank's verification result, so the correction has to happen at the bank.
After AD code registration: bank changes and export follow-up
Once the AD code is approved, keep it in step with your banking. If the bank merges or changes the IFSC, update it through Export Promotion Bank Account Management on ICEGATE. If you move the export account to another bank, register the new AD code before the next shipment.
The AD code also sits within a wider export compliance routine: realising export proceeds through the bank, filing GST returns with the right shipping bill details for IGST and input credit refunds, and renewing the LUT each year. Exporters with foreign investors or overseas entities may also need FEMA compliance support.
AD code registration for Delhi exporters
The AD code process is the same across India, but Delhi exporters run into a few local patterns. Small exporters in Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar often open the export account at a neighbourhood branch that is not authorised for foreign exchange, so the bank issues the code of a different authorised branch: pick that branch on ICEGATE. Garment and handicraft units that move between Okhla, Naraina and Mundka should keep the IEC address and bank records updated together. Traders near Karol Bagh can see our CA in Karol Bagh page.
How CA in Delhi helps with AD code registration
Send us your IEC, PAN, the bank's AD code letter and your ICEGATE login status. We check that the entity name, PAN, IEC, account and IFSC match across DGFT and the bank, tell you exactly what to ask the bank to fix, and walk you through the ICEGATE submission and customs approval. We share a fixed quote for the AD code work before starting.
AD code work is not listed as a service by any of the three listed firms, so CA in Delhi passes the enquiry to the listed firm or partner professional that handles export registrations and confirms scope and a fixed quote first. For GST, LUT and export bookkeeping, compare the firms on our CA firms in Delhi list or find an accountant near me. Exporters can reach us about AD codes on +91 99114 92897 by call or WhatsApp, 10 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the AD code?
Your bank does. A bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange issues the code for the branch that maintains your export account, usually on its letterhead. If your home branch is not authorised for forex, the bank gives the code of its authorised branch, and that is the branch you select on ICEGATE.
Is AD code registration mandatory for exporters?
For exporters of goods who file shipping bills, yes in practice: customs links the shipment and the export proceeds to the AD code registered against your IEC. Without it, your customs broker cannot complete the export filing for that port.
How many days does AD code registration take?
The ICEGATE FAQ says a request showing customs pending usually takes 7 to 10 working days. The bank API check happens at submission, so the overall time depends on how quickly your bank records are correct. Requests left pending over 90 days have been auto-rejected by ICEGATE.
Is there a fee for AD code registration on ICEGATE?
We found no government fee for registering the AD code on ICEGATE. Some banks charge for issuing the AD code letter, and consultants charge for handling the process. Ask the bank about its charges, and get any professional fee fixed in writing.
What changed for AD code registration in October 2026?
ICEGATE's advisory of 1 October 2026 introduced API-based verification with participating banks. For those banks you no longer upload documents with an IRN; ICEGATE fetches the bank and branch from the AD code and checks the account, PAN and IEC with the bank directly.
My AD code request was rejected. Can I edit it?
No. ICEGATE's FAQ says to submit a new application after a customs rejection. Before resubmitting, find the cause, usually a PAN or IEC mismatch, an unmapped AD code or outdated KYC, and get it fixed at the bank.
Do I need a new AD code if I change banks?
Yes. The AD code belongs to the bank branch, so a new export bank means a new AD code letter and a fresh registration on ICEGATE. Do it before the next shipment so that your customs broker files against the right account.
Can I register the AD code before my first export order?
Yes, and it is wise to. Get the IEC, open the export account, collect the AD code letter and register on ICEGATE while you negotiate the order. That way the shipment is not held at the port waiting for customs approval of the bank account.