First Time Exporter
Never exported before? Start here.
We have guided hundreds of first-time exporters through their first shipment. This page tells you everything you need to know before your first export.
Pre-export Setup
Your first-export checklist
Seven things to set up before your first shipment. Tick them off as you go.
Get your IEC Code
Importer Exporter Code is the foundation of all exports. Apply at dgft.gov.in. You need your PAN, Aadhaar, and bank details. Fee: ₹500. Issued within 1–2 working days. Without IEC, you cannot export commercially.
Register for GST and file LUT
If not already GST-registered, do so at gstin.gov.in. Once registered, file a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) under GST. LUT allows you to export without paying IGST upfront — you get a refund otherwise, but LUT is faster. Valid for 1 year, renew annually.
Open a current account and register AD Code
You need a current account with an authorised dealer (AD) bank. The bank gives you an AD Code — register this at every port from which you will export. One-time per port. Ambeza helps you do this.
Check export policy for your product
Not everything can be exported freely. Check the DGFT website or use our HSN Checker to verify if your product is Free, Restricted, or Prohibited. Some products need RCMC from an export promotion council.
Get your RCMC if required
Registration Cum Membership Certificate from your export promotion council (e.g. APEDA for agricultural products, TEXPROCIL for textiles, CHEMEXCIL for chemicals). Required for certain certifications and DGFT benefits.
Get product certifications
Depending on your product: Phytosanitary Certificate, FSSAI, CoA, GMP Certificate, BIS, etc. Our HSN Checker lists all documents required for your specific product category.
Contact Ambeza — we handle the rest
Once you have IEC, GST, AD Code, and your product certifications, contact us. We prepare the Shipping Bill, Certificate of Origin, book the freight, clear customs, and deliver door-to-door.
Getting Paid
How foreign payments work
You ship to a buyer in another country. How do you make sure you get paid? These are the standard payment terms used in international trade.
Advance TT
Risk: LowAdvance Telegraphic Transfer
Buyer pays 100% before goods are shipped. Safest for you (the exporter). Common for first orders and small amounts.
★ Commonly used by Indian exporters
Letter of Credit (LC)
Risk: Very lowDocumentary Letter of Credit
Buyer's bank guarantees payment once you present the required documents (BL, Invoice, CoO, etc.). Safe for both sides. Standard for large orders.
★ Commonly used by Indian exporters
DP (Documents against Payment)
Risk: MediumDocuments Against Payment
Documents are released to buyer only after they pay their bank. Medium risk — buyer can refuse to take documents. Common in some markets.
Open Account
Risk: HighOpen Account
You ship first, buyer pays later (typically 30–90 days). Highest risk for exporter. Only use with known, trusted buyers.
Your first shipment — a realistic timeline
From zero to first export in 4 weeks. This is typical for a well-prepared first-timer.
- • Apply for IEC online
- • Register AD Code at bank
- • File LUT on GST portal
- • Register with RCMC council if needed
- • First documents prepared
- • Commercial Invoice finalised
- • Ambeza onboarding completed
- • Freight booking made
- • Cargo packed and ready
- • Ambeza picks up cargo
- • Shipping Bill filed on ICEGATE
- • Customs clearance obtained
- • Cargo departs India
- • Bill of Lading received
- • Buyer receives goods
- • Payment + FIRC + RoDTEP follow
Avoid These
10 most common mistakes first-time exporters make
These are the mistakes we see most often — and all of them are avoidable. Read this before your first shipment.
Not filing LUT before the first export
Without a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) on the GST portal, you have to pay 18% IGST upfront on your export invoice and claim a refund later — which takes months. File your LUT first and export zero-rated from day one.
Wrong HSN code on the Shipping Bill
Using a broad or incorrect HSN code means your RoDTEP rate, Duty Drawback rate, and certificate requirements will be wrong. A mismatch between invoice HSN and Shipping Bill HSN triggers a customs query.
Invoice value doesn't match the Shipping Bill
Your Commercial Invoice amount and the declared FOB value on the Shipping Bill must match in both amount and currency. Even a rounding difference flags the shipment for examination.
Missing AD Code registration at the port
Your AD Code (bank registration with customs) is port-specific. If you've registered only at JNPT and you ship from Chennai, no Shipping Bill can be filed. Register at every port before you use it.
Not collecting the FIRC
When your buyer sends payment, your bank issues a FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate). This is mandatory for RoDTEP credit, Duty Drawback disbursement, and GST refund claims. Many exporters only realise they need it after the fact.
Exporting restricted goods without checking
Some products (e.g. certain chemicals, dual-use items, wild flora/fauna) require DGFT licences, SCOMET clearance, or Wildlife Protection Act clearances. Exporting without checking your HSN export policy can result in seizure.
Not claiming RoDTEP or Duty Drawback
This is free money from the government — a remission of taxes embedded in your production cost. Thousands of first-time exporters simply don't know about it and leave it unclaimed. Ask your CHA to file the right Shipping Bill type.
Incoterm on invoice doesn't match the LC terms
If your buyer opens an LC on CIF terms but your invoice says FOB, the bank will flag a discrepancy and may refuse payment. Always confirm Incoterms with your buyer before generating any documents.
Packing List quantity doesn't match physical count
If your Packing List says 24 cartons of 20 pieces = 480 pieces, but customs physically counts 24 cartons of 18 pieces = 432 pieces, your shipment is held and you face misdeclaration proceedings under the Customs Act.
Forgetting to renew the LUT every year
LUT (Letter of Undertaking) is valid for one financial year (April–March). If it expires and you export without renewing, you have to pay IGST on your exports and claim a refund — tying up working capital for months.
Ambeza's job is to prevent every one of these mistakes
Our CHA team reviews documents, verifies HSN codes, monitors LUT validity, and tracks all refund claims on your behalf.
Reference
Export Glossary — plain English
Every term you will hear when exporting from India. No jargon.
IEC
Importer Exporter Code — your unique 10-digit export licence issued by DGFT. Mandatory for all commercial exports.
You cannot export without this.
CHA
Customs House Agent — a licensed professional authorised to file Shipping Bills and interact with customs on your behalf.
Ambeza's in-house CHA handles all your customs filings.
Shipping Bill
The master export declaration filed on ICEGATE. This is the document that says 'I am exporting this product from India'.
Every export needs one. Required to trigger RoDTEP and Drawback.
LEO
Let Export Order — customs approval to ship. Issued on the Shipping Bill after customs clearance.
Cargo cannot be loaded without LEO.
EGM
Export General Manifest — filed by the shipping line or airline after the vessel/plane departs. Records what actually shipped.
EGM filing triggers your RoDTEP credit.
BL / AWB
Bill of Lading (sea) or Airway Bill (air) — your contract with the carrier. Proof that goods have been shipped.
Needed to claim at destination and for LC payments.
CoO
Certificate of Origin — document proving goods were manufactured in India. Needed for duty benefits at destination and for LC.
Many buyers and countries require this.
FCL
Full Container Load — your cargo fills an entire container (20ft or 40ft).
Cost-effective for large volumes.
LCL
Less than Container Load — your cargo shares a container with other exporters' cargo. Charged per CBM.
Best for small shipments that don't fill a full container.
CFS
Container Freight Station — a bonded facility near the port where cargo is received, stuffed, and stored.
Your cargo goes here after pickup.
ICD
Inland Container Depot — a dry port inland. Can do customs clearance without going to the sea port.
Useful if you are far from a sea port.
FOB
Free On Board — Incoterm meaning you (the seller) are responsible for costs and risks until the cargo is loaded on the ship.
Most common payment term for Indian exporters.
CIF
Cost, Insurance, Freight — you pay freight + insurance to destination port. Buyer only takes responsibility there.
Sometimes preferred by buyers who want predictable costs.
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid — you pay everything including destination customs duties and last-mile delivery.
More complex and expensive for you, but some buyers prefer it.
FIRC
Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate — issued by your bank when foreign payment arrives. Proof of export earnings.
Required for RoDTEP, Drawback, and GST refund claims.
RoDTEP
Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products — government refund of embedded taxes paid on production inputs.
Free money you are entitled to after every export. Ambeza tracks this for you.
AD Code
Authorised Dealer Code — your bank's code registered at a specific port. Links your bank account to the port.
Mandatory one-time registration per port before first export.
ICEGATE
India Customs Electronic Gateway — the government portal where Shipping Bills, EGMs, and all customs documents are filed.
Your CHA files everything here. You can track your shipment status here too.
DGFT
Directorate General of Foreign Trade — government body that regulates export-import policy, issues IEC, RCMC, and export licences.
You need IEC from DGFT. Check your product's export policy here.
RCMC
Registration Cum Membership Certificate — issued by export promotion councils for specific industries.
Required for some export benefits and certifications.
HSN
Harmonised System of Nomenclature — 8-digit code that classifies your product for customs purposes.
Appears on all export documents. Determines duty rates and RoDTEP rates.
Incoterm
International Commercial Terms — internationally agreed definitions of who bears cost and risk at each stage of shipping (FOB, CIF, DDP, etc.).
Your trade contract with the buyer specifies the Incoterm.
LUT
Letter of Undertaking — filed under GST to allow zero-rated exports without paying IGST upfront.
File this before your first export to save cash flow.
Ready to ship your first export?
We handle everything. You bring the product and the buyer.