AD Code registration, done right at every port.
Legalkarobar.com gets your bank AD Code letter issued in the correct format, verifies it against your IEC and PAN, and registers it with customs at every port you ship through — so shipments don't sit waiting on a document technicality.
What's included in registration
What is an AD Code, and why is it registered per port?
The Authorised Dealer (AD) Code is a 14-digit code your bank assigns to the branch handling your foreign exchange transactions — and customs treats its registration as specific to each individual port.
A banking code that customs verifies per shipment
Every import or export payment eventually moves through a bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange for that transaction. The AD Code tells customs which bank branch is responsible for that trade, so remittances can be tracked and reconciled against the correct shipment.
Unlike an IEC, which is a single company-wide code, the AD Code has to be separately registered against every port you use — a sea port, an air cargo complex, and an Inland Container Depot (ICD) each need their own registration entry, even for the same bank account.
Bank-issued
Comes from the branch handling your export-import forex account.
Port-specific
A fresh registration is needed for each port added to your shipping plan.
Format-sensitive
Missing a stamp or signatory on the bank letter is the most common rejection cause.
ICEGATE-linked
Once registered, it's mapped into your ICEGATE profile for filing.
Anyone whose shipment involves a foreign currency payment
Documents needed — and where AD Code letters usually go wrong
Most delays trace back to the bank letter, not customs — getting the format right the first time is what keeps this to 2–4 working days.
Signed AD Code letter, on bank letterhead
Must show the branch IFSC, AD Code number, and an authorised signatory's stamp.
Valid IEC certificate
Entity name and address must match the AD Code letter exactly.
PAN & GSTIN of the entity
Cross-checked against both the IEC and the bank letter.
Cancelled cheque of the forex account
Confirms the account number tied to the AD Code.
Port codes for each location
The specific sea port, air cargo complex, or ICD code being registered.
Existing ICEGATE login (if already registered)
So the new port can be mapped into your live profile directly.
Four stages, 2–4 working days per port
Bank AD Code Letter
We draft the request in the bank's required format and coordinate with your relationship manager to get it signed.
Document Verification
IEC, PAN, GSTIN and the AD Code letter are checked for name and address consistency before submission.
Port-Wise Registration
The AD Code is submitted for registration against each specific sea, air, or ICD port you use.
Confirmation & ICEGATE Mapping
Once customs confirms it, the AD Code is mapped into your ICEGATE profile, ready to file.
AD Code vs. IEC vs. ICEGATE registration
Three separate registrations, three separate authorities — all required before your first shipment clears.
| Item | IEC | ICEGATE Registration | AD Code Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued/registered by | DGFT | Customs (linked to IEC) | Your bank, registered with customs |
| What it proves | Legal permission to import/export | Ability to file electronically with customs | Which bank handles the shipment's forex |
| Scope | Company-wide, one code | One profile, linked to the IEC | Registered separately per port |
| Typical timeline | 1–2 working days | 3–5 working days, all ports together | 2–4 working days per port |
| Changes when | Business details change | New signatory or DSC expires | Bank changes or a new port is added |
Setting up ICEGATE for the first time? See our ICEGATE registration guide — AD Code registration is one part of that larger process.
AD Code registration, explained in under 3 minutes
AD Code Registration Walkthrough — Step by Step
Our compliance team explains how to get the bank letter issued correctly, what customs checks it against, and how registration is completed port by port — the same four stages covered in the How It Works section above.
Read video transcriptTranscript: This walkthrough explains AD Code registration in four stages. First, we draft the AD Code letter request in your bank's required format and coordinate with your relationship manager until it is signed and stamped. Second, we verify that the entity name and address on the letter match your IEC and PAN exactly, since mismatches are the leading cause of rejection. Third, we submit the AD Code for registration against each specific port — sea, air, or ICD — in your shipping plan. Fourth, once customs confirms the registration, we map the AD Code into your ICEGATE profile so it is ready to use on your next shipping bill or bill of entry.
We chase the bank, so you don't have to
The single biggest bottleneck in AD Code registration is waiting on the bank to issue a correctly formatted letter. We coordinate directly with your relationship manager, catch formatting issues before submission, and register every port in one pass instead of one at a time.
Bank liaison included
We follow up directly with your bank's trade desk instead of leaving that back-and-forth to you.
Every port registered together
If your shipping plan covers three ports, we file all three rather than waiting for each shipment to reveal a gap.
Rejection diagnosis, not just re-filing
If customs rejects a registration, we identify the specific mismatch before resubmitting it.
Also handled alongside AD Code
What businesses say after registering
Our bank kept sending the AD Code letter back for the wrong format. Legalkarobar.com dealt with the relationship manager directly and it was sorted in two days.
We added a second port mid-year and didn't realise the AD Code needed separate registration there too. They caught it before it held up a shipment.
Switched our export banking to a new bank and assumed the old AD Code registration would just carry over. It doesn't — glad they flagged it before we shipped.
AD Code registration questions, answered
Talk to our customs compliance team
Share your bank details and the ports you ship through — we'll confirm the letter format, documents, and timeline for your AD Code registration within 24 hours.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted about AD Code registration and related compliance services.