DGFT Rules: New QR Code Requirement for Export Incentives 2024

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has moved toward a more robust digital ecosystem by implementing mandatory QR codes on various export authorizations and certificates. As part of the larger IT Revamp under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, this move ensures that customs authorities and banks can verify the authenticity of documents in real-time, reducing the manual burden on SME exporters. Under recent administrative updates, all digitized authorizations including Advance Authorizations, EPCG licenses, and Status Holder Certificates are now issued with unique QR codes. This change is designed to eliminate the physical submission of paper documents at port offices and bank branches, facilitating the Paperless Export mandate. Exporters must ensure that their digital copies reflect these codes and that the information matches the data available on the DGFT dashboard to avoid clearance delays. ## What this means for exporters Indian manufacturers and exporters must now download the revised digital copies of their authorizations from the official portal. As per the DGFT Website guidelines on IT Revamp, these QR-enabled documents are essential for bank verification during the E-BRC filing process. Failure to present a verifiable QR-enabled document may lead to rejections during post-export audit or incentive reconciliation. It is advised to audit all active licenses to ensure they comply with the latest digital signature and QR formatting standards. Reference: Based on the DGFT Portal's IT Revamp and Digital Initiatives guidelines updated for 2024.