DGFT Scraps the UIN and Declaration-of-Intent Step for Export Factoring Under the Export Promotion Mission

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has simplified how exporters access export factoring support under the Export Promotion Mission. Through Trade Notice No. 32/2026-27, dated 26 October 2026, DGFT has removed the requirement to file a declaration of intent and obtain a Unique Identification Number (UIN) before availing the support. Going forward, an exporter is identified by its Importer Exporter Code (IEC) alone at the application, claim and disbursal stages. In plain terms: one registration step is gone, and the IEC an exporter already holds does the job the UIN used to do.

What Happened

The new Trade Notice amends the earlier Trade Notice No. 25/2025-26 (dated 20 February 2026) that had set up the export factoring support mechanism. The key changes are:

• Exporters no longer need to submit a declaration of intent or secure a UIN in advance to avail export factoring support.
• Exporters will henceforth be identified through their IEC across the application, claim and disbursal workflow.
• UINs already issued under the earlier framework will no longer have any effect.
• Factors (the financial institutions that purchase the receivables and upload transaction data to the DGFT portal) must still register on the portal before uploading data.

The notice was issued under file reference F. No. 01/02/34/AM-26/EPM. It does not spell out a separate effective date; claims for eligible transactions dating back to 20 February 2026 can be filed once the portal is operational, with claim timelines for earlier transactions running from the date of the notice.

Why This Matters

Export factoring lets an exporter sell its export receivables to a factor and get paid upfront, improving cash flow and transferring buyer-credit risk. Under the Export Promotion Mission, eligible factoring transactions attract government support. The earlier design required exporters to pre-register their intent and carry a separate UIN — an extra identifier layered on top of the IEC that every exporter already has. Removing it cuts duplication and the risk of claims stalling because a UIN was missing or mismatched.

Who Benefits

Exporters — particularly MSMEs that rely on factoring to bridge the gap between shipment and payment — benefit from a lighter onboarding path. The Trade Notice also confirms that MSME exporters receiving Interest Subvention support may claim under both schemes, provided the same invoice or interest cost is not claimed twice under both. Factors benefit from a cleaner, IEC-keyed data trail. Customs house agents and freight forwarders are not directly affected, but may field questions from exporter clients about the change.

What Exporters Should Do Now

• Stop relying on any UIN previously issued for export factoring — it no longer has effect. Use your IEC for all applications, claims and disbursals.
• Confirm your IEC details are current on the DGFT portal (address, bank account, authorised signatory) so claims are not held up by stale master data.
• If you are an MSME also availing Interest Subvention, set up internal controls to ensure the same invoice or interest cost is not claimed twice across the two schemes.
• Coordinate with your factor to confirm they have registered on the DGFT portal and are uploading transaction data under your IEC.
• Watch for the portal module to go live and note the claim timelines, which run from the date of the Trade Notice for earlier transactions.

The Bigger Picture

The move fits a broader DGFT pattern of collapsing standalone registrations into the IEC-based identity that already anchors India's trade system. Fewer identifiers mean fewer reconciliation failures and faster disbursals — a theme running through recent DGFT process reforms. For an exporter, the practical takeaway is that the IEC is increasingly the single key to scheme benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to surrender my old UIN? The Trade Notice states existing UINs cease to have effect; there is no indication a formal surrender is required. Simply switch to using your IEC. Confirm the process on the DGFT portal.

Does this change who is eligible for export factoring support? No. It changes the identification and onboarding mechanism, not the eligibility criteria for the support itself.

Can MSME exporters still claim Interest Subvention? Yes. The notice allows claims under both export factoring support and Interest Subvention, as long as the same invoice or interest cost is not claimed twice.

From when can I file claims? Claims for eligible transactions from 20 February 2026 can be filed once the portal becomes operational; timelines for earlier transactions run from the date of the Trade Notice.

Conclusion

By retiring the UIN and declaration-of-intent step, DGFT has made export factoring support under the Export Promotion Mission easier to access, with the IEC now serving as the single identifier. Exporters should update their portal master data, align factoring arrangements with their factor's portal registration, and guard against double-claiming where Interest Subvention also applies.

This summary is for general guidance. Verify the exact wording, conditions and timelines against DGFT Trade Notice No. 32/2026-27 on the official DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) before acting.