ANF-9A registration is the DGFT application route for an entity seeking recognition as Exporter-on-Record under India’s inventory-based cross-border e-commerce export framework. The form requires IEC, GSTIN, ownership, e-commerce relationship, export-market and warehouse disclosures, together with supporting documents and binding compliance undertakings.
The main reader problem is that ANF-9A is not a simple name-and-address form. Applicants must understand who is eligible, how to disclose foreign investment, what warehouse information to provide, which documents must accompany the application, what changes must be reported later and what legal consequences attach to an inaccurate declaration.
What ANF-9A registration requires
An applicant must provide entity, IEC, PAN, GSTIN, authorised-signatory, FDI, e-commerce relationship, turnover, proposed export-country, platform and warehouse details. The completed form and listed supporting records must be submitted through the route stated in the published ANF-9A.
Submission position on August 5, 2026
Public Notice No. 25/2026-27 introduced ANF-9A with immediate effect. The published form presently instructs applicants to email the completed application and scanned supporting documents to the DGFT e-commerce address printed in the form.
- ANF-9A registration is required for Exporter-on-Record recognition under this framework.
- The applicant must disclose IEC, PAN and GSTIN.
- Foreign investment and the relationship with the e-commerce entity must be disclosed.
- Every proposed warehouse or export-inventory location must be listed.
- Material changes must be reported to DGFT within 30 days through a revised ANF-9A.
- The reviewed official material does not establish that a dedicated online ANF-9A module is live.
- No standard processing deadline for approval is stated in the form.
- No fixed application fee is stated in the reviewed ANF-9A pages.
- Submission does not itself prove registration approval.
- No automatic eligibility for export rebates or refunds follows merely from filing the form.
Table of contents
What does ANF-9A registration mean?
ANF-9A is titled “Application for Registration as Exporter-on-Record under the Inventory-based Cross-Border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework.” It is the application form notified through DGFT Public Notice No. 25/2026-27.
ANF-9A registration is not the same as obtaining an IEC. The applicant must already disclose an IEC and GSTIN, and the form is used for the additional Exporter-on-Record registration created by the new framework.
Filing ANF-9A does not by itself establish approval. DGFT may examine whether the applicant satisfies the framework’s eligibility conditions and may confirm, modify, suspend or cancel registration as appropriate.
Who can apply for ANF-9A registration?
The policy framework identifies the Exporter-on-Record as the registered entity that holds a valid IEC and GSTIN, procures goods from Sellers-on-Record, owns the export inventory and undertakes the export.
Valid IEC
The applicant must provide its Importer-Exporter Code in the general-information section.
Valid GSTIN
The applicant must provide its GST registration number and identify GST registration for inventory locations.
Eligible legal entity
The form accommodates proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, companies and other forms of constitution.
Where the framework is used in connection with the relevant FDI-policy exception for inventory-based export operations, the applicant must disclose its foreign investment and relationship with the associated e-commerce entity. The underlying framework requires the export operations to be conducted through a separate Indian legal entity where applicable.
What information must be entered in ANF-9A?
| ANF-9A section | Information requested | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| General information | IEC, PAN, GSTIN, legal name, constitution, incorporation date, registered office and authorised-signatory details | Reconcile all identifiers and addresses before filing |
| FDI and e-commerce disclosure | Foreign-investment percentage, investor names and countries, associated e-commerce entity and relationship | Prepare current shareholding and group-structure evidence |
| Export particulars | Total turnover and export turnover for the previous three financial years, plus proposed export countries | Use consistent financial records and leave prior-year fields blank only where the form permits |
| E-commerce operations | Platforms through which exports are proposed and the applicant’s relationship with each platform | Identify whether the relationship is a seller account, fulfilment arrangement, affiliate relationship or another model |
| Warehouse and inventory locations | Address, GST registration, E-Commerce Export Hub status, storage capacity, ownership and operator details | Prepare a complete location register rather than listing only the principal warehouse |
Which documents must accompany ANF-9A registration?
The annexure to ANF-9A lists the following supporting documents:
Authority to sign
A board resolution or letter of authorisation in favour of the authorised signatory.
Relationship evidence
Documentary evidence showing the relationship between the applicant and the e-commerce entity, such as shareholding, a group-structure chart or board composition.
Warehouse evidence
Details of warehouses and inventory locations, including ownership or lease documents as applicable.
Additional records
Any other document required by DGFT during examination of the application.
The phrase “any other document as required” means applicants should not treat the four-line document list as a guarantee that no further evidence will be requested. A defensible filing should be internally consistent across IEC, GST, corporate, shareholding, platform and warehouse records.
What warehouse and inventory-location disclosures are required?
ANF-9A registration requires details of every location where export inventory will be held, including any notified E-Commerce Export Hub facility.
For each location, the form asks for:
- the full address;
- GST registration applicable to that location;
- whether it is an E-Commerce Export Hub facility;
- approximate storage capacity;
- whether the location is owned or leased;
- operator details.
This location information matters because the operational procedure requires the Exporter-on-Record’s digital repository to remain functional across multiple locations and to link procurement records, GST invoices and export documents to each Seller-on-Record.
How should ANF-9A registration be submitted?
Complete the form
Fill every applicable section and avoid inconsistencies between statutory identifiers and supporting records.
Sign the declaration
The authorised signatory must accept the undertakings and consequences stated in the form.
Scan the application
Prepare scanned copies of the completed form and the supporting documents listed in the annexure.
Use the stated email route
The published form directs submission to the DGFT e-commerce email address printed on ANF-9A.
Retain the submission record
Keep the sent email, attachments and delivery evidence as part of the application file.
Respond to DGFT queries
Be prepared to provide clarification or additional records if DGFT examines eligibility or documentary consistency.
The DGFT Aayat Niryat Forms page was checked, but a dedicated public ANF-9A online-application workflow was not established during the latest verification. Applicants should follow the route printed in the current official form unless DGFT publishes a newer instruction.
What changes must be reported after registration?
The Exporter-on-Record must report a material change within 30 days using a revised ANF-9A.
Entity changes
Constitution, legal name, registered office or authorised signatory.
Ownership changes
Shareholding pattern, FDI structure or relationship with the e-commerce entity.
Operational changes
Warehouse locations, platforms, contact details, surrender of registration or another material change.
After receiving the intimation, DGFT may examine whether the Exporter-on-Record continues to satisfy the eligibility conditions and may confirm, modify, suspend or cancel the registration.
What does the ANF-9A declaration commit the applicant to?
The declaration is not a routine formality. The applicant confirms that the information is true, complete and not materially concealed, and undertakes to comply with the Foreign Trade law, FTP, HBP, Customs Act, FEMA, GST law and other applicable rules.
The form identifies possible consequences for breach, including:
- cancellation or suspension of Exporter-on-Record registration;
- suspension or cancellation of the IEC;
- placement in the Denied Entity List;
- recovery of export rebates and refunds with applicable interest;
- penal or prosecution proceedings;
- another action warranted under applicable law.
Examples identified in the declaration include domestic diversion of export inventory, delayed or contingent seller payment, misallocation of seller-attributable benefits, origin misrepresentation, failure to maintain records, false information and unauthorised disclosure relating to a Seller-on-Record.
ANF-9A registration pre-submission checklist
Identity and authority
- IEC, PAN and GSTIN match the legal applicant.
- Registered-office details are current.
- The authorised signatory has documentary authority.
Ownership and platform relationship
- Foreign-investment percentage is current.
- Investor names and countries are correctly disclosed.
- The associated e-commerce relationship is supported by documents.
Export and warehouse details
- Turnover figures reconcile with financial records.
- Proposed countries and platforms are listed.
- Every inventory location and operator is included.
Submission and retention
- All applicable fields are completed.
- Supporting documents are readable and consistently named.
- The sent email and attachment set will be retained.
Official DGFT resources
Related ThePulseSignal guide
India’s e-commerce export framework explained
Read the policy explainer covering Exporter-on-Record and Seller-on-Record roles, inventory restrictions, seller payments, benefits and returns.
Documents required to transfer shares after death
A separate document-led compliance guide showing how official procedures can be translated into an actionable checklist.
How this was verified
ThePulseSignal reviewed DGFT Public Notice No. 25/2026-27 and all ten pages of its annexed ANF-9A application. The review covered the application fields, FDI and platform disclosures, export particulars, warehouse table, amendment categories, declaration, consequences and the supporting-document list.
DGFT’s public-notice page, Aayat Niryat Forms page, application-help page and customer portal were checked for a dedicated ANF-9A online workflow or later application instruction. The current official form’s email-submission instruction remains the controlling public route identified during this check.
DGFT Notification No. 27/2026-27 was used to confirm the underlying Exporter-on-Record eligibility and framework context. Secondary reporting was not used as the controlling source.
Last verified: August 5, 2026, approximately 9:15 PM IST.
Limitations and unresolved facts
- The reviewed official material does not state a standard DGFT processing time for ANF-9A registration.
- No fixed application fee was identified in the published ANF-9A pages.
- A dedicated public online ANF-9A filing module was not established during the latest portal check.
- The official documents do not establish commercial onboarding by any particular e-commerce platform.
- DGFT may request additional documents beyond the items expressly listed in the annexure.
- Registration does not replace Customs, GST, FEMA, ITC(HS), product or destination-country compliance.
Frequently asked questions
What is ANF-9A registration?
It is the DGFT application process for registration as Exporter-on-Record under the inventory-based cross-border e-commerce facilitation framework.
Does ANF-9A replace an IEC application?
No. The applicant must disclose an existing IEC in ANF-9A.
Is a GSTIN required?
Yes. The form asks for the applicant’s GSTIN and GST registration details for inventory locations.
Which documents are expressly listed?
Authorised-signatory authority, relationship evidence with the e-commerce entity, warehouse or inventory-location documents and any other document required by DGFT.
How is ANF-9A currently submitted?
The published form directs applicants to email the completed application and scanned documents to the DGFT address printed in the form.
Is there a stated approval timeline?
No standard processing deadline was identified in the reviewed official documents.
When must registration details be updated?
A material change must be intimated to DGFT within 30 days through a revised ANF-9A.
Can DGFT suspend or cancel the registration?
Yes. DGFT may examine continuing eligibility and may confirm, modify, suspend or cancel registration as appropriate.