The India USA Trade Facilitation Portal is a Government of India B2B platform that connects verified Indian exporters with buyers in the United States. It is hosted by the Consulate General of India, New York, backed by the Ministry of External Affairs, and ICAI is inviting its members to join it for services such as bookkeeping, accounting and consultancy.
ICAI’s announcement says no IEC code is required. The live portal, however, asks every exporter for an IEC in the very first step of registration. This guide gives you both sides clearly: what ICAI announced, what the portal actually asks today, the documents to keep ready, and a step by step path to a verified profile.
Table of Contents
Official portal and ICAI announcement
Portal: indiausatrade.mea.gov.in (India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal, Consulate General of India, New York). ICAI’s global page: www.global.icai.org. ICAI member helpdesk for this portal: global@icai.in. Portal support: support.indiausatrade@mea.gov.in, Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM IST.
ICAI’s announcement of the India USA Trade Facilitation Portal for its members.
India USA Trade Facilitation Portal at a glance
| What it is | A B2B platform matching Indian exporters (suppliers) with US based importers (buyers) |
| Run by | Consulate General of India, New York, with the Embassy of India, Washington DC and other Indian consulates in the USA, backed by the Ministry of External Affairs |
| Who can register | Indian exporters of goods and services, and US based importers |
| Cost | Free. Registration and use of the portal’s features are free for exporters and importers |
| First step needs | Your IEC (Importer Exporter Code) as an exporter, or an EIN or SSN certificate as a US importer |
| Who verifies you | The industry body you belong to: a Chamber of Commerce, an association or an Export Promotion Council |
| Extra for ICAI members | ICAI is promoting member onboarding through its Global Trade and Services Committee, and registered members are eligible for a Virtual Exhibition in December 2026 |
What ICAI announced for its members
ICAI says it is authorised by the Ministry of External Affairs to verify ICAI members on the portal. Its pitch to members is simple. Your ICAI verified identity adds credibility with US buyers who do not know your firm. The focus services named by ICAI are bookkeeping, accounting and consultancy, which means this is aimed at practising firms, not only goods exporters.
Two more points from the announcement matter. First, ICAI says no IEC code is required to register. Second, members who register early become eligible to take part in a Virtual Exhibition in December 2026 and showcase their firm’s services globally.
ICAI’s Global Trade and Services Committee facilitates member onboarding and verification for the portal. If you are a member and want the ICAI route, the committee’s helpdesk is global@icai.in.
The IEC question: what the portal actually asks today
We checked the live registration form on 2 November 2026. The first screen asks you to choose Exporter or Importer, then what you deal in, and then, for exporters, your Importer Exporter Code. The Verify and Continue button stays disabled until a valid IEC is entered. There is no ICAI membership field anywhere on the form.
The live registration page. For exporters, the IEC field is mandatory in step one itself.
So the honest position today is this. ICAI’s no-IEC route for members is either yet to go live on the portal or runs through a separate ICAI process. On the public portal, an exporter needs an IEC to register. If your firm already has an IEC, register right away. If it does not, you can apply for an IEC on the DGFT portal, or write to global@icai.in and ask how member onboarding without an IEC will work.
Do not let this gap put you off. An IEC is a one time registration, and the rest of this guide assumes you have one or are applying for one.
Documents to keep ready before you register
The India USA Trade Facilitation Portal FAQ lists what an exporter needs. Keep scanned copies ready before you start, so the form takes minutes, not days.
| Document | Needed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IEC certificate | Exporter | The system validates your IEC instantly using system checks, and the certificate is uploaded during registration |
| GST registration certificate | Exporter | Listed as mandatory in the portal FAQ |
| Certificate of Incorporation | Exporter | For companies. Other business identity documents apply for other constitutions |
| PAN card copy | Exporter | Listed as mandatory in the portal FAQ |
| Aadhaar of authorised personnel | Exporter | Used for identity verification and auto verified by the system |
| EIN certificate (CP575 or 147C) or W-9 | US importer | The system uses OCR to auto validate the EIN certificate |
| ISO, BIS or FSSAI certificates | If applicable | Only where your products or sector require them |
India USA Trade Facilitation Portal registration: 7 steps
The portal’s landing page at indiausatrade.mea.gov.in.
Step 1: Open the portal and click Register. Go to indiausatrade.mea.gov.in and start from the Register option. Registration is free.
Step 2: Choose your role. Pick Exporter if you are an Indian business or professional selling to the USA. US buyers pick Importer.
Step 3: Select what you deal in. Choose Products, Services, or Both. A CA firm offering bookkeeping, accounting or consultancy selects Services.
Step 4: Enter your IEC and verify. Type your Importer Exporter Code and use Verify and Continue. Per the portal FAQ, the IEC is validated instantly, and you upload the IEC certificate as part of registration.
Step 5: Complete the business profile and upload documents. Fill in your business identity details and authorised personnel, and upload the GST certificate, incorporation certificate, PAN copy and other documents from the list above. Documents pass through OCR checks.
Step 6: Industry body verification. Your profile is sent to the Chamber of Commerce, association or Export Promotion Council you belong to. Its nodal officer reviews your membership and documents. Approval time depends on that body, and you are notified by email once approved.
Step 7: Log in and complete your public profile. After approval, log in to the India USA Trade Facilitation Portal, finish your profile and present your services properly. Two step authentication is enabled for all users, and a complete profile is what US buyers judge you by.
The portal also publishes step by step Exporter Guide and Importer Guide videos on the registration page. Watch the exporter video once before you begin, it shows the same screens you will fill.
Who should register, and what it can do for you
The portal’s Exporter Journey: direct connect with US buyers, smart search and support, and AI powered business matching.
Register if you export goods to the USA, or if you sell services that US businesses buy from India: bookkeeping, accounting, tax support, virtual CFO work and business consultancy are the obvious ones for our readers. A verified listing on a government backed platform costs nothing and puts you in front of US importers who are actively looking for Indian partners.
For CA firms there is an added reason. ICAI is publicly pushing its members onto this portal, and the December 2026 Virtual Exhibition is open only to registered members. Early, complete profiles are the ones that get showcased.
Firms building an export practice may also like our guides on the India New Zealand FTA export opportunity and the Rajasthan gems export subsidy, which cover two other live routes to overseas business.
What the portal does not promise
Be clear about the limits before you invest time. ICAI itself states that it acts only as a facilitator, and does not guarantee the allocation of assignments or business opportunities. The portal’s own disclaimer says it is an informational and facilitative platform, and does not amount to an endorsement, certification, approval or guarantee by the Government of India.
In plain words: registration on the India USA Trade Facilitation Portal gives you a verified shop window in front of US buyers. Winning work still depends on your profile, your pricing and your follow up, like any other channel.
How Karwa & Associates can help
If you want to use the India USA Trade Facilitation Portal well, three things decide the result: the right registrations in place (IEC, GST and your industry body membership), a profile that reads like a firm a US buyer can trust, and clarity on how export income will be taxed and received in India. Our team at Karwa & Associates, Chartered Accountants, Jaipur works on exactly these questions for exporters and service firms across India. Reach us through our contact page and we will help you get export ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is registration on the India USA Trade Facilitation Portal free?
Yes. The portal FAQ states that registration and use of its features are completely free for both Indian exporters and US based importers.
ICAI says no IEC is required. The portal asks for an IEC. Which is correct?
Both statements exist today. ICAI’s announcement to members says no IEC code is required to register. The live portal’s registration form makes the IEC mandatory for exporters in step one. Until the ICAI member route appears on the portal, an IEC is the practical way in.
Who verifies an exporter’s profile?
The industry body you selected during registration, such as a Chamber of Commerce, an association or an Export Promotion Council. Its nodal officer reviews your membership and documents, and approval is intimated by email.
How long does approval take? There is no fixed timeline. The India USA Trade Facilitation Portal says approval time depends on the industry body verifying your membership. Importer accounts are simpler and are activated after email and mobile verification.
Can a CA firm register for services, or is this only for goods?
Services are included. The registration form itself offers Services under “I Deal In”, and ICAI is promoting the portal to members for bookkeeping, accounting and consultancy work.
Does registering guarantee US clients?
No. ICAI and the portal both state clearly that they only facilitate connections. They do not guarantee assignments, business or any transaction.
About the Author
Written and reviewed by CA Anshul Karwa, Chartered Accountant (DISA-qualified) associated with Karwa & Associates, Chartered Accountants, Jaipur. The firm advises businesses across India on taxation, exports and cross border compliance.
CA Anshul Karwa is a Chartered Accountant (DISA-qualified) and Partner at Karwa & Associates, Chartered Accountants, Jaipur. A non-commerce student who cleared CA in the first attempt, he worked with Big 4 firms and MNCs before joining the firm. He also builds digital apps, websites and tools for CAs, founders and other professionals, and writes books on investing.