Licences
FSSAI Licence and Registration
Basic, State or Central — we work out which one you actually need.
Every business that handles food in India needs an FSSAI registration or licence — manufacturers, restaurants, cloud kitchens, retailers, distributors, importers, and anyone selling food online. The 14-digit number must be displayed on your packaging and, for restaurants, on the premises.
The question that decides everything is which of the three categories you fall into, and that is driven by turnover and by what you do. Applying in the wrong category means starting the process again, with the fee paid the first time gone.
Who needs this
- Restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens and catering businesses
- Food manufacturers, processors and packers
- Retailers, kirana stores and supermarkets selling packaged food
- Wholesalers, distributors and transporters of food
- Importers and exporters of food products — Central licence, regardless of turnover
- Anyone selling food through Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon or their own website
Documents required
Photographs of documents are fine. Nothing needs printing, notarising or couriering to us.
Common to all categories
- Passport-size photograph of the proprietor, partners or directors
- PAN and Aadhaar of the applicant
- Proof of premises — rent agreement with owner NOC, or ownership document
- Recent utility bill for the premises
- Constitution proof — incorporation certificate, partnership deed or Udyam certificate
Additional for State and Central licence
- Layout plan of the processing unit, with dimensions
- List of equipment and machinery with capacity
- List of food categories to be handled
- Water test report from an accredited laboratory
- Form IX — nomination of the person in charge
- Food safety management plan
How the process runs
- Day 1
Category determined
We establish whether you need Basic registration, a State licence or a Central licence, based on turnover, activity and whether you import or export. This is the decision that everything else depends on.
- Day 1–2
Documents assembled
Checklist shared and documents prepared in the formats FoSCoS accepts. Rejections at this stage are almost always about document formatting.
- Day 2–3
Application filed
Form A for Basic registration or Form B for a licence, filed on the FoSCoS portal. You receive the application reference number.
- Day 4–12
Departmental review
The officer may raise queries or, for State and Central applications, order an inspection of the premises. We respond within the window given.
- Day 7–15
Licence issued
The registration certificate or licence is issued with your 14-digit FSSAI number, which must then be displayed on packaging and at the premises.
What the fee covers
Included
- Determination of the correct category
- Document checklist and formatting
- Form A or Form B filing on FoSCoS
- Food category selection
- Response to departmental queries
- Guidance on inspection, where one is ordered
- The registration certificate or licence
Charged separately
- Government fees — billed at cost, and payable per year of validity chosen
- Water testing laboratory charges
- Preparation of layout plans by an architect, where required
- Annual return Form D1, for manufacturers
- Renewal at the end of the licence period
Government charges are passed through at cost with the receipt attached to your invoice. We do not mark them up.
Key facts
| Basic registration | Turnover up to ₹12 lakh per year — Form A |
|---|---|
| State licence | Turnover ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore — Form B |
| Central licence | Turnover above ₹20 crore, importers, exporters, e-commerce, multi-state operations |
| Portal | FoSCoS — Food Safety Compliance System |
| Validity | 1 to 5 years, chosen at application |
| Renewal | Apply at least 30 days before expiry |
| Licence number | 14 digits, must be displayed on packaging and premises |
Questions people ask
Turnover up to ₹12 lakh a year is Basic registration. Between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore is a State licence. Above ₹20 crore is Central. But turnover is not the only test — importers, exporters, e-commerce food sellers and businesses operating in more than one state need a Central licence regardless of how small they are. We check all of it before filing.
Yes. There is no exemption for scale. A home-based food business selling even modest quantities needs at least Basic registration, and platforms like Swiggy and Zomato will not onboard you without a valid FSSAI number. The Basic registration government fee is ₹100 per year, so the cost is not the obstacle.
You can choose one to five years, and the government fee is charged per year. Taking five years costs more upfront but saves you the renewal process and the risk of letting it lapse. For an established business, five years is usually the sensible choice.
Operating with an expired licence is treated as operating without one, which carries a penalty that can run to ₹5 lakh. Renewal must be applied for at least 30 days before expiry; applying late attracts a fee of ₹100 per day. Once it has fully lapsed you must apply fresh.
For Basic registration, usually not. For State and Central licences an inspection is common, and the officer will check hygiene, storage, pest control and water quality against the schedule 4 requirements. We tell you exactly what will be looked at beforehand so it is not a surprise.
Not sure this is the right filing for you?
Fifteen free minutes with the team. We will tell you which registration applies to your situation — and which ones you have been told you need but do not.
Statutory fees, thresholds and forms described on this page were accurate when last reviewed and are subject to change by the relevant authority. We confirm the current position before filing on your behalf. This page is general information, not advice on your specific situation.