How to Get an FSSAI Licence: Documents, Process, Fees, Validity and Renewal

Getting an FSSAI registration or licence is done entirely online, and for small food businesses it is now quick and cheap. This guide walks through the documents you need, the application steps on the FoSCoS portal, what it costs, and what you must keep doing after you are approved. It reflects the rules in force from 1 April 2026, when the turnover limits went up and licences stopped expiring.

Before You Apply: Know Which Type You Need

Your turnover and kind of business decide which form you file:

Basic registration (Form A) for turnover up to ₹1.5 crore
State licence (Form B) for turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore
Central licence (Form B) for turnover above ₹50 crore, and for importers, exporters, e-commerce food businesses and multi-state manufacturers regardless of turnover

Some kinds of business need a State or Central licence whatever their turnover, including dairy units and slaughterhouses. Check your category on FoSCoS before you choose, because applying under the wrong type is a common reason for rejection. Also remember that a registration or licence is issued for one specific premises. Two outlets, or a kitchen and a separate warehouse, each need their own.

Documents You Need

For basic registration

Photo ID of the owner: Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID or passport
Address proof of the premises, such as a recent electricity bill (not older than three months), a rent agreement, or an NOC from the owner
A passport-size photograph
A list of the food products you make or sell
A self-declaration that you will follow food safety and hygiene rules

For a State or Central licence

You need the documents above for every proprietor, partner or director, plus:

Proof that you have the right to use the premises: a registered rent agreement, leave-and-licence deed or ownership deed
A layout plan of the kitchen, processing or storage area, drawn to scale with dimensions
A list of food categories and products you will make, store or sell
A list of machinery and equipment, with capacity where relevant
A water test report from a recognised laboratory, for manufacturers and processors
A food safety management plan describing how you keep food safe
Constitution documents: a certificate of incorporation, partnership deed or LLP agreement
An NOC from the local body, where your state requires one
An Import Export Code for importers and exporters
Special approvals, such as a product approval for proprietary or novel foods

The exact list shown on FoSCoS depends on the kind of business you select, so treat this as a guide and follow the portal's checklist.

Avoid these document mistakes

Blurred, cropped or partly cut-off scans
A business name or address on the application that does not match your address proof exactly, including spelling and abbreviations
A missing water test report for a manufacturing unit
Food categories in the application that do not match what you actually produce

How to Apply on FoSCoS, Step by Step

All applications go through the Food Safety Compliance System, FoSCoS, at foscos.fssai.gov.in. There is no offline route.

Create an account. Sign up with your mobile number and email address and verify both with OTPs. If you are applying for a company or firm, use the authorised signatory's details, because every notice and your final certificate will arrive in this account.
Choose your state and kind of business. Select the state where you operate and the kind of business you run, such as restaurant, manufacturer, retailer, caterer or e-commerce seller. The portal uses this choice to work out which category applies and which documents you need, so select it carefully.
Fill in the form. Form A for basic registration is short. Form B for a State or Central licence is more detailed and asks about capacity, equipment, water source, food categories and your food safety arrangements. Complete every mandatory field.
Upload your documents in the format the portal asks for, with clear, complete scans.
Pay the government fee online by net banking, UPI or card. The fee is not refunded once paid, even if the application is rejected, so check the category first.
Submit and save your reference. Download the acknowledgement, which carries the reference ID you use to track the application.
Answer any query. For licence applications, a Food Safety Officer may raise questions or ask for more documents. Reply within 30 days, or the application can be treated as withdrawn and you will have to start again.
Get inspected, if required. Applications for a State or Central licence usually involve a physical inspection of the premises. Make sure the kitchen or unit is fully set up and running before the officer visits.
Download your certificate from FoSCoS once approved, and note your 14-digit FSSAI number.

How long it takes

Basic registration: typically about a week, with no inspection for most small businesses
State licence: often one to two months, including inspection
Central licence: often longer, up to around three months

These are typical timelines from providers, not guarantees, and they stretch if a query goes unanswered or an inspection fails.

After you get your number

Show your FSSAI number and certificate at your premises and put the number on your invoices and, if you make packaged food, on every label. Delivery platforms and marketplaces will ask for it before they list you.

Fees and Validity

Government fees

Government fees are set per year and paid on FoSCoS. The amounts quoted by providers in 2026 are:

Basic registration: ₹100 a year
State licence: ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a year, depending on the kind of business and its scale. Many food service establishments such as restaurants and caterers sit at the lower end, while larger processors and bigger hotels are charged more.
Central licence: ₹7,500 a year

These are the government's charges only. If you use a consultant, their fee is separate, and you can apply directly on FoSCoS yourself. Government fees are not refunded once paid. FoSCoS lets you pay for more than one year at a time, in which case the total is the annual fee multiplied by the number of years. Because fee rules have been changing since the 2026 reforms, check the amount shown on FoSCoS for your category before you pay.

Validity: no more renewal, but the annual fee stays

Until early 2026, licences were issued for one to five years and had to be renewed. Under the amendment regulations notified on 10 March 2026, a licence or registration is now valid until it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered. There is no renewal cycle.

That does not mean nothing is due each year:

The annual fee is still payable. If you do not pay it, the licence is treated as suspended, and you cannot carry on food business activity until you clear it.
You must keep following hygiene and safety rules. These apply as long as you trade, licence or not.
You must update your details when things change. A licence is issued for a specific premises, category and set of food products, so changes need an application on FoSCoS rather than a renewal.

Tip: pay more than one year at a time

A missed annual payment leads to suspension without warning, and platforms that check your licence status can delist you. Paying several years in advance, if the portal offers it for your category, removes the risk of forgetting.

Staying Compliant After You Are Approved

If you already hold an older licence

Guidance on licences issued before April 2026 has been inconsistent. Some sources say they moved to perpetual validity automatically, while others advise renewing one last time if the licence showed an expiry date. A licence that lapsed before the change may need to be restored. Check its status on FoSCoS or with your licensing authority before assuming you are covered, since operating on a lapsed licence is an offence.

Changes you must tell FSSAI about

File a modification on FoSCoS when:

Your turnover crosses the limit for your category, which means upgrading to the next tier
Your turnover falls into a lower category, in which case you apply for the lower registration and surrender the old licence
Your address, business constitution or product categories change
You start a new premises, which needs its own registration or licence

After any change, update your FSSAI number on labels, invoices and records.

If you close the business

If you shut your food business, tell the licensing authority in writing within 30 days and surrender the licence or registration. Fees already paid are not refunded.

Annual return

State and Central licence holders must file an annual return in Form D-1 on FoSCoS by 31 May for the previous financial year, covering the food categories handled, volumes and turnover. Businesses holding only a basic registration are generally exempt. Requirements for returns and reports have been evolving since the 2026 reforms, so check FoSCoS for what applies to you.

Hygiene, records and inspections

Follow the hygiene and sanitary rules in Schedule 4 of the licensing regulations.
Keep records of your suppliers, cleaning, pest control and, for manufacturers, production and raw material use, and have them ready for inspection.
Have trained food safety staff. The rules call for at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor for every 25 food handlers.
Expect risk-based inspections. Frequency now depends on the type of food, your compliance history and audit results, and officers can direct a business to undergo a third-party food safety audit at its own cost.

Why Applications Get Rejected or Delayed

Wrong category. Applying for basic registration when your kind of business needs a licence, or the reverse.
Incomplete forms. Blank mandatory fields in Form B, especially capacity, equipment and water source.
Mismatched details. The name or address on your documents does not match the application.
Poor scans. Blurry or cropped documents.
Food categories that do not match reality. Officers compare your declared products with what they see at inspection.
Ignored queries. Not responding within 30 days.
Premises not ready. Requesting an inspection before the kitchen or unit is fully set up.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees, forms and processes change by notification, so confirm current details on FoSCoS before you apply.