FSSAI Registration: Basic, State or Central Licence and Fees

From 1 April 2026, a food business with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore needs only basic FSSAI registration, which costs ₹100 a year. Turnover above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore needs a state licence, and above ₹50 crore a central licence. You apply for all three on the FoSCoS portal, and new registrations and licences no longer expire.

The old limit for basic registration was ₹12 lakh. Many guides still quote it, but FSSAI replaced it with an order dated 13 March 2026.

Key facts

Who needs FSSAI registration

Anyone who makes, stores, sells, distributes or imports food as a business needs a registration or a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. That covers home kitchens selling tiffins, cloud kitchens, restaurants, grocers, caterers, distributors and manufacturers.

Under the 2026 amendment, street food vendors, hawkers, food carts and food trucks already registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 are deemed registered with FSSAI. They do not need a second registration, but they must still follow the hygiene rules in Schedule 4 of the 2011 Licensing Regulations.

Basic, state and central: turnover limits

The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026 were notified on 10 March 2026. They let FSSAI set turnover limits by order, and the 13 March 2026 order fixed the new limits from 1 April 2026.

Turnover is not the only test. Some kinds of business have been placed under central licensing whatever their size; FSSAI’s own FAQs name food businesses at airports and seaports, and importers go to the central category. Use the eligibility check on the FoSCoS home page, which asks for your state and kind of business and tells you which category applies.

If you already hold a state licence and now fall under registration, FSSAI says the move happens on FoSCoS on your self-declaration. There is no modification fee, your number stays the same, and the fee you paid is adjusted against the registration fee.

Fees and validity

Schedule 3 of the Licensing Regulations sets these annual fees:

A licence fee is not refundable. A duplicate certificate costs 10% of the applicable fee, and a licence modification costs ₹1,000 plus any difference in fee if you move up a category.

Registrations and licences issued on or after 1 April 2026 have perpetual validity, so there is no renewal. FSSAI’s March 2026 FAQs say you can pay the fee for any number of years at once, at any time of the year. Hygiene, safety and testing duties continue as before.

Documents required

For basic registration, FSSAI’s orders list two documents: a photograph and a government-issued photo ID of the applicant. Keep your premises address and a turnover estimate ready for the form.

A state or central licence needs more. Annexure 2 of the Regulations lists, among others:

• Photo ID and address proof of the proprietor, partners or directors
• Proof of possession of the premises, such as a sale deed, rent agreement or electricity bill
• Partnership deed, or memorandum and articles of association
• Layout plan of the processing unit and a list of equipment (manufacturers)
• Water analysis report from a recognised laboratory, where water is an ingredient
• Nomination of a responsible person in Form IX
• NOC from the manufacturer, for re-labellers

The exact list depends on your kind of business and appears on the FoSCoS home page under Documents Required. Upload self-attested copies; no physical papers go to the office.

Applying on FoSCoS

1. Open foscos.fssai.gov.in and run the eligibility check for your state and kind of business.
2. Choose Apply for Licence/Registration and sign up with your mobile number and email.
3. Fill in Form A for registration, or Form B for a state or central licence.
4. Enter the premises address, food categories and expected turnover.
5. Upload the self-attested documents for your category.
6. Pay the fee online, choosing the number of years you want to cover.
7. Note the application reference number and track it from your FoSCoS login.
8. Reply within 30 days if the authority raises a query, or the application may be rejected.

For basic registration, the authority must decide within 7 days of a complete application. If it wants to inspect first, the inspection must happen within 30 days. A licence must be issued within 60 days of a complete application. Display the certificate at a prominent place in your premises.

If you are setting up a small food business, Udyam registration and GST registration are usually the next two filings; our business compliance calendar tracks the recurring dates.

After you get it: returns and penalties

Frequently asked questions

What is the turnover limit for FSSAI basic registration in 2026?

Up to ₹1.5 crore a year, from 1 April 2026. The earlier limit was ₹12 lakh.

How much does FSSAI registration cost?

The government fee is ₹100 a year. A state licence costs ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a year depending on the business, and a central licence ₹7,500.

Do I need to renew my FSSAI registration?

Not if it was issued on or after 1 April 2026; those have perpetual validity unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. You can pay fees for several years together.

Can I apply for FSSAI registration online?

Yes. All new registrations and licences go through foscos.fssai.gov.in, where you fill Form A or Form B, upload documents and pay online.

My state licence now falls under registration. What should I do?

Migrate on FoSCoS through self-declaration. FSSAI charges no modification fee, keeps your number and adjusts the fee already paid.

Does a home-based tiffin service need FSSAI registration?

Yes. Any food business, including one run from home, needs at least a registration; with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore that means basic registration.

How long does FSSAI registration take?

The authority must decide within 7 days of a complete application, or within 30 days if it inspects the premises first.

Sources

• Order on revised turnover thresholds, 13 March 2026 — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FAQs on Licensing and Registration Amendment Regulations, 2026 (27 March 2026) — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Compendium: Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulations, 2011 — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FAQs on licensing and registration (FoSCoS) — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FoSCoS: Food Safety Compliance System — FSSAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)