FSSAI Licence for Restaurants: What You Need and How to Get It
Every food business in India needs an FSSAI registration or licence. Which one depends almost entirely on your annual turnover, and getting the category wrong is the most common reason an application comes back. This guide covers the three tiers, what each requires, and the obligations that continue after you are approved.
Summary
This guide explains the three FSSAI licence tiers based on turnover, the documents each requires, and how to apply through the FoSCoS portal.
It also covers the ongoing obligations after approval, including displaying the licence number on bills and renewing before expiry.
The three tiers
FSSAI splits food businesses by scale. The tier determines where you apply, what it costs and how much documentation is involved.
| Tier | Who it covers | Applied through |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Small operators below the lower turnover threshold — home kitchens, small stalls, tiffin services | State authority |
| State Licence | Most standalone restaurants, cafes and cloud kitchens in the middle turnover band | State authority |
| Central Licence | Large operators above the upper threshold, plus importers and businesses operating in multiple states | Central authority |
The turnover thresholds and fee amounts are set by FSSAI and revised periodically. Check the current figures on FoSCoS rather than relying on any secondary source, including this one.
Documents you will need
Basic Registration is comparatively light. The State and Central tiers ask for the layout plan and food safety plan, and those are where applications most often stall, because people submit something generic rather than a document that reflects their actual kitchen.
- Photo identity and address proof for the proprietor, partners or directors
- Proof of premises — rent agreement or ownership document, plus a NOC from the owner if rented
- A layout plan of the premises for State and Central licences
- A list of food categories you intend to handle
- A water test report where water is used as an ingredient
- A food safety management plan, which the State and Central tiers require
- Partnership deed, certificate of incorporation or equivalent, depending on your structure
Applying through FoSCoS
You can apply for multiple years at once, and doing so is usually worth it. It reduces the number of renewal cycles you have to remember and is often cheaper per year.
- Create an account on the FoSCoS portal and select your state
- Use the eligibility tool to confirm your tier before filling anything in — this saves the most time
- Complete the application for your category and upload the supporting documents
- Pay the fee, which varies by tier and by the number of years you apply for
- Respond promptly to any query raised, since the clock on your application pauses while one is open
- An inspection may follow for State and Central applications before the licence is issued
What happens after approval
The licence is not a one-time task. Three continuing obligations catch people out.
The first is display: your FSSAI licence number must be shown at the premises and printed on your bills and packaging. The second is renewal, which must be done before expiry — a lapsed licence means operating unlicensed, not operating on a grace period. The third is that any material change to your business, such as a new address or a significantly different food category, requires the licence to be modified rather than left as is.
Set a calendar reminder several months before expiry. Renewal after lapse is considerably more painful than renewal before it.
FSSAI and your billing
Because the licence number has to appear on customer bills, it belongs in your billing configuration rather than being written on by hand or stamped. Setting it once means every invoice carries it correctly, including digital bills sent over WhatsApp.
This is a small thing that becomes a visible problem during an inspection, particularly for businesses that moved from handwritten bills to a system and never transferred the number across.
Frequently asked questions
Which FSSAI licence does a restaurant need?
It depends on annual turnover. Small operators below the lower threshold need Basic Registration; most standalone restaurants and cloud kitchens fall in the State Licence band; large operators, importers and multi-state businesses need a Central Licence. Confirm the current thresholds on FoSCoS, as they are revised periodically.
How long does an FSSAI licence take to get?
Basic Registration is usually quick. State and Central licences take longer because they may involve an inspection and require a layout plan and food safety management plan. Responding fast to any query raised is the single biggest factor in how long it takes.
Does the FSSAI number need to be on the bill?
Yes. The licence number must be displayed at your premises and shown on bills and packaging. Configure it once in your billing system so every invoice carries it automatically rather than relying on a stamp.
What happens if my FSSAI licence expires?
You are operating unlicensed, not within a grace period. Renew before expiry — renewal after a lapse is significantly more difficult, and trading in the interim carries penalties.
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