Quick Answer: You apply for an FSSAI food licence online on the FoSCoS portal. Pick your tier by yearly turnover - Basic Registration up to ₹1.5 crore, State Licence for ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore, or Central Licence above ₹50 crore. Then fill Form A or Form B, upload your documents, and pay the government fee.
The FSSAI license is compulsory for any food business in India, and this license can now be obtained online via the FoSCoS portal. FoSCoS stands for Food Safety Compliance System. The initial step is to find out which of the three tiers you fall into because this will determine the kind of application, payment, and documentation required. The article guides readers through the whole process of choosing the tier and finally acquiring the license.
Overview: FSSAI Food Licence At A Glance
Every Food Business Operator (FBO) in India is required to get an FSSAI food license so that the food can be produced, preserved, moved, and sold. Below is given some important information.
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) |
| Where to apply | FoSCoS portal (online) |
| Who needs it | Every food business - manufacturers, sellers, restaurants, cloud kitchens, vendors |
| Tiers | Basic Registration, State Licence, Central Licence |
| Government fee | From ₹100 a year (Basic) up to ₹7,500 a year (Central) |
| Forms | Form A (Basic Registration) or Form B (State/Central Licence) |
| Processing time | About 7 days for Basic; up to 60 days for State/Central |
What Is an FSSAI Food Licence?
An FSSAI food licence is a permit that allows you to sell food legally in India. There is a unique 14 digit number that is provided with every FSSAI food licence that must be mentioned on the bills and it must also be displayed at your business premises. It is given under the FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and not having an FSSAI food licence may lead to a penalty of ₹5 lakh and 6 month jail term.
There are three tiers, and you qualify for exactly one. The portal decides which one based on your answers, so you can't simply pick the cheapest.
Which FSSAI Tier Do I Need for My Turnover?
Your classification is mostly determined by your income from business transactions. Due to FSSAI's revision of its limits, the previous limits of ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore, which were valid until 31 March 2026, are now obsolete. To assist you in evaluating your expected annual turnover, please refer to the table provided.
| Your annual turnover | Tier you need | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹1.5 crore | Basic Registration | Form A |
| Above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | State Licence | Form B |
| Above ₹50 crore | Central Licence | Form B |
A few businesses require a Central Licence, regardless of their earnings. These include importers, exporters, online food businesses, businesses operating at airports and seaports, IR units, and food processors under the Central Government. If your business does not fall under any of these categories, it is time to check your earnings. For more information on differentiating between Basic, State, and Central Licence, check our tier guide.
What Documents Are Required for an FSSAI Licence?
You will only require a handful of identification and proof of residence documents for Basic Registration. However, in order to check for State or Central licenses, more documentation will be needed, since authorities look into your facilities and procedures. Here's a list of what you need to prepare.
| Document | Basic | State / Central |
|---|---|---|
| Passport-size photo of the applicant | Yes | Yes |
| Government photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID) | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of business address (rent deed, utility bill) | Yes | Yes |
| Nature-of-business declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Form B, signed | No | Yes |
| List of food products or categories | No | Yes |
| Layout plan of the premises | No | Yes |
| Water test report (for manufacturing) | No | Yes |
| Food Safety Management plan | No | Yes |
How Do I Apply for an FSSAI Licence on FoSCoS Step by Step?
The FoSCoS portal allows for the completion of the application process entirely from home. Follow the instructions as given below to achieve this.
- Open the FoSCoS portal and select "Apply for New Licence/Registration."
- Choose your state, then answer the eligibility questions about your business type and turnover so the portal shows your correct tier.
- Sign up to create your login, then sign back in.
- Fill Form A for a Basic Registration, or Form B for a State or Central Licence, with your business, premises and product details.
- Upload the documents listed above - keep each file within the size limit the portal shows.
- Pay the government fee online for the number of years you want (fee is charged per year).
- Save the 17-digit application Reference Number so you can track the status later.
- Once it's approved, log back in and download your FSSAI certificate.
What Are the FSSAI Licence Fees in 2026?
The yearly rate of license fee imposed for every tier can be noticed below. One must also note that the state license fee depends on the nature of business activity. Therefore, a small trader is likely to pay a lesser fee than a large manufacturing company
| Tier | Government fee per year |
|---|---|
| Basic Registration | ₹100 |
| State Licence | ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 |
| Central Licence | ₹7,500 |
While applying, the chosen duration of payment is set in years, and then the applicable fee can be easily calculated by multiplying the chosen duration with the due fee.
How Long Is an FSSAI Licence Valid?
Following the reform in 2026, the newly introduced registration or license with the FSSAI is valid indefinitely, implying that it does not have an expiry date or need of renewal. The registration continues to be valuable if the registrant pays the yearly registration fees as well as conforms to the food safety registration process. The previous types of licenses for a fixed duration of one to five years are still operational and are given out in the new model of the license.
Where Do I Apply, and How Can Jaagruk Bharat Help?
The real application always happens on the government's own FoSCoS portal - that's where FSSAI receives your form, verifies your documents and issues the licence. FoSCoS is the single official system for Basic Registration, State and Central Licences alike, so beware of any site claiming to "issue" the licence itself.
In the ambiguous situation with necessary forms and documentation, the Jaagruk Bharat FSSAI Food License service helps you determine the right category and prepare your papers. This is a legitimate government issued FSSAI certificate that does save you a lot of hassle.
