Last updated: 25 September 2026
Quick Answer: Most cafés, tea shops and bakeries in India need only FSSAI basic registration, which covers annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore. Above that you need a State licence, and above ₹50 crore a Central licence, under bands FSSAI applied from 1 April 2026. Registration costs ₹100 a year, and you apply on the FoSCoS portal.
The FSSAI licence for a café, often just called a food licence, depends on two things: your annual turnover and the Kind of Business you pick. A café or coffee shop applies as a restaurant, a tea shop as a petty retailer, and a bakery that bakes on site as a manufacturer. Licences issued since 1 April 2026 don't need renewal, but the fee is still due every year.
At a glance
| Point | What applies |
|---|---|
| Authority | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), through its FoSCoS portal |
| Up to ₹1.5 crore turnover | Basic registration (Form A), ₹100 a year |
| ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | State licence (Form B), ₹5,000 a year |
| Above ₹50 crore | Central licence (Form B), ₹7,500 a year |
| Time to issue | Registration within 7 days, licence within 60 days, of a complete application |
| Validity | No expiry for licences issued on or after 1 April 2026, while the yearly fee is paid |
Which FSSAI licence does your café or bakery need?
Your turnover decides it: basic registration up to ₹1.5 crore, a State licence up to ₹50 crore and a Central licence above that. These bands come from FSSAI's FAQs on the 2026 licensing reforms, and they apply to anyone applying on or after 1 April 2026.
The Kind of Business (KoB) you choose on FoSCoS matters too. FSSAI's Kind of Business list places each outlet like this:
| Your outlet | Kind of Business on FoSCoS | Up to ₹1.5 crore | ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café, coffee shop, small café | Restaurants | Registration, ₹100 | State licence, ₹5,000 |
| Tea shop or snack stall | Petty retailer of snacks/tea shops | Registration, ₹100 | Check eligibility on FoSCoS |
| Bakery that bakes on the premises | General manufacturing (bakery wares) | Registration, ₹100 | State licence, ₹5,000 |
| Bakery shop that only resells | Retailer | Registration, ₹100 | State licence, ₹5,000 |
| Hotel with a café | Hotel | Registration, ₹100 | State licence up to 4-star |
A five-star hotel needs a Central licence whatever its turnover. New? Go by the sales you expect in your first year. For a full walk-through of the three tiers, see how basic registration, State and Central licences differ.
Does a bakery that sells packaged goods need anything extra?
It doesn't need a second licence, but it must list every activity on the one it holds. FSSAI's licensing FAQ says a licence is based on the premises, so baking, retail and a café counter at one address go on a single application.
Two extra duties follow once you pack what you bake:
- Endorse your products. FSSAI treats making products that aren't endorsed on your licence as running a business without a licence.
- Label every pack. Packed bread, cakes and cookies need the FSSAI logo and your 14-digit number on the label. Our guide to the FSSAI logo and licence number on food labels covers the rest.
What documents do you need?
For basic registration (Form A), you'll need a recent photograph, a photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or voter ID, your premises address and a list of the food you'll sell.
A State licence (Form B) asks for more:
- Form B signed by the owner, a partner or an authorised signatory
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner, partners or directors
- A layout plan of the kitchen or bakery
- Proof you can use the premises, such as a rent agreement or electricity bill
- A list of equipment, for a bakery that manufactures
- A water analysis report from a recognised lab, where water goes into your food
- A partnership deed or company papers, if you aren't the sole owner
- A municipal or local-body NOC, where FoSCoS asks for one
FoSCoS shows the exact list for your Kind of Business under "Documents Required".
How do you get the licence online?
You get an FSSAI food licence online on FoSCoS by picking your state and Kind of Business, filling Form A or Form B, uploading documents and paying the fee. The receipt carries a 17-digit reference number you use to track the application.
- Open FoSCoS and choose "Apply for License/Registration".
- Select your state and read the Kind of Business headings.
- Pick Restaurants, Petty retailer, Manufacturer or Retailer (more than one if you both bake and serve).
- Fill Form A for registration or Form B for a licence.
- Upload self-attested documents and pay online.
- Track the status on the FoSCoS homepage with your reference number.
Answer any query from the authority within 30 days, or the application is auto-rejected. Would you rather not file it alone? Jaagruk Bharat's team offers help filing your FSSAI registration or licence on FoSCoS. The team helps you pick the category and checks your documents and details before submission, while FSSAI alone issues the certificate.
What must you display at the counter?
You must display your registration certificate or licence at a prominent place in the premises at all times. A café or bakery selling cooked food must also put up a notice board showing what it sells.
- Your 14-digit number goes on every bill. FSSAI makes it mandatory on cash receipts, invoices and cash memos. A registration number starts with 2 and a licence number with 1.
- Say what you fry in. Outlets selling sweets or savouries must list which items are cooked in ghee, edible oil, vanaspati or other fats.
What are the fees and validity options?
The yearly fee is ₹100 for registration, ₹5,000 for a State licence and ₹7,500 for a Central licence. You can pay for any number of years at once, at any time of the year.
A licence or registration issued on or after 1 April 2026 stays valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. Miss the annual fee, though, and it's deemed suspended until you pay, and trading meanwhile counts as non-compliant.
Get your registration sorted before the first cup is sold, and keep the yearly fee paid.
