Half the delay in getting a food business licensed is discovering missing documents one at a time, each discovery costing a week. Pick what you are applying for, FSSAI Basic, State or Central, or GST registration, and this checklist shows every document to gather and the sequence of steps, so you turn up to the portal once, with everything.
FSSAI applications go through the FoSCoS portal and need identity proof, premises proof and business documents that scale with license tier. GST registration happens on the GST portal and needs PAN, Aadhaar, premises proof, bank details and photographs.
Requirements vary by state and change with policy updates. Use this to prepare, then verify the current list on the official portal before submitting.
It is turnover-based at the core: up to ₹12 lakh annual turnover needs Basic Registration, ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore a State License, and above ₹20 crore, or import/export and very large operations, a Central License. Business type can push you up a tier, our FSSAI fee calculator estimates the tier and cost from your turnover.
Registration becomes mandatory past the threshold (₹20 lakh for services in most states, with variations for special category states) or if you sell through platforms like Zomato and Swiggy, which require GSTIN regardless of turnover. Many small outlets register early purely for the aggregator listing.
FSSAI Basic often comes through in about a week, State Licenses commonly take 30-45 days including inspection, and GST registration typically 3-7 working days once Aadhaar authentication is done. Build these into your opening timeline, a fit-out finishes faster than a State License.
The documents, eligibility conditions and application steps for a restaurant or bar liquor license in India, organised as a working checklist.
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