FSSAI Registration & Licence Guide 2026: Eligibility, Types, Process, Documents, Fees & Validity

Every food business in India needs either a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration or an FSSAI licence before it starts making, storing, transporting or selling food. Both are issued by the FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Which one you need depends on your annual turnover and the kind of work you do.

The rules changed in 2026. Turnover limits went up from 1 April 2026, and registrations and licences issued on or after that date no longer expire. You apply once on the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal, pay the annual fee and keep your premises and records compliant.

What is the difference between FSSAI registration and an FSSAI licence?

FSSAI registration is the basic permission for small food businesses. It is granted by the registering authority of your area, usually a designated officer of the local body or the state food safety department. The application is short and is filed in Form A.

An FSSAI licence is for larger or higher-risk businesses. It comes in two forms:

• A state licence issued by the state licensing authority 
• A central licence issued by FSSAI’s central licensing authority

Both are filed in Form B, need more documents and may involve an inspection before approval. Both carry a 14-digit number that must appear on your food labels and bills. The law treats them the same way in the respect that running a food business without the right one is an offence.

Who needs FSSAI registration or a licence in 2026?

Anyone who handles food at any stage before it reaches the consumer needs one of the two. This includes the following businesses:

• Manufacturers, processors, packers and relabellers
• Restaurants, cafes, cloud kitchens, caterers and canteens
• Home-based food sellers, including those selling through apps
• Grocery stores, supermarkets, wholesalers and distributors
• Warehouses, cold storage units and food transporters
• Importers, exporters and e-commerce food businesses

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 now deemed registered under the food safety law. They do not need a separate FSSAI registration or pay a second fee. They still have to follow the hygiene and sanitation rules in Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

What are the types of FSSAI registration and licence?

There are three categories, and turnover decides which one applies to most businesses. FSSAI revised these limits through an order dated 13 March 2026, effective from 1 April 2026.

Many businesses that held a state licence until March 2026 now fall under basic registration. FSSAI expects more than 98% of food businesses to be under state government oversight after the change.

Turnover is not the only test. High-risk manufacturers such as dairy, meat, fishery, packaged drinking water, and infant food units must meet all hygiene and testing rules, regardless of category.

Which businesses need a central licence regardless of turnover?

Some activities need a central licence even if your turnover is well below ₹50 crore. The FoSCoS eligibility matrix lists these categories:

• Importers of food, including food ingredients and additives
• E-commerce food business operators
• Merchant or trader exporters
• 100% export-oriented units
• Five-star and higher hotels
• Certain specialised manufacturing and processing activities

If your business does any of these, choose the central licence on FoSCoS even if your sales are small. The portal’s category check will also flag it when you enter your business type.

What documents are needed for FSSAI registration and licence?

Basic registration needs only a few documents. Keep these scanned and ready before you start:

• Recent passport-size photograph of the applicant
• Photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN card or voter ID
• Proof of possession of the premises, such as a rent agreement, sale deed or recent utility bill
• List of food products you plan to make or sell

A state or central licence asks for much more. The exact list depends on your business type, and FoSCoS shows it once you select your activity. Most applicants need the following:

• Form B, signed by the proprietor, a partner or an authorised signatory
• Identity and address proof of the proprietor, partners or directors
• Proof of possession of the premises
• Partnership deed, certificate of incorporation or memorandum and articles of association
• List of food product categories
• Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan
• Authority letter naming the person responsible for compliance
• Layout plan of the processing unit with dimensions (manufacturers)
• List of equipment and machinery with installed capacity (manufacturers)
• Water analysis report from an NABL-accredited lab (manufacturers)
• Source of raw material for milk or meat units
• Import Export Code (importers and exporters)
• No objection certificate from the municipality or panchayat, where the state asks for it

Missing or unclear documents are the most common reason for a query from the authority. Upload legible PDFs and make sure the business name and address match across every document.

How much does FSSAI registration cost in 2026?

The government fee is charged per year and has not changed with the 2026 amendment. What changed is how you pay it.

You can now pay the fee for any number of years at once and at any time of the year. If you held a state licence and now qualify for basic registration, the licence fee you already paid is adjusted against the registration fee. Moving categories because of the new thresholds carries no modification fee.

Other costs are separate. These include consultant charges (if you use one), water testing for manufacturers and the cost of meeting hygiene rules at your premises.

How do you apply for FSSAI registration on FoSCoS?

File all applications online at foscos.fssai.gov.in. The steps are the same for registration and licences, with a longer form for licences:

1. Open FoSCoS and use the eligibility check to confirm your category.
2. Sign up with your mobile number and email ID.
3. Select your state, kind of business and food product categories.
4. Fill out Form A for registration or Form B for a licence.
5. Upload the documents listed for your activity.
6. Choose the number of years and pay the fee online.
7. Note the application reference number shown after payment.
8. Track the status and reply to any queries from the authority.
9. Allow an inspection of your premises if the authority orders one.
10. Download the certificate with your 14-digit number once it is approved.

The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, set time limits for the authority. Registration is decided within 30 days, including any inspection. A licence is decided within 60 days of a complete application. Applications can be rejected if you do not reply to a query in time, so check FoSCoS and your email regularly after you apply.

How long is an FSSAI registration or licence valid in 2026?

Any registration or licence issued on or after 1 April 2026 has perpetual validity. It stays valid until it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered, and you no longer file renewal applications. This applies to Tatkal approvals too, and to applications that were still pending on 1 April 2026 and were approved after that date.

Perpetual validity does not make the certificate unconditional. Three things can still end it or put it at risk:

• The annual fee stays payable for every year you operate, so keep track of the year up to which you have paid.
• The authority can suspend or cancel a licence if you fail to comply with an improvement notice after an inspection.
• Inspections now follow a computer-assisted risk model that uses your compliance history, surveillance results and audit reports. Repeat defaulters are inspected more often.

Before April 2026, licences were issued for one to five years and had to be renewed before expiry. If your certificate was issued under the old rules, check the validity and fee status in your FoSCoS dashboard. FSSAI has said existing businesses will get time to migrate through the portal.

What happens to existing licences after the 2026 changes?

Existing businesses will be migrated to the revised categories through FoSCoS based on their self-declared turnover. FSSAI has confirmed the following:

• Migration does not require approval from the licensing or registering authority.
• The existing licence or registration number remains unchanged.
• No modification fee applies to migration resulting from the revised turnover thresholds.
• The migration does not change the jurisdiction of the licensing authority.

Other changes must follow the applicable modification process. Changes to the business address, product category, partners or directors, or type of business may require a modification application through FoSCoS. Businesses must ensure their licence or registration reflects the applicable details.

What compliance continues after you get FSSAI registration?

The certificate is the starting point. These obligations apply for as long as you run the business.

• Print your 14-digit FSSAI number on every bill, cash memo and receipt. FSSAI made this mandatory from 1 October 2021.
• Display the certificate at a visible place in your premises.
• Show the FSSAI logo and number on food labels as required under the labelling regulations.
• Follow the hygiene and sanitation conditions in Schedule 4 of the 2011 regulations.
• File the annual return in Form D1 by 31 May for the previous financial year if you are a licensed manufacturer or importer. A late fee of ₹100 per day applies.
• File half-yearly returns in Form D2 if you process milk or milk products.
• Apply to move to the right category before your turnover crosses ₹1.5 crore or ₹50 crore.

The last point is easy to miss. A business that grows past ₹1.5 crore while holding only a basic registration is operating without the correct licence, even if its registration is still valid.

What are the penalties for operating without FSSAI registration?

Running a food business without registration or a licence is an offence under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It can lead to imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.

The Act also sets separate penalties for other violations.

The authority can also suspend or cancel a licence under Section 32 if an improvement notice is not followed.

Conclusion

The 2026 rules remove renewal but not responsibility. Your category now rests on the turnover you declare, so the number that matters most after approval is your annual sales. Check it against ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore every quarter, keep the annual fee paid ahead of time, and make sure every bill carries your 14-digit FSSAI number.

Most of this depends on records you already keep for GST. TallyPrime keeps your sales registers and invoices in one place, so you can see turnover against the FSSAI limits as it builds and print your FSSAI number on every invoice you raise.