Mahesh Kulkarni left his banking job in 2025 to start a cloud kitchen in Pune. Recipes tested. Kitchen set up. Swiggy and Zomato accounts created.
Then the platforms asked for his FSSAI number.
No FSSAI — no listing. No listing — no orders.
He applied on foscos.fssai.gov.in. Basic registration. ₹100 fee. Seven days later — 14-digit FSSAI number. Kitchen went live.
“I should have got it before setting up,” he said.
FSSAI License is mandatory for every food business in India — restaurant, cloud kitchen, bakery, home food seller, packaged food brand, even a Swiggy/Zomato partner kitchen. No FSSAI means fines of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh and potential closure.
This guide covers all three license types, fees, and exact steps to apply in 2026.
💡 Quick Answer: FSSAI Official Portal: 👉 foscos.fssai.gov.in Apply: foscos.fssai.gov.in → New License/Registration → Select your state + business type Helpline: 1800-11-2100 (Toll Free) Email: [email protected]
Which FSSAI License Do You Need? — 3 Types
This is the most important decision. Wrong category = application rejected.
| License Type | Who Needs It | Annual Turnover | Fee/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Small/petty food businesses | Up to ₹12 lakh | ₹100/year |
| State License | Mid-size food businesses | ₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore | ₹2,000–₹5,000/year |
| Central License | Large businesses, imports, exports, multi-state | Above ₹20 crore / import-export | ₹7,500/year |
Validity: 1 to 5 years — you choose at time of application. Pay for 5 years upfront to avoid renewal hassle.
Who Needs FSSAI?
Every food business operator (FBO) in India — without exception:
- ✅ Restaurant, dhaba, café, bakery, sweet shop
- ✅ Cloud kitchen / ghost kitchen
- ✅ Home food business (selling tiffins, pickles, snacks online)
- ✅ Food manufacturer or processor
- ✅ Packaged food brand
- ✅ Food importer or exporter
- ✅ Dairy unit, meat processing
- ✅ Food distributor or trader
- ✅ Street food vendor (petty food business)
- ✅ Online food seller (Swiggy, Zomato, Instagram, WhatsApp)
- ✅ Caterer (weddings, events)
- ✅ Hotel and hospital kitchen
- ✅ School / college canteen
- ✅ Temporary food stall at events
Penalty for no FSSAI: Fine of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh + imprisonment up to 6 months for severe violations.
What is FoSCoS?
FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) is the official digital portal for all FSSAI activities — replacing the older FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) since 2020.
Single window for:
- New license/registration
- Renewal
- Modification
- Annual return (Form D — due May 31 every year)
- Application status tracking
- Consumer grievance
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Go to 👉 foscos.fssai.gov.in
Step 2: Click “Apply for New License/Registration”
Step 3: Create account — enter email ID and mobile number → OTP verify
Step 4: After login → Click “Apply for New License/Registration” again
Step 5: Select your State
Step 6: Select your Kind of Business (KoB):
- Manufacturer
- Trader/Retailer
- Restaurant/Food Service
- Cloud Kitchen
- Packer/Repacker
- Distributor/Transporter
- Import/Export
- Others
⚡ KoB selection is critical. Your license type and documents required depend entirely on the KoB you select. Wrong selection = rejection or reversion.
Step 7: Portal automatically suggests your license category (Basic/State/Central) based on KoB and state
Step 8: Select Form:
- Form A — Basic Registration
- Form B — State or Central License
Step 9: Fill business details:
- Business name
- Proprietor/Partner/Director name
- Business address
- Type of food products / activities
- Installed capacity (for manufacturers)
Step 10: Upload required documents
Step 11: Pay fees online — UPI, net banking, debit/credit card
Step 12: Submit → note your Application Reference Number
Step 13: Track status at foscos.fssai.gov.in → Track Application
Documents Required
For Basic Registration (Petty Food Business):
- ✅ Photo ID of applicant — Aadhaar / PAN / Voter ID
- ✅ Address proof of business premises
- ✅ Passport size photograph
For State License:
All of the above plus:
- ✅ Business constitution proof — partnership deed / MOA / incorporation certificate
- ✅ List of food products to be manufactured/sold
- ✅ Blueprint / layout of premises (for manufacturers)
- ✅ NOC from municipality / panchayat
- ✅ Water test report (for manufacturers)
- ✅ Health certificates of food handlers
For Central License (Import/Export):
All of the above plus:
- ✅ Import Export Code (IEC) — if importing/exporting
- ✅ IE Code document
Fees — Detailed Table
| License Type | Turnover | Fee per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Up to ₹12 lakh | ₹100 |
| State License — Manufacturer | ₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore | ₹3,000 |
| State License — Restaurant/Hotel | ₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore | ₹2,000 |
| State License — Trader | ₹12 lakh – ₹20 crore | ₹2,000 |
| Central License | Above ₹20 crore / import-export | ₹7,500 |
⚡ Multi-year payment: Pay for up to 5 years at once — total fee = annual fee × years chosen. No instalments. Fee non-refundable after submission.
Processing Time
| License Type | Normal Processing | Tatkal |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | 7–14 days | 48 hours |
| State License | 30–60 days | Not available |
| Central License | 45–90 days (inspection required) | Not available |
Tatkal Registration — 2026 update: most small food businesses can use the Tatkal (fast-track) option for Basic Registration. 48-hour processing after fee payment and digital verification.
FSSAI Annual Return — Form D
Mandatory for: All food manufacturers and certain other FBOs.
Due date: 31 May every year — for the previous financial year.
Submit via foscos.fssai.gov.in → Annual Return → Form D.
Data includes: food products manufactured, quantity, sales data.
⚡ Missing the May 31 deadline attracts penalty. Set a reminder every year.
After Getting FSSAI
Mandatory compliance after license issuance:
- Display license number at premises in a visible location — mandatory
- Print 14-digit FSSAI number on all food product labels and packaging
- Food handler health cards — all food handlers must have annual health checkup certificates
- Maintain FIFO (First In First Out) for raw material storage
- Pest control records — documented pest control program
- FSMS documentation — Food Safety Management System plan
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Wrong Kind of Business selection Most applications are reverted because of incorrect KoB selection. If you are a restaurant — do not select “manufacturer.” Read each KoB description carefully before selecting.
Mistake 2: Applying for Registration when you need a License If turnover is above ₹12 lakh — you need State License, not Basic Registration. Applying wrong category wastes time and fees.
Mistake 3: Missing Form D deadline Annual return due May 31 every year. Late filing attracts penalty.
Mistake 4: Not responding to portal queries within 30 days If the licensing authority raises a query on your application — respond within 30 days. Non-response = automatic rejection.
Mistake 5: Not renewing before expiry Renew at least 30 days before expiry. Late renewal attracts additional fees.
Official Links — All in One Place
| Task | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Apply / Login | foscos.fssai.gov.in |
| Track Application | foscos.fssai.gov.in/track |
| FSSAI Main Website | fssai.gov.in |
| Food Safety Mitra | foscos.fssai.gov.in |
| Helpline | 1800-11-2100 (Toll Free) |
| [email protected] |
Frequently Asked Questions
FSSAI registration kaise karein? (foscos.fssai.gov.in par) foscos.fssai.gov.in → Apply for New License/Registration → Create account → Select state + Kind of Business → Fill Form A (Basic) or Form B (State/Central) → Upload documents → Pay fee → Submit.
Basic registration fee kya hai 2026 mein? ₹100 per year. Up to ₹12 lakh annual turnover wale food businesses ke liye. 5 saal ke liye ek saath pay karo — ₹500 total.
Home food business ke liye FSSAI chahiye? Yes — home kitchen se tiffin, pickles, snacks ya online food sell karte hain toh Basic FSSAI Registration mandatory hai.
Swiggy/Zomato par list hone ke liye FSSAI mandatory hai? Yes — all food delivery platforms require valid FSSAI license number before listing.
Tatkal option kya hai? Fast-track Basic Registration — 48 hours mein certificate milta hai. Available for most small food businesses on FoSCoS portal.
FSSAI license renewal kab karni chahiye? At least 30 days before expiry. Late renewal = penalty fee. Expiry date FoSCoS dashboard par dikhi hai.
Final Note
Mahesh’s cloud kitchen — it processed 47 orders in its first week on Zomato. A simple ₹100 FSSAI registration was the gatekeeper.
There are roughly 1.5 crore food business operators in India. Only about 62 lakh are FoSCoS-registered. The rest operate in a grey zone — and increasingly get raided.
The FSSAI license is cheap insurance. Basic registration costs ₹100 a year. The penalty for not having one starts at ₹2 lakh.
Apply at foscos.fssai.gov.in today — before your first order, not after the inspector arrives.
Based on official information from foscos.fssai.gov.in, FSSAI Annual Report 2024-25, and Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Fees and processing times are subject to change — verify at the official portal before applying.