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For a standard GST registration as a normal taxpayer, apply online through the GST Common Portal using Form GST REG-01. First verify your PAN, mobile number and email in Part A; then complete Part B with business and premises details, attach supporting documents, and follow any Aadhaar or biometric verification assigned to you. An application can take longer if information is incomplete, an officer requests clarification, or required authentication is not completed.
Check whether GST registration applies to you
Liability depends on the relevant provisions of the CGST Act, including sections 22 and 24, and may turn on turnover, the type and location of supplies, and specific circumstances. There is no single threshold that can safely be applied to every business from the information here. Check the current statutory provisions and notifications for your state and transaction pattern before deciding whether you must register. The CBIC GST rules and law resources provide the official starting point; a tax professional can help with complex cases.
This guide covers the ordinary online route for a normal taxpayer. Non-resident and casual taxable persons, SEZ applicants, and people in compulsory-registration categories may have additional requirements. Follow the live portal form for the applicant category and circumstances that apply to you.
Documents and details to prepare
Exact requirements depend on the business constitution and the prompts in the live application. Prepare the relevant information and clear, readable evidence before starting:
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- Identity and contact details: PAN, mobile number, email address, and the state or union territory for the business.
- Business and people: business details, promoter or partner information, and details of the primary authorized signatory. The portal guide also describes stakeholder photographs and, where applicable, proof of appointment and the signatory’s photograph.
- Principal place of business evidence: choose documentation that matches how you use the premises, as set out below.
- Other requested details: goods and services, any additional business places, state-specific information, and authorized-representative details where relevant.
| Premises arrangement | Evidence described by the GST Portal |
|---|---|
| Owned | Evidence such as a current property-tax receipt, municipal khata copy, or electricity bill. |
| Rented or leased | A valid rent or lease agreement plus ownership evidence for the lessor. |
| Used with another person’s consent, including shared property | A consent letter plus ownership evidence for the person giving consent. |
These examples come from the portal’s normal-taxpayer registration manual. Use the live form’s requirements if they differ or request additional evidence.
How to apply online
- Open Part A of REG-01 on the GST Common Portal. Enter your PAN, mobile number, email address, and state or union territory. The portal verifies PAN against the CBDT database and sends OTPs to verify your mobile and email. Successful verification generates a temporary reference number.
- Use the temporary reference number to open Part B. Complete the application sections for business details, promoters or partners, the authorized signatory and representative, principal and additional places of business, goods and services, state-specific information, Aadhaar authentication, and verification.
- Attach the supporting documents requested. Include premises evidence and the applicable business and people documents. Check names and addresses against the application, and ensure uploaded files are readable.
- Sign and submit the application. Follow the portal’s available signing and verification instructions for your applicant type.
- Complete the authentication route assigned to you. The portal’s process includes PAN validation and risk parameters before OTP-based or biometric authentication. If OTP authentication applies, selected promoters or partners and the primary authorized signatory receive an authentication link. If biometric verification applies, those selected must visit the designated GST Suvidha Kendra (GSK) for the required biometric and document checks. If Aadhaar authentication is declined, the portal says photo capture and document verification at a GSK may be required.
- Track the application and messages. After receipt, the rules provide for an electronic acknowledgement in REG-02. Check the registered email and mobile channels, and follow any portal instructions or appointment details.
- Download the certificate after approval. The registration certificate, REG-06, is made available on the Common Portal with the GSTIN and lists the principal and additional business places.
The portal’s normal-taxpayer manual describes the application screens and evidence, while its Aadhaar authentication guidance explains the authentication branch. Interface prompts and document requirements can change, so use the current portal instructions when submitting.
How long GST registration takes
The rules and CBIC service standards describe different administrative periods depending on the application and verification path; they are not a guarantee of the date an individual application will finish.
| Situation | Published period | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Application and documents are in order | Three working days | Under the registration rules, the proper officer should approve within three working days from submission if the application and accompanying documents are in order. |
| Officer requests clarification | Seven working days for the applicant’s response; the officer may approve within seven working days after receiving a satisfactory response | The response period begins on receipt of the notice. The later officer period depends on a satisfactory response. |
| Aadhaar-authenticated application | 7 days | CBIC’s Citizen Charter lists this as a service timeline. |
| Authentication not opted for or unsuccessful, or premises selected for physical verification | 30 days | CBIC’s Citizen Charter lists this service timeline for these circumstances. |
The three- and seven-working-day periods are in the CBIC GST Registration Rules. The 7-day and 30-day service timelines are in the CBIC Citizen Charter. These are rule-based periods and published service standards, not average completion times or promises that every case will be completed within them.
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- Information or documents are deficient: the officer may issue a REG-03 notice seeking clarification, information, or documents.
- The REG-04 reply is late or incomplete: the applicant has seven working days from receipt of REG-03 to respond. An absent or unsatisfactory response can lead to rejection through REG-05.
- Authentication is unfinished: an authentication link may expire, or required biometric or document checks at a GSK may be missed or incomplete. The portal guide says failure to complete required checks within the applicable period can prevent ARN generation, so officer review may not yet have started.
- Physical verification is selected: this is one of the circumstances associated with the longer service timeline in the Citizen Charter.
To reduce avoidable back-and-forth, make sure application details match the supporting evidence, upload legible documents, monitor registered contact channels, attend an assigned GSK appointment, and answer any notice fully before its deadline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you receive a REG-03 notice
- Read the notice and identify each requested clarification, piece of information, or document.
- Submit the response in Form REG-04 within seven working days of receiving the notice.
- Address every point directly and attach the supporting material requested. Keep track of the submission and any further portal communication.
If the response is absent or the officer considers it unsatisfactory, the rules allow rejection through REG-05. A GST practitioner or tax professional may be useful if the notice raises a complex eligibility or documentation issue; the portal guide recognizes an authorized representative in the registration process.
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