India has three FSSAI credentials for food businesses: registration, a State License and a Central License. Which one applies depends on the business’s turnover and kind of activity—and, in some cases, its capacity and premises. Use the FoSCoS portal to check eligibility for the actual business before applying. This guide reflects the framework in force on 8 October 2026.
What are the types of FSSAI credentials?
Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 requires food businesses to be registered or licensed with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to commence or carry on food business. People often say “FSSAI license” to mean any of the three credentials, but registration is technically not a license.
| Credential | General turnover band for new applications from 1 April 2026 | What else to check |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Up to ₹1.5 crore | Confirm the business’s kind of activity in the FoSCoS eligibility table; turnover alone does not establish eligibility. |
| State License | Above ₹1.5 crore and up to ₹50 crore | Check the activity-specific criteria. FSSAI’s revised turnover limits do not change the jurisdiction of Licensing or Registering Authorities. |
| Central License | Above ₹50 crore | Some activities, including importing and e-commerce, are listed for Central License without a turnover limit in the revised FoSCoS eligibility table. |
The turnover bands are the general baseline set by FSSAI’s order of 13 March 2026, effective 1 April 2026. They do not replace the activity-specific eligibility table.
How to tell which category your business needs
Start with the precise activity, then check turnover, capacity where relevant, and how many premises the business operates. FoSCoS lists categories including manufacturing and processing, dairy, vegetable-oil processing, storage, transport, wholesale, distribution, retail, hotels, restaurants, catering, vending, import, export and e-commerce. Choose the entry that matches what the business actually does; a low turnover figure does not automatically make registration available.
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- Turnover: Compare the business’s actual turnover with the general bands in the table.
- Activity: Check whether the relevant kind of business has its own category, capacity limit or license condition. Importers and e-commerce businesses, for example, are listed for Central License regardless of turnover.
- Premises and footprint: Identify each operating location and whether the business spans more than one state.
- Application requirements: Check the documents and fees FoSCoS lists for the selected activity and premises; requirements are not universal.
Without the activity, turnover, relevant capacity and premises arrangement, it is not possible to determine an individual business’s category from the general bands alone.
How premises and multiple states affect the application
FoSCoS states that one premise has one FSSAI registration or license, and multiple kinds of business may be endorsed on that credential. If the operator has premises in more than one state, it must declare one premise as the head office and obtain the appropriate credential for each other location according to eligibility.
How to apply through FoSCoS
- Check eligibility: Open the official FoSCoS portal and use its eligibility information to select the kind of business and credential for the relevant premises.
- Review the matching requirements: Consult the portal’s document list, fee information and guidance for that activity and application category. Do not rely on a generic document checklist for every business.
- Submit the application: Use FoSCoS’s new-license or registration application route and provide the information and documents requested for the selected activity and premises.
- For existing operators, check the transition details: FSSAI’s FAQ of 27 March 2026 says existing food business operators will be given sufficient time to migrate through FoSCoS. The FAQ does not give a single migration deadline, so check the portal for current instructions rather than assuming a date or automatic change.
What perpetual validity means—and what it does not
FSSAI’s 2026 FAQ says licenses and registrations have perpetual validity. Its answer to Q4 states: “Perpetual Validity of FSSAI Licenses and Registrations means that they will remain valid, unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered.” The FAQ also says operators remain responsible for applicable hygiene, safety and other statutory requirements; perpetual validity is not an exemption from those duties.
Special case: street-food vendors
FSSAI’s 2026 FAQ says street-food vendors registered under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 will be considered deemed registered under FSSAI. This applies to vendors registered under that law; it should not be assumed to cover every informal food seller. In a March 2026 press release, FSSAI said the measure was expected to benefit more than 10 lakh street-food vendors. That is FSSAI’s projected reach, not a reported count of people already covered.
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Depending on the activity and location, a food business may also need state or local permissions beyond FSSAI. The applicable requirements vary, so check with the relevant authorities for the specific premises and business activity.
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