FSSAI registration vs state licence vs central licence: which one do you need?

What changed on 1 April 2026?

FSSAI’s order of 13 March 2026, based on NITI Aayog’s recommendations, raised the turnover limits for every kind of food business. It came into force on 1 April 2026.

The same amendment brought perpetual validity (no renewals), deemed registration for street vendors already registered under the Street Vendors Act, and risk-based inspections, so businesses with a clean record should see fewer visits. FSSAI says more than 98% of food businesses now fall under state food safety departments.

Which one does your restaurant need?

₹1.5 crore a year is about ₹41,000 of sales a day. Count all your food sales, including orders through delivery apps.

Fees are from FoSCoS’s fee sheet for restaurants. That sheet still shows the old turnover limits; we found nothing in the 2026 orders that changes the fees, but pay what FoSCoS shows when you apply. Under the old categories, three- and four-star hotels paid ₹5,000 for a state licence and five-star hotels needed a central licence.

Some businesses have other rules. FoSCoS’s older eligibility sheet lists central licences for e-commerce platforms, for food businesses at airports, seaports and central government premises, and for a head office when a business operates in two or more states, and railway premises have their own category. The 13 March 2026 order says it replaces all earlier turnover limits and categorisation criteria, so it is not yet clear which of these still apply. If you are in one of these places, follow what the FoSCoS eligibility step tells you.

How long does it last?

• No more renewals. Licences and registrations issued on or after 1 April 2026 stay valid unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered. FSSAI’s FAQs speak of licences issued from that date; some consultants say older licences became perpetual too, but until FSSAI says so plainly, check the validity FoSCoS shows for an older licence.
• The fee is still yearly. FSSAI’s FAQs say you can pay for any number of years at once, at any time of year. Keep it paid; check your FoSCoS dashboard for what is due.
• Already licensed? FSSAI says existing businesses will get time to move to the new category through FoSCoS, on a self-declaration, with no fee for the change and no approval needed. Your number stays the same, and a state licence fee you already paid is adjusted against the registration fee.

How to apply on FoSCoS

1. Go to foscos.fssai.gov.in and start a new application.
2. Choose your state, your kind of business (food service, restaurant) and your expected turnover. FoSCoS tells you whether it is registration, a state licence or a central licence.
3. Fill in Form A (registration) or Form B (licence) and upload the documents FoSCoS lists for your kind of business, such as photo ID and proof that you occupy the premises.
4. Pay the fee online and keep the application reference.
5. Once approved, download the certificate, display a copy where guests can see it, and print your 14-digit number on every bill.

Many owners use a licence agent. That is fine, but make sure the application is in your name and you get the FoSCoS login.

Cloud kitchens on Swiggy and Zomato

• Same limits. A cloud kitchen is a food service business. Up to ₹1.5 crore turnover, registration; above that, a state licence.
• One per kitchen. Each kitchen address needs its own registration or licence. A brand running from three kitchens needs three.
• The apps check. FSSAI’s 2017 guidelines for e-commerce food businesses require the seller’s licence or registration to be displayed on the platform, and platforms must delist listings that don’t comply. Swiggy and Zomato ask for your FSSAI number when you sign up.
• The apps’ own licence is separate. The platform holds a central licence for itself; it does not cover your kitchen.

What if you have none?

Running a food business without any registration or licence is an offence under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh. Getting registration costs ₹100 a year, so there is no reason to wait.

Your FSSAI number on bills

Every bill must show your 14-digit FSSAI number. Registration numbers usually start with 2 and licence numbers with 1; if you moved from a licence to registration, your number does not change, so it may still start with 1. The rule and what to print are in FSSAI number on bills, and the other lines a bill needs are in restaurant bill format.

In Venditas you type your FSSAI number once in Setup → Bill & tax, and every bill prints “FSSAI Lic. No” under your GSTIN; each outlet keeps its own number. See GST billing in Venditas. Nothing upfront, 30 days free, then ₹3 per paid bill.

This guide is general information as of 10 October 2026, not legal advice. Confirm your category and fee on FoSCoS or with the food safety office.

Sources

All checked on 10 October 2026.

• FSSAI order of 13 March 2026: revised turnover thresholds from 1 April 2026
• FSSAI FAQs on the 2026 amendment regulations (27 March 2026), for perpetual validity, fees for several years, migration and the 98% figure
• FoSCoS: kind of business, criteria and fee per annum, for the ₹100, ₹2,000, ₹5,000 and ₹7,500 fees and the special categories
• FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, for the 7, 30 and 60 day timelines
• USDA GAIN report (24 February 2017) on FSSAI’s e-commerce guidelines
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, section 63