Which FSSAI category do you fall under?
Three categories. Basic registration for turnover up to ₹12L. State licence for ₹12L–₹20Cr — this is where almost all restaurants land. Central licence for >₹20Cr or multi-state operations. Picking the wrong category is the #1 reason for rejection.
Cost and validity
| Category | Annual fee | Validity options |
|---|---|---|
| Basic registration | ₹100 | 1-5 years (₹100/yr) |
| State licence | ₹2,000-5,000 | 1-5 years (₹2,000/yr) |
| Central licence | ₹7,500 | 1-5 years |
Pay for the longest validity (5 years) up front — it's pro-rated and saves the renewal hassle. The portal accepts UPI, net banking, or credit card.
Documents required (Maharashtra state licence)
- Form B — declaration of food safety management plan.
- Layout plan of the kitchen and customer area, signed by the proprietor.
- Identity proof of proprietor (PAN + Aadhaar).
- Address proof of premises (rent agreement OR property tax receipt; lease deed for owned premises).
- List of food categories to be sold (dropdown on the portal).
- Water test report from a NABL-accredited lab (potable water clearance).
- NOC from owner of the premises (if rented; the rent agreement usually suffices).
- Form IX — nomination of a person responsible for food safety (the FBO operator).
Timeline
Realistic Maharashtra timeline: 10-21 days from portal submission to licence issuance. Add 7-10 days if your application is sent for a physical inspection (about 30% of applications). The portal will tell you the inspection date — don't miss it.
The four mistakes that cause rejection
- Mismatched address proof — the address on the rent agreement, GST registration, and FSSAI form must match exactly. Even a missing flat number causes auto-rejection.
- Wrong food category dropdown — pick categories that match what you actually sell. Picking ‘meat preparations’ when you sell vegetarian only triggers an inspection.
- Layout plan with no scale — the layout must show the kitchen-to-customer-area separation and storage zones. A hand-drawn sketch is fine; a sketch with no dimensions isn't.
- Skipping water test — many applicants assume municipal water is enough. The portal asks for a NABL test, not a municipal stamp. NABL labs return reports in 7-10 days; book ahead.
After issuance — what you must display
FSSAI mandates a 14-digit number printed on every menu, every food packaging label, and the bill. Display the licence framed at the customer entrance. Renewals are not auto-prompted — set a calendar reminder.
Run the rest of your licence checklist
FSSAI is one of 9-11 licences a Maharashtra restaurant needs. The full state-specific list with cost, validity, authority, and lead time is in the free Forkcast checklist.
Open the licence checklist →