No restaurant, cafe or takeaway counter can legally serve food without FSSAI approval. Which type you need depends on your turnover, and under the 2026 rules most single outlets now qualify for the simplest one.
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Decided by the annual turnover of each outlet
| Your outlet | Annual turnover | What you need | Government fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe, tea stall, fast food counter, small restaurant | Up to ₹1.5 crore | Basic Registration | ₹100 a year |
| Busy restaurant, bar and kitchen, banquet hall | ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore | State License | ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a year |
| Very large hotel or restaurant business | Above ₹50 crore | Central License | ₹7,500 a year |
Before April 2026 the limit for Basic Registration was only ₹12 lakh, so almost every sit-down restaurant needed a State License. The limit is now ₹1.5 crore. If you were told a few years ago that you need a State License, it is worth checking again.
Getting the number is the start, not the end
The certificate must be displayed where customers can see it, usually near the entrance or billing counter.
Your 14-digit FSSAI number has to be printed on invoices, bills and cash memos.
Restaurants are expected to put up the FSSAI display board showing hygiene practices and how customers can give feedback.
At least one person in the kitchen should hold a FoSTaC food safety supervisor certificate.
Use potable water, keep raw and cooked food apart, and control pests. These are the first things an officer checks.
Food handlers should be medically fit and follow basic personal hygiene, with records kept.
The full list for each licence type is on the documents checklist.
If you plan to take online orders, the name and address on your FSSAI certificate should match what you enter on the delivery app. A mismatch is the most common reason a listing gets held up. We cover the details separately for Swiggy and for Zomato and other delivery platforms.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Based on the FSSAI rules in force from 1 April 2026.
Send us your details today. We will confirm the right food licence for your business and what it will cost before you pay anything.
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