If you cook at home and sell food — tiffins, pickles, cakes, snacks or sweets — you need an FSSAI registration before you can legally take orders. This guide explains which licence applies to you, the documents to collect, what it costs and how long it takes.
FSSAI has three levels, decided by your annual turnover.
| Licence | Annual turnover | Government fee | Typically for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Registration | Up to ₹12 lakh a year | ₹100 per year | Most home cooks, tiffin services and small bakers starting out. |
| State Licence | ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore a year | ₹2,000–₹5,000 per year (varies by category) | Home kitchens that have grown into a small production unit. |
| Central Licence | Above ₹20 crore, or exporting / operating in multiple states | ₹7,500 per year | Rarely needed by a home kitchen. |
Registration happens on the FSSAI FoSCoS portal (foscos.fssai.gov.in). Sign up with your mobile number and email.
Use the turnover table above. Almost every new home kitchen begins with Basic Registration.
Enter your name, kitchen address, food categories and expected turnover. The kitchen address can be your home address.
Upload the documents listed above and pay online. Choose a validity of 1 to 5 years — paying for more years at once saves repeat paperwork.
Basic Registration is usually granted within 7–30 days. A State licence may involve an inspection of the kitchen by a food safety officer.
Print the certificate and keep it visible in your kitchen. Your 14-digit FSSAI number must also appear on every label and invoice.
Tummy & Mummy guides home cooks through FSSAI registration, lab testing, packaging and labelling as part of onboarding — and then gives you a storefront to sell from. Asha, our voice assistant, explains each step in your own language.
Start your registration →Yes. A home kitchen is a valid premises for Basic Registration as long as the food preparation area is clean, separate from sanitary facilities and has safe water and waste disposal.
The government fee for Basic Registration is ₹100 per year of validity. Any additional cost is for optional help with paperwork, lab testing or labelling.
Yes. Every food business operator in India, including home-based sellers and cloud kitchens listing on marketplaces, needs at least a Basic FSSAI registration.
You choose a validity of 1 to 5 years when applying. Renew on FoSCoS before it expires — applying late can attract a penalty and your listings may be paused.
Operating without registration is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and can lead to a fine and closure of the business. Marketplaces also cannot list you.
Fees and turnover limits follow the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the FSSAI FoSCoS portal. Always confirm current figures on foscos.fssai.gov.in before applying.