Blogs and Updates
- Home
- /
- Blogs and Updates
- /
- FSSAI License for Cloud Kitchen: Complete Guide (2026)
A cloud kitchen is a kitchen that only makes food for delivery. There is no seating area for customers. Orders come through apps like Swiggy and Zomato.
Even without a restaurant, you must have an FSSAI licence or registration before you sell any food. Without it, delivery apps will not list your kitchen. Cloud kitchens follow the same rules as restaurants and must show their FSSAI number at the kitchen and on every food delivery app.
This guide explains which licence you need, what documents to keep ready, the fees, and the steps to apply.
What Is New in 2026?
FSSAI changed its rules this year. Some older blogs still show the old rules.
The new rules came out in March 2026, and the new turnover limits started from 1 April 2026.
Here is what changed:
1. Higher turnover limits. The limit for Basic Registration went up from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, and the limit for the Central License went up from ₹20 crore to ₹50 crore. So many small cloud kitchens now need only a simple registration.
2. No renewal needed. Once you get your licence, it stays valid for life. It ends only if it is suspended, cancelled, or you give it up yourself.
3. You still pay a yearly fee. Many people miss this point. If you do not pay the yearly fee, your licence gets suspended automatically.
4. Fewer fixed inspections. How often your kitchen is checked now depends on risk and your past record, not on a fixed schedule.
Latest FSSAI News for Cloud Kitchens (2026)
Besides the new turnover limits and lifetime validity, here are some other recent updates every cloud kitchen owner should know.
1. Old licence holders don't need to apply again. If you already have an FSSAI licence, moving to the new category is free and automatic, and your licence number stays the same.
2. New rules for online food selling. From 1 April 2026, FSSAI has made new rules for apps that sell food online, including on ONDC. Any app that lists food businesses and takes orders must have a Central FSSAI licence, even if it doesn't make the food itself. The seller-side app is responsible for showing your correct FSSAI details and hygiene grade. What this means for you: keep your licence details exactly the same on every app you sell on. A wrong or old number can create problems.
3. No valid licence, no listing. Food apps must not list or keep listing any food business that doesn't have a valid, active FSSAI approval. So if your licence gets suspended because you missed the yearly fee, your app listing can also be affected.
4. Food recalls now go through Foscos. All food recalls now happen through the Foscos portal. If something goes wrong with a batch of food, the process is now online and easier to track.
5. Hygiene Rating is getting more attention. FSSAI's Hygiene Rating gives your kitchen a score from 1 to 5 stars based on your food safety and cleanliness. It is voluntary, but a high rating builds customer trust. A rating certificate is valid for 2 years, and FSSAI plans to add more hygiene auditors over time. For a cloud kitchen, where customers never see your kitchen, a good rating is a strong way to prove you are clean and safe.
6. Inspections based on risk. Kitchens with a poor record or higher-risk food may be checked more often, while clean and compliant kitchens may be checked less.
Which FSSAI License Do You Need?
It mostly depends on how much your kitchen earns in a year (your turnover).
Tip: Think about how much you expect to earn this year, not just what you earn today. If you will cross ₹1.5 crore soon, apply for the State Licence from the start.
Common Cloud Kitchen Situations
Many brands, one kitchen: If you run more than one food brand from the same kitchen, you usually need only one licence for that kitchen. Just list all your food types correctly.
Kitchens in different cities: Each kitchen needs its own licence. If you have kitchens in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, you need a separate licence for each. Some businesses that work in many states may also need a Central License, whatever their turnover.
Home kitchen: A home kitchen also needs FSSAI registration if you sell food. You may also need a letter of permission (NOC) from the owner or your housing society.
Shared kitchen space: If you rent space in a shared kitchen, your own business needs its own licence. The owner's licence does not cover you.
Documents You Need
Rules can change a little from state to state. Keep clear scanned copies ready before you apply.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Pick your licence type. Check your yearly turnover and choose the right licence from the table above.
Step 2: Sign up on FoSCoS. All FSSAI applications are done online on the Foscos website.
Step 3: Choose the right business type. Select the food service or restaurant option and pick the food items you will make. A wrong choice here is a common reason for rejection.
Step 4: Fill the form. Use Form A for Basic Registration or Form B for a State or Central License. Make sure the details match your documents.
Step 5: Upload documents and pay the fee. Upload all documents and pay online.
Step 6: Checking and inspection. The officer checks your application and may ask questions. Reply on time. For State and Central Licenses, an officer usually visits your kitchen.
Step 7: Get your certificate. Download your certificate with its 14-digit FSSAI number. Put it up in your kitchen and add it to your delivery app pages.
Faster option: FSSAI also has a quick "Tatkal" option in many states, where approval is based on online checks of your GST, PAN, and Aadhaar. It is not available in Chandigarh, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.
Fees and Time Taken
Basic Registration costs ₹100 a year. It takes a few days, while State and Central Licenses can take 30 to 60 days.
Do not pay late. If you pay 1–90 days late, you pay 3 times the fee. If you pay 91–180 days late, you pay 5 times the fee. After 180 days, you must apply for a new licence. The good news is that you can pay the fee for many years at once, at any time. This is the easiest way to stay safe.
Rules to Follow After You Get the License
Pay the yearly fee on time on the Foscos website or pay for many years in advance.
File yearly returns if needed. State License holders must file yearly returns. If you miss the fee or the return, your licence is suspended until you pay what you owe and any penalty.
Train one staff member. At least one person in your kitchen should complete FSSAI's FoSTaC food safety training.
Keep the kitchen clean. Use safe water, control pests, store food at the right temperature, and throw away waste properly.
Check staff health. Keep health certificates for everyone who handles food.
Show your FSSAI number in your kitchen, on delivery apps, and on bills and packets where needed.
Update your licence if you change your address, add new food items, change partners, or cross a turnover limit.
Tell FSSAI if you close. If you shut your kitchen, you must inform FSSAI within 30 days and return your certificate. The fee you paid will not be refunded.
Other Licenses a Cloud Kitchen Needs
GST Registration is needed based on your turnover and to join delivery apps.
Shop and Establishment Registration comes from your state labor department.
Trade or Health License comes from your city's municipal office (for example, the BMC in Mumbai).
Fire NOC is needed in some cases, depending on your kitchen size and state rules.
Trademarks for your brand name are very important and often forgotten. For a cloud kitchen, your brand name is everything customers see on the app. If someone else registers your name first, you may have to change it and lose your ratings and reviews. If you run more than one brand, protect each one.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistakes are:
choosing the wrong licence type
picking the wrong business type on Foscos
giving a kitchen address that does not match your address proof
forgetting the owner's NOC
uploading an unclear kitchen layout
listing food items you don't actually make
Any of these can delay your approval by weeks.
Penalty for Not Having a License
Running a food business without an FSSAI licence can lead to a fine of up to ₹5 lakh and jail of up to six months. You also cannot list your kitchen on Swiggy or Zomato. For a cloud kitchen, that means no orders at all.
Get Your FSSAI License with BDS Legal
Want to start your cloud kitchen without the paperwork stress? BDS Legal can help you:
✔ Choose the right FSSAI licence
✔ Prepare documents and apply online
✔ Answer officer questions until approval
✔ Remind you about yearly fees and updates
✔ Get GST registration and trademark registration for your brand names
📞 Call our experts today and get your cloud kitchen ready for Swiggy and Zomato.
