FSSAI Licence Requirements for Cloud Kitchens in India
A cloud kitchen is a food business even if diners do not sit on its premises. FSSAI’s FoSCoS FAQ says a cloud kitchen with no seating requires registration or a licence according to the applicable eligibility criteria. Since 1 April 2026, the turnover bands for new applications changed; activity-specific criteria also matter.
What the current official source says
FSSAI’s licensing FAQ addresses cloud kitchens directly: absence of seating does not remove the food business from registration/licensing. The current application criteria are checked through FoSCoS and the Licensing and Registration regulations. The relevant FAQ is in the official FSSAI document. Its category examples predate the 2026 turnover changes, so use it for the no-seating point, not as the current threshold table.
For new applications from 1 April 2026, FSSAI states Registration up to ₹1.5 crore turnover, State Licence above ₹1.5 crore up to ₹50 crore, and Central Licence above ₹50 crore. The March 2026 FAQ says existing businesses will be given time to migrate through FoSCoS. These thresholds do not erase other criteria based on the food-business activity. See FSSAI’s 2026 FAQ and 13 March implementation order.
Scope and how to read the requirement
The operating model affects what must be selected in an application: one kitchen or multiple premises, manufacturing or food service activity, food categories, and whether supply occurs through a platform. A cloud kitchen and its ordering platform may each have distinct regulatory roles. Do not treat GST classification as an FSSAI category; the two systems use separate rules.
Limits and records
A practical way to read the sources is to identify the actual food activity, count relevant premises, determine the application date and turnover basis, then confirm the current eligibility shown by FoSCoS. A threshold-only summary is not enough to resolve all licence categories. FSSAI’s own 2026 FAQ explains perpetual validity while retaining hygiene and safety obligations; a licence’s continuing validity does not mean inspections or compliance duties stop.
The premises and activity record should match how the business actually prepares and supplies food. For example, a central kitchen supplying several service points can differ from a single kitchen that accepts orders for delivery, even when both lack customer seating. The FAQ confirms that seating is not the test for whether a cloud kitchen needs FSSAI coverage; it does not say every cloud-kitchen setup uses the same application category. Current portal eligibility and the documented activity remain decisive.
Frequently asked questions
Does a cloud kitchen need FSSAI registration without seating?
FSSAI’s FAQ says no-seating cloud kitchens require registration or a licence as per eligibility criteria.
Which turnover thresholds apply to new applications from April 2026?
Registration up to ₹1.5 crore; State Licence above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore; Central Licence above ₹50 crore, subject to activity criteria.
For related context, see fssai registration and license for restaurants, fssai schedule 4 hygiene requirements restaurant, fostac training requirement for restaurant food handlers.
Sources and further reading
Source links support the facts above. Check dated source material for current details.