Licences to open a pharmacy or medical store in Howrah
5 required licences and registrations, the official fee for each, the office that issues it and the documents to keep ready. Based on a typical small pharmacy or medical store with 1 to 5 staff and turnover of ₹20 to 40 lakh a year.
Fees checked: 27 Sep 2026
Required licences
5
Known official fees
₹3,030
first year, plus 2 that vary
Issuing city body
Howrah Municipal Corporation
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Required licences and official fees
For a pharmacy or medical store in Howrah (HMC), West Bengal.
| Licence | Issued by | Official fee | Time | Apply at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANCentral | Income Tax Department | Freeinstant e-PAN with Aadhaar | Same day | incometax.gov.in (Instant e-PAN) |
| Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21)State | Directorate of Drugs Control, West Bengal | ₹1,500 per form₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21 | About 30 days, with inspection | wbhealth.gov.in |
| Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC)Municipal | Howrah Municipal Corporation | Variesby trade, area and location (HMC schedule not published online); application form ₹50 | Not published; inspection before issue | HMC Trade Licence portal |
| Shops and Establishments registrationState | Labour Commissionerate, West Bengal | ₹30for your staff size | Within 30 days of opening | wbshopsonline.gov.in |
| Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC)State | Directorate of Commercial Taxes, West Bengal | Up to ₹2,500 a year, by turnover (new schedule notified Aug 2026; check the portal) | Enrol within 90 days of starting | wbprofessiontax.gov.in |
Fees are the official government fees, not agent charges. Some fees depend on your size or change by office, so confirm on the portal before paying.
Order to apply in
- Identity and tax registration: PAN. Do these first. Later forms ask for PAN and GST.
- Sector licence: Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21). The licence that lets you legally run this type of business.
- Municipal licence: Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC). Permission from your city for these premises.
- State labour and tax: Shops and Establishments registration, Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC). Registers your workplace and staff with the state.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar linked to your mobile number
- For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed
- Registered pharmacist: qualification, State Pharmacy Council registration, appointment letter
- Premises of at least 10 sq m (15 sq m for retail plus wholesale)
- Rent agreement or ownership proof
- Site plan and key plan
- Refrigerator purchase bill
- Non-conviction affidavit
- Photo ID of the owner
- Photograph of proprietor/partners/directors
- PAN, EPIC and Aadhaar
- Property tax bill or ownership deed
- Rent agreement / lease (if rented)
- Partnership deed / MOA-AOA / trust deed (if applicable)
- Affidavit / undertaking
- NOC from WB Fire Services / WBPCB / FSSAI (if applicable)
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner
- Proof of premises
- Photo of the shop front with name board
- Employee details (names, roles, wages)
- PAN
- Aadhaar
- Business address proof
- GST or Shops and Establishments certificate
- Employee list with salaries
Also check if these apply
- GST registration: Free. Mandatory once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh a year for goods in West Bengal.
- Udyam (MSME) registration: Free. Free. Gets you the lower trademark fee, MSME loan schemes and protection against delayed payments.
- FSSAI registration for nutrition products: ₹2,000. Needed only if you sell food items such as supplements or infant food.
Common questions
How much do licences cost for a pharmacy or medical store in Howrah?
The known official fees for the required licences add up to about ₹3,030 in the first year, plus 2 fees that depend on your size or the office (Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC), Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC)). This is the government fee only. Agents and consultants charge extra, which you can avoid by applying yourself on the official portals.
Which licence should I apply for first?
Start with PAN and GST registration, because almost every later form asks for them. Then apply for the sector licence (Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21)), followed by the municipal licence and the state labour registration.
Do I need a trade licence from the Howrah Municipal Corporation?
Yes. For a pharmacy or medical store you need the Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC). The official fee is Varies (by trade, area and location (HMC schedule not published online); application form ₹50). Apply at HMC Trade Licence portal.
How long does it take to get all the licences?
Most registrations like PAN, GST and Udyam come through within a week. Sector and municipal licences can take 30 to 60 days where an inspection is needed, so apply for those as early as possible and before you open.
Is Govt License a government website?
No. Govt License is an independent guide. We link to the official government portals where you apply and pay. Always confirm the fee on the portal before paying.
Aksar pooche jaane wale sawaal
Yahi jaankari, Hinglish mein.
Howrah mein medical store ya pharmacy kholne ke liye kaun kaun se license chahiye?
Howrah mein medical store ya pharmacy ke liye 5 zaroori license aur registration hain: PAN, Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21), Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC), Shops and Establishments registration aur Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC). Sabse pehle PAN aur GST, phir Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21), uske baad baaki registration.
Howrah mein medical store ke license ka kitna kharcha aata hai?
Sarkari fees milakar pehle saal lagbhag ₹3,030 lagta hai, aur 2 fees aapke size ya office par depend karti hai. Yeh sirf government fees hai. Agent alag se paise lete hain, jo aap official portal par khud apply karke bacha sakte hain.
Howrah mein trade license kaise banaye? Kya medical store ke liye zaroori hai?
Haan. Howrah mein yeh licence Howrah Municipal Corporation deta hai: Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC). Official fees: Varies. Apply: HMC Trade Licence portal par online.
Medical store ke license ke liye kaun se documents chahiye?
Yeh documents taiyaar rakhein: Aadhaar linked to your mobile number, For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed, Registered pharmacist: qualification, State Pharmacy Council registration, appointment letter, Premises of at least 10 sq m (15 sq m for retail plus wholesale), Rent agreement or ownership proof, Site plan and key plan, Refrigerator purchase bill, Non-conviction affidavit.
Saare license milne mein kitna time lagta hai?
PAN, GST aur Udyam aam taur par ek hafte ke andar mil jaate hain. FSSAI aur municipal license mein inspection ki wajah se 30 se 60 din lag sakte hain, isliye business shuru karne se pehle hi apply kar dein.