Licenses and registrations to open a pharmacy or medical store in Shimla
4 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
4
Known official fees
₹3,000
first year, plus 2 that vary
Issuing city body
Municipal Corporation Shimla
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Required licences and official fees
For a pharmacy or medical store in Shimla (MC), Himachal Pradesh.
| 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 | Drugs Control Administration, Himachal Pradesh | ₹1,500 per form₹3,000 for both Form 20 and 21 | About 30 days, with inspection | nsws.gov.in (state approvals) |
| Business licence (section 324, HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994)Municipal | Municipal Corporation Shimla | ₹200 or ₹300per year by shop area: ₹200 up to 125 sq ft, ₹300 above | Not published | shimlamc.hp.gov.in |
| Shops and Establishments registrationState | Labour and Employment Department, Himachal Pradesh | ₹200 for up to 5 workers (To confirm)for your staff size | Within 30 days of starting | labour.hp.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: Business licence (section 324, HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994). Permission from your city for these premises.
- State labour and tax: Shops and Establishments registration. 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
- Plain paper application (₹5 fee)
- Affidavit naming the owner of the premises (first applicants)
- Proof that you are registered with the corporation's tax department
- Commercial water connection where the trade needs water
- Fire department NOC for hotels, restaurants, dhabas, halwai shops, guest houses and similar trades
- Medical fitness certificate for food (PFA) licences, applied to the Corporation Health Officer
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner
- Proof of premises
- Photo of the shop front with name board
- Employee details (names, roles, wages)
Also check if these apply
- GST registration: Free. Mandatory once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh a year for goods in Himachal Pradesh.
- Udyam (MSME) registration: Free. Free. Gets you the lower trademark fee, MSME loan schemes and protection against delayed payments.
- FSSAI registration for nutrition products: ₹100. 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 Shimla?
The known official fees for the required licences add up to about ₹3,000 in the first year, plus 2 fees that depend on your size or the office (Business licence (section 324, HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994), Shops and Establishments registration). 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 Municipal Corporation Shimla?
Yes. For a pharmacy or medical store you need the Business licence (section 324, HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994). The official fee is ₹200 or ₹300 (per year by shop area: ₹200 up to 125 sq ft, ₹300 above). Apply at shimlamc.hp.gov.in.
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.
Shimla mein medical store ya pharmacy kholne ke liye kaun kaun se license chahiye?
Shimla mein medical store ya pharmacy ke liye 4 zaroori license aur registration hain: PAN, Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21), Business licence aur Shops and Establishments registration. Sabse pehle PAN aur GST, phir Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21), uske baad baaki registration.
Shimla mein medical store ke license ka kitna kharcha aata hai?
Sarkari fees milakar pehle saal lagbhag ₹3,000 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.
Shimla mein trade license kaise banaye? Kya medical store ke liye zaroori hai?
Haan. Shimla mein yeh licence Municipal Corporation Shimla deta hai: Business licence. Official fees: ₹200 or ₹300. Apply: shimlamc.hp.gov.in 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.
Pharmacy or Medical Store licences in other cities
Delhi New Delhi (NDMC) Mumbai Pune Kolkata West Bengal towns Chennai Bengaluru Hyderabad Ahmedabad Lucknow Kanpur Ghaziabad Noida Patna Jaipur Indore Bhopal Gurugram Faridabad Surat Vadodara Nagpur Thane Coimbatore Howrah Raipur Dehradun Panaji Chandigarh Jammu Srinagar