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Licenses and registrations to open a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram
7 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 restaurant or café with 1 to 5 staff and turnover of ₹20 to 40 lakh a year.
Fees checked: 27 Sep 2026
Required licences
7
Known official fees
₹200
first year, plus 3 that vary
Issuing city body
Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation
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Required licences and official fees
For a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram (TMC), Kerala.
| 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) |
| GST registrationCentral | GST Network / State GST Department | Freeno government fee | About 7 working days | gst.gov.in |
| FSSAI Basic Registration (food license)Central | State Food Safety Department (FSSAI) | ₹100per year; pay 1 to 5 years upfront | About 7 days | foscos.fssai.gov.in |
| Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996)Municipal | Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation | ₹500 to ₹15,000per year by capital investment: ₹500 for a service business up to ₹10 lakh | 5 days under the Right to Service rules, after a site inspection | lsgkerala.gov.in (K-SWIFT single window) |
| Shops and Establishments registrationState | Labour Department, Kerala (Assistant Labour Officer) | ₹100 (up to 5 workers)for your staff size | Within 60 days of starting | lc.kerala.gov.in |
| Profession tax (collected by your local body)State | Local self government institution (municipal corporation, municipality or panchayat) | Half-yearly slabs set by local body law, up to ₹2,500 a year. Slab amounts To confirm | Not confirmed | professiontax.lsgkerala.gov.in |
| Music licence (PPL and IPRS)Private | PPL India (sound recordings) and IPRS (songs) | ₹17,500 + ₹20,000a year: PPL (21 to 40 seats, metro) plus IPRS (restaurant, metro); GST extra | About a week | pplindia.org / iprs.org |
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, GST registration. Do these first. Later forms ask for PAN and GST.
- Sector licence: FSSAI Basic Registration (food license). The licence that lets you legally run this type of business.
- Municipal licence: Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996). Permission from your city for these premises.
- State labour and tax: Shops and Establishments registration, Profession tax (collected by your local body). Registers your workplace and staff with the state.
- Conditional and optional: Music licence (PPL and IPRS). Only if they apply to how you operate.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar linked to your mobile number
- For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed
- PAN of the business
- Aadhaar and photo of the owner or partners
- Proof of premises: electricity bill plus rent agreement or owner's NOC
- Bank statement or cancelled cheque
- Photo of the owner
- ID proof (Aadhaar or PAN)
- Proof of premises
- List of food items
- ID proof of the owner
- Lease deed or ownership certificate of the premises
- For workplaces using machinery: consent to establish from the Pollution Control Board, fire NOC or NOC from the District Medical Officer
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner
- 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
- Business details and address
- Seating capacity or floor area
- GSTIN
Also check if these apply
- Udyam (MSME) registration: Free. Free. Gets you the lower trademark fee, MSME loan schemes and protection against delayed payments.
Common questions
How much do licences cost for a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram?
The known official fees for the required licences add up to about ₹200 in the first year, plus 3 fees that depend on your size or the office (Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996), Profession tax (collected by your local body), Music licence (PPL and IPRS)). 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 (FSSAI Basic Registration (food license)), followed by the municipal licence and the state labour registration.
Do I need a trade licence from the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation?
Yes. For a restaurant or café you need the Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996). The official fee is ₹500 to ₹15,000 (per year by capital investment: ₹500 for a service business up to ₹10 lakh). Apply at lsgkerala.gov.in (K-SWIFT single window).
Do I need an FSSAI food license for a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram?
Yes. For a restaurant or café you need the FSSAI Basic Registration (food license). The official fee is ₹100 (per year; pay 1 to 5 years upfront). Apply at foscos.fssai.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.
Thiruvananthapuram mein restaurant ya cafe kholne ke liye kaun kaun se license chahiye?
Thiruvananthapuram mein restaurant ya cafe ke liye 7 zaroori license aur registration hain: PAN, GST registration, FSSAI Basic Registration (food license), Licence for trades and other services, Shops and Establishments registration, Profession tax (collected by your local body) aur Music licence (PPL and IPRS). Sabse pehle PAN aur GST, phir FSSAI Basic Registration (food license), uske baad baaki registration.
Thiruvananthapuram mein restaurant ke license ka kitna kharcha aata hai?
Sarkari fees milakar pehle saal lagbhag ₹200 lagta hai, aur 3 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.
Thiruvananthapuram mein trade license kaise banaye? Kya restaurant ke liye zaroori hai?
Haan. Thiruvananthapuram mein yeh licence Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation deta hai: Licence for trades and other services. Official fees: ₹500 to ₹15,000. Apply: lsgkerala.gov.in (K-SWIFT single window) par online.
Restaurant 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, PAN of the business, Aadhaar and photo of the owner or partners, Proof of premises: electricity bill plus rent agreement or owner's NOC, Bank statement or cancelled cheque, Photo of the owner, ID proof (Aadhaar or PAN).
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.
Restaurant or Café licences in other cities
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