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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 last checked: 28 Oct 2026
The short answer
To open a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram you need 7 licences and registrations:
- PAN
- GST registration
- FSSAI Basic Registration (food license)
- Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996)
- Shops and Establishments registration
- Profession tax (collected by your local body)
- Music licence (PPL and IPRS)
Fixed official fees: ₹200
+ 3 fees that depend on size or location. See the fee table below
- Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996) ₹500 to ₹15,000
- Profession tax (collected by your local body) No official fee published
- Music licence (PPL and IPRS) ₹17,500 + ₹20,000
Get this list for your exact business
Change turnover, staff, floor area and extras like alcohol or a DG set. Tick documents as you collect them and share the list on WhatsApp or email.
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 AadhaarChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | Same day | incometax.gov.in (Instant e-PAN) |
| GST registrationCentral | GST Network / State GST Department | Freeno government feeChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | 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 upfrontChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | 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 lakhChecked on 2 Oct 2026 Source | 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 sizeChecked on 2 Oct 2026 Source | 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 are not listed on the official page | No deadline published by the state | 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 extraChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | 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.Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Never miss a renewal
Free renewal reminders by email, 30 days before, 7 days before and on the day. Needs a login.
Free formats for this business
Landlord NOC, declarations and consent letters that offices often ask for. Each is a printable sample, so check it with the issuing office. After you apply, the licence pages also show how to track an application and why it gets rejected.
Landlord NOC
A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying the tenant may run a business there.
Free formatSelf-declaration (trade licence)
A short signed statement by the applicant that the details in the trade licence application are true and the business will follow the rules.
Free formatAffidavit (trade licence)
A sworn statement made before a notary, used by some municipal offices as proof that the premises and details in a trade licence application are true.
Free formatPartnership consent letter
A letter signed by all partners of a firm saying one partner may apply for, sign for and hold a licence on behalf of the firm.
Free formatRent agreement
An 11 month agreement between the owner and the tenant of a house or flat that sets out the rent, deposit, notice period and rules of stay.
Free formatShop or office lease agreement
A lease between the owner of a shop, office or godown and a business tenant, with the rent, deposit, yearly increase, lock in and notice terms.
Free formatShops Act declaration
A declaration by the owner of a shop, office or restaurant giving the details asked for when registering under the state Shops and Establishments Act.
Free formatGST authorised signatory letter
A letter in which the owner, partner or director of a business authorises one person to sign and file GST applications and returns on its behalf.
Free formatGST owner consent letter
A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying that the applicant may use the address as the place of business for GST registration.
Free formatReply to ASMT-10 notice
Reply to a notice in Form GST ASMT-10 that points out differences in your returns after scrutiny.
Free formatReply to DRC-01A
Reply to a pre show cause intimation in Form GST DRC-01A.
Free formatReply to GST show cause notice (DRC-06)
Reply to a GST show cause notice for demand of tax, with grounds and a request for a personal hearing, prayer, verification and annexures.
Free formatReply to registration notice (REG-04)
Reply to a notice from the officer asking you to clarify or add details on a GST registration application.
Free formatReply to cancellation notice (REG-18)
Reply to a show cause notice proposing to cancel your GST registration.
Free formatReply to ITC mismatch notice
Reply to a GST notice about input tax credit claimed in GSTR-3B that does not match GSTR-2B, with a reconciliation table you fill in.
Free formatGST notice adjournment request
A letter asking the GST officer for more time to reply, or to move the date of a hearing, with the reason and the new date you ask for.
Free formatGST authorisation letter for a CA
A letter that authorises a chartered accountant, advocate or other representative to appear and file replies for you before the GST officer.
Free formatFSSAI declaration and nominee (Form IX)
A sample declaration by a food business and a letter naming the person (nominee) who is responsible for food safety rules.
Free formatCommon questions
How much do licences cost for a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram?
Which licence should I apply for first?
Do I need a trade licence from the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation?
Do I need an FSSAI food license for a restaurant or café in Thiruvananthapuram?
How long does it take to get all the licences?
Is Govt License a government website?
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 ke license ka kitna kharcha aata hai?
Thiruvananthapuram mein trade license kaise banaye? Kya restaurant ke liye zaroori hai?
Restaurant ke license ke liye kaun se documents chahiye?
Saare license milne mein kitna time lagta hai?
Thiruvananthapuram mein restaurant ke license ke liye landlord NOC ya declaration ka format kahan milega?
പതിവായി ചോദിക്കുന്ന ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ (മലയാളത്തിൽ)
ഇത് ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ നിന്ന് വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്തതാണ്. ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പേജാണ് അടിസ്ഥാനം; ഫീസ് ഔദ്യോഗിക പോർട്ടലിൽ ഉറപ്പാക്കുക.