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Pharmacy license in India: drug license, medical store license and chemist license
Retail, wholesale or both: the forms, the official fee, the retention fee, who is eligible, the documents, the steps, the time and the penalty for selling medicines without a licence.
Fees last checked: 28 Oct 2026
The short answer
Retail, wholesale or both: the forms, the official fee, the retention fee, who is eligible, the documents, the steps, the time and the penalty for selling medicines without a licence. Key facts: Application fee: ₹1,500 per form (Form 19, Rule 59(2)); Retail, Forms 20 and 21: ₹3,000 (₹1,500 each form); Validity: For ever (pay the retention fee every 5 years); Retail pharmacist: Registered Pharmacist (wholesale: competent person).
Source: cdsco.gov.in, checked 18 Oct 2026.
Official fee Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
Get the full checklist for your city
Pick your city to see every licence a pharmacy or medical store needs there, with the official fee for each and the documents to keep ready.
Pharmacy license, drug license, medical store license and chemist license: one thing?
Yes. People say pharmacy license, medical store license, chemist license or drug license, but the law calls it a licence to sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale or distribute drugs. For a shop that sells medicines to customers it is a retail licence in Form 20, and in Form 21 if you sell Schedule C and C(1) medicines such as insulin, injectable antibiotics, vaccines and eye drops. It is issued by your State Drugs Control Department under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Rules, 1945, not by CDSCO.
It is a different thing from the FSSAI food license, the trade license from your city and the GST registration. A medical store usually needs all of them, as the table further down shows.
Retail, wholesale or both? Forms 20, 21, 20B, 21B, 20F and 20G
The form you get depends on whether you sell to customers (retail) or to other shops (wholesale), and which schedule of medicines you sell. The fee is the application fee under Rule 59(2); the forms are set by Rules 61, 62A, 62C and 62D.
| Form | What it allows | Who needs it | Application and fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 20 | Retail sale of medicines other than Schedule C, C(1) and X | Retail pharmacy, medical store, chemist and druggist | Form 19, ₹1,500 |
| Form 21 | Retail sale of Schedule C and C(1) medicines. Schedule C covers sera, vaccines, insulin, injectable antibiotics and eye preparations. Schedule C(1) covers items such as vitamins, hormones, digitalis and ergot preparations not meant for injection | Retail pharmacy that sells these medicines, which most pharmacies do | Form 19, ₹1,500 |
| Form 20B | Wholesale of medicines other than Schedule C, C(1) and X | Wholesaler, distributor, stockist | Form 19, ₹1,500 |
| Form 21B | Wholesale of Schedule C and C(1) medicines | Wholesaler that stocks these medicines | Form 19, ₹1,500 |
| Form 20F | Retail sale of Schedule X medicines (habit-forming drugs such as certain barbiturates, amphetamine, methylphenidate and ketamine) | Pharmacy that sells Schedule X medicines | Form 19C, ₹500 |
| Form 20G | Wholesale of Schedule X medicines | Wholesaler that stocks Schedule X medicines | Form 19C, ₹500 |
| Form 20A and 21A | Restricted retail licence for drugs whose sale does not need the supervision of a qualified person | Dealers who sell only drugs whose sale does not need a qualified person. Granted at the licensing authority's discretion | Form 19A, ₹500 (₹10 for an itinerant vendor or a village or town of 5,000 people or fewer) |
| Form 20BB and 21BB | Wholesale or distribution from a motor vehicle | Distributors who sell from a vehicle | Form 19AA, ₹500 |
Official fee Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source Form 19 is also the application for the retail licence in Form 20 and Form 21, and for the wholesale licences in Form 20B and Form 21B.
Open a pharmacy or medical store (retail)
Apply for Forms 20 and 21. You need a Registered Pharmacist, at least 10 square metres and proper storage.
Supply other shops (wholesale)
Apply for Forms 20B and 21B. You need a competent person in charge and at least 10 square metres.
Do both from one premises
Apply for the retail and the wholesale forms together. The premises must be at least 15 square metres.
Pharmacy license fee, retention fee and validity
There is no renewal. A licence stays valid if you pay the retention fee before the end of every 5 years.
| Fee | Amount | Note | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application in Form 19 (retail or wholesale) | ₹1,500 | Paid with each application. | Rule 59(2) |
| Application in Form 19C (Schedule X) | ₹500 | Separate application. Never combine it with Forms 20, 21, 20B or 21B. | Rule 59(2) |
| Application in Form 19A (restricted licence) | ₹500 | ₹10 for an itinerant vendor or for a shop in a village or town with 5,000 people or fewer. | Rule 59(2) |
| Application in Form 19AA (wholesale from a motor vehicle) | ₹500 | Rule 62C(1) | |
| Licence retention fee (instead of renewal) | Same as the fee for the grant | Pay before the end of every 5 years from the date of issue. For example ₹1,500 per form for Forms 20 and 21. | Rule 63(1) and (2) |
| Late retention fee | 2% of the licence fee for every month or part of a month, up to 6 months | If you do not pay even then, the licence is treated as cancelled. | Rule 63(3) |
| Duplicate copy of a lost or damaged licence | ₹150 | Rule 59(3), Rule 62C(2) |
Official fee Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source A licence in Form 20, 21, 20B, 21B, 20F or 20G stays valid for ever, as long as you pay the retention fee before the end of every 5 years from the date of issue and the licence is not suspended or cancelled. The licensing authority checks compliance at least once in 3 years or earlier if needed.
Cost summary: what the government charges
| What you want | Government fee to get it | Retention fee every 5 years | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacy or medical store (Forms 20 and 21) | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | Most state offices charge ₹1,500 for each form. |
| Wholesale (Forms 20B and 21B) | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | Kerala's office page lists ₹1,500 for each of Forms 20B and 21B. |
| Retail and wholesale together (Forms 20, 21, 20B and 21B) | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | Four forms at ₹1,500 each, if your office charges each form. |
| Add Schedule X (Form 20F or 20G) | ₹500 | ₹500 | Separate application in Form 19C. |
The central rule sets ₹1,500 for each Form 19 application. State offices usually take one application and one fee for each licence form, which is how the totals above are worked out. A few states show a different amount (for example the Maharashtra FDA guide lists ₹3,250 for a retail licence), so confirm the fee on your state portal. Premises, a refrigerator and the pharmacist's salary are your own costs, not government fees.
Who can get a pharmacy license: eligibility
The conditions come from Rules 64 and 65 and Schedule N of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Your state office applies them and may add its own checklist.
| Condition | What the rule says | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Pharmacist (retail) | A retail licence in Form 20 or 21 needs a Registered Pharmacist. Prescription medicines must be supplied only by or under the personal supervision of a Registered Pharmacist, and a pharmacy must run under the continuous personal supervision of one whose name is shown in the premises. | Rule 65(1) and (2), Schedule N paragraph 4 |
| Competent person (wholesale) | A wholesale licence needs a competent person in charge: a Registered Pharmacist, or a person who passed matriculation with 4 years of experience in selling drugs, or a graduate with 1 year of experience in dealing with drugs. | Rule 64(2) |
| Area: retail | At least 10 square metres. | Rule 64(2) |
| Area: wholesale | At least 10 square metres. | Rule 64(2) |
| Area: retail and wholesale together | At least 15 square metres. | Rule 64(2) |
| Pharmacy rooms (Schedule N) | Premises separate from rooms for private use, well built, dry, well lit and ventilated. The dispensing area is at least 6 square metres for one pharmacist (2 more for each extra pharmacist). Height at least 2.5 metres. Smooth washable floor, a barrier that keeps the public out of the dispensing area, water supply, a lockable cupboard marked POISON, and the word Pharmacy on the front. | Rule 64(1), Schedule N |
| Storage and refrigerator | The premises must have proper storage that keeps medicines in good condition. Form 19 asks for details of special storage if you sell medicines that need it. Most state checklists ask for a refrigerator or its purchase bill, so keep one. | Rule 64(1), Form 19 item 4 |
| Fit person | The licensing authority may refuse a person who was convicted under the Act or the Rules, or whose earlier licence was cancelled or suspended. You can appeal to the State Government within 30 days. | Rule 64(2) and (3) |
Official rule Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
Schedule H, H1 and X medicines, records and conditions
| Topic | What to know | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule H and H1 medicines | Sold by retail only on a prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. Supply of Schedule H1 medicines goes in a separate register (name and address of the prescriber, patient, medicine and quantity), kept for 3 years. | Rule 65(3) and (9) |
| Schedule X medicines | Need a separate licence in Form 20F (retail) or 20G (wholesale), applied for in Form 19C. Prescriptions are in duplicate and one copy is kept for 2 years. | Rule 61(3), Rule 65(9) |
| Records | Keep the prescription register or serially numbered cash or credit memos, purchase bills in order, and all registers for at least 2 years. Wholesale sale memos are kept for 3 years. Show them to the Drugs Inspector when asked. | Rule 65(3) to (7) |
| Buying | Buy medicines only against a cash or credit memo from a licensed dealer or manufacturer, and show your licence in a prominent place open to the public. | Form 20 conditions 1 and 4 |
| Changes | Tell the licensing authority about a change of qualified staff within one month, and about a change in the firm's constitution (a licence stays valid for at most 3 months after such a change unless a fresh licence is taken). | Form 20 conditions 3 and 5 |
Documents for a retail licence (Forms 20 and 21)
- Application in Form 19 (filled online on your state portal) and the fee receipt
- Declaration by the proprietor, partners or director (the state portal gives the format)
- Proof of the firm's constitution: partnership deed, or company details and the list of directors
- Proof of the premises: ownership papers or a rent agreement, with the owner's NOC and ID if rented
- Site plan and key plan (layout) of the premises showing the area
- Registered Pharmacist: registration certificate of the State Pharmacy Council, qualification certificate, appointment letter or consent, and a declaration or affidavit
- Details of special storage and the refrigerator purchase bill
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner or partners
- Affidavit of no conviction, if your state office asks for it
Documents for a wholesale licence (Forms 20B and 21B)
- Application in Form 19 (online) and the fee receipt
- Declaration by the proprietor, partners or director
- Proof of the firm's constitution
- Proof of premises of at least 10 square metres (15 square metres if you also sell by retail), with a site plan and key plan
- Competent person in charge: qualification and experience proof (Registered Pharmacist, or matriculate with 4 years or graduate with 1 year of experience), with a declaration
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner or partners
Each state office has its own checklist and formats. Free samples of the pharmacist consent letter, the pharmacist declaration and the premises declaration are further down this page.
Step by step: how to get a pharmacy license
- Choose the licence: Forms 20 and 21 for a retail pharmacy, Forms 20B and 21B for wholesale, and add Forms 20F or 20G only if you will sell Schedule X medicines.
- Fix the premises (at least 10 square metres, 15 if you will do retail and wholesale) and hire a Registered Pharmacist (retail) or a competent person (wholesale).
- Collect the documents: premises proof, plans, constitution papers, the pharmacist's papers and your ID.
- Register your firm and the pharmacist or competent person on your state's drug licensing portal (many states use ONDLS).
- Fill in Form 19 online and upload the documents.
- Pay the fee online or by treasury challan, as your state portal says, and keep the receipt.
- The licensing authority scrutinises the papers. A Drugs Inspector then visits the premises to check area, storage, the pharmacist and the records.
- If the inspection is clear, the licence is issued. Download it, display it where customers can see it and keep the prescription register and purchase bills ready.
- Pay the retention fee before the end of every 5 years from the date of issue.
Time, inspection and validity
The time is set by each state. Where a state publishes it, the state page shows it: for example up to 35 days in Delhi, about 30 days in Tamil Nadu and Goa, and up to 30 working days in Karnataka. For other states no time limit is published online.
A Drugs Inspector visits the premises before the licence is issued. The inspector checks the area and storage, the Registered Pharmacist and the records. After that the licensing authority checks compliance at least once in 3 years.
A licence in Form 20, 21, 20B, 21B, 20F or 20G stays valid for ever, as long as you pay the retention fee before the end of every 5 years from the date of issue and the licence is not suspended or cancelled. The licensing authority checks compliance at least once in 3 years or earlier if needed.
Other licences a medical store needs
The drug license is only one part. These are the others, with links to our guides and the official fees where they are fixed.
| Licence | When you need it | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| GST registration | Needed once turnover crosses the limit, or if you sell across states | FreeChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source |
| Udyam registration | Optional, but free and useful for MSME schemes | FreeChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source |
| Shops and Establishments registration | Most medical stores with staff. Rules and fees differ by state | Differs by state |
| Trade licence (municipal) | Most cities ask for it for a chemist shop. Fees differ by city | Differs by city |
| FSSAI registration | Only if you also sell food items such as health supplements or infant food | ₹100 per year (registration or state licence by turnover)Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source |
| Fire NOC | Depends on the size and use of the premises. Check your state's rule | Differs by state |
| Professional tax | In states that levy it, on the business and on staff salaries | Differs by state |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. For your exact city, open the pharmacy checklist.
Drug license by state: authority, fee and time
Each state has its own Drugs Control office and portal. Pick your state for the forms, fee, time and where to apply.
| State | Issued by | State fee | Time | Apply at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi | ₹1,500 per form, so ₹3,000 for Forms 20 and 21 together | Up to 35 days from receipt of the application, if the conditions are met | ONDLS (Online National Drugs Licensing System) |
| Maharashtra | Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | FDA Maharashtra online licensing |
| West Bengal | Directorate of Drugs Control, Health and Family Welfare Department, West Bengal | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | Up to 90 days (the time limit notified under the West Bengal Right to Public Services Act, 2013) | SilpaSathi (State Online Single Window) |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department (Drugs Control) | ₹1,500 for each form, so ₹3,000 for retail Forms 20 and 21 | About 30 days | Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu (application and guidelines) |
| Karnataka | Drugs Control Department, Karnataka | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | Up to 30 working days | Karnataka online sales licence portal |
| Telangana | Drugs Control Administration, Telangana | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Online Drug Licensing System (DCA Telangana) |
| Gujarat | Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Health Department Gujarat (FDCA) |
| Uttar Pradesh | Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | 30 days (service timeline on Nivesh Mitra) | FSDA UP online drug licence |
| Bihar | Drugs Control Administration, Health Department, Bihar | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | ONDLS (check with your office) |
| Rajasthan | Drug Control Organisation, Medical and Health Department, Rajasthan | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | 20 days for the grant of a combined retail and wholesale licence (Form 19) | Rajnivesh (service for retail and wholesale licence, Form 19) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Food and Drugs Administration, Madhya Pradesh | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | MP FDA online portal (MPOnline) |
| Haryana | Food and Drugs Administration, Haryana | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | FDA Haryana: retail and wholesale drug licence |
| Kerala | Drugs Control Department, Kerala | ₹1,500 for each of Forms 20, 20B, 21 and 21B, so ₹3,000 for retail Forms 20 and 21 | 28 to 30 days | ONDLS (Online National Drugs Licensing System) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Drugs Control Administration, Andhra Pradesh | ₹1,500 for a retail licence in Form 20, and the same for each other form | No time limit published | DCA Andhra Pradesh: sale licences (online only) |
| Punjab | Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab (Drugs Control) | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Punjab Health Department: Drug and Cosmetic Act page |
| Odisha | Drug Control Administration, Odisha | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | DCA Odisha (License Management System) |
| Assam | Commissionerate of Food and Drugs Administration, Assam | ₹3,000 for the retail licence service | No time limit published | Sewa Setu (ARTPS) retail licence service |
| Jharkhand | State Drugs Control Directorate, Jharkhand | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | State Drugs Control Directorate, Jharkhand |
| Chhattisgarh | Food and Drug Administration, Chhattisgarh | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Chhattisgarh Food and Drug Licensing portal |
| Uttarakhand | Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttarakhand | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | FDA Uttarakhand: drug, cosmetics licences and registration |
| Goa | Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (DFDA), Goa | ₹3,000 (₹250 extra for a homoeopathic licence and ₹500 extra for Schedule X). The same fee applies at retention | 30 days for a retail licence (and 30 days for wholesale) | ONDLS (Online National Drugs Licensing System) |
| Chandigarh | Drugs Controller and Licensing Authority, Chandigarh Administration (Health Department) | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Chandigarh Administration online services |
| Himachal Pradesh | Drugs Control Licensing Authority, Himachal Pradesh | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | Directorate of Health Safety and Regulation: apply online for a drug licence |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Drugs and Food Control Organisation, Jammu and Kashmir | Central rule: ₹1,500 per form. No state total is published online. | No time limit published | ONDLS (check with your office) |
A value is marked Not officially verified when we could not match it to an official state page. The central Form 19 fee of ₹1,500 applies everywhere. Many states process sale licences on ONDLS, the national online system run with CDSCO. The CDSCO page of State Drugs Control departments links every state regulator.
After you apply
What to do once the form is submitted: where to track it, how long it takes, why it gets rejected and what the law says if you do not have it.
Track your application
- Use the official portal where you applied. It is linked above.
Typical time
Set by each state. Where a state publishes it: up to 35 days in Delhi, about 30 days in Tamil Nadu and Goa, up to 30 working days in Karnataka. Other states publish no time limit online.
Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
If you operate without it
Selling medicines without a valid licence is punishable with jail for 3 to 5 years and a fine of at least ₹1,00,000 or three times the value of the medicines seized, whichever is more. A court can give a lighter sentence for special reasons it records. The stock and the fittings used can also be confiscated. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 changed sections 29, 30(2) and 32B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act but not section 27(b), as read in the Gazette copy. Changes made after that are not checked here.
Law: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, section 27(b)(ii) read with section 18(c); Drugs Rules, 1945, rule 58(2)
Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
Common reasons for rejection and how to fix them
| Reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Premises are smaller than 10 square metres (15 if retail and wholesale together) or have no proper storage | Choose or change the premises so they meet Rule 64, then ask for a fresh inspection. |
| No Registered Pharmacist, or the pharmacist is not registered with the State Pharmacy Council or is named at another shop | Appoint a Registered Pharmacist who works only for you and attach the registration certificate and an appointment letter. |
| A pharmacy does not meet Schedule N (dispensing area, height, barrier, poison cupboard, apparatus) | Fix the points in Schedule N and reapply or ask for re-inspection. |
| Missing or mismatched papers: rent agreement without the owner's NOC, a different address on different papers, no site plan, wrong declaration or fee receipt | Use the same address on every paper, attach the owner's NOC, ID and ownership proof, use the formats your state portal gives (or our free samples, then confirm with your office) and pay the exact fee. |
| Earlier conviction or an earlier cancelled or suspended licence | The authority may refuse. You can appeal to the State Government within 30 days of the order. |
Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
Govt License is an independent guide. Fines and rules change, so confirm on the official portal. Items marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.
Free formats you may need
Printable samples you can copy, fill in and print. Each is only a sample, so check it with the issuing office.
Landlord NOC
A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying the tenant may run a business there.
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 formatPharmacist consent letter
A letter from a Registered Pharmacist saying he or she agrees to work as the qualified person in charge of a pharmacy or medical store, for the drug licence application (Forms 20 and 21).
Free formatPharmacist affidavit
A sworn statement by a Registered Pharmacist giving registration details and confirming he or she will personally supervise the pharmacy named in the drug licence application.
Free formatPremises declaration
A declaration by the owner of a pharmacy or medical store giving the area, storage and ownership details of the premises, for the drug licence application.
Free formatCommon questions
What is a pharmacy license?
Is a drug license the same as a medical store license or a chemist license?
Which forms do I need to open a medical store?
How much does a pharmacy license cost?
Do I need to renew a drug license?
Is a Registered Pharmacist compulsory for a medical store?
What is the minimum area for a pharmacy license?
Do I need a refrigerator?
Can I apply for a drug license online?
How long does it take to get a drug license?
What is the penalty for running a medical store without a drug license?
What other licences does a medical store need?
What is the difference between a retail and a wholesale drug license?
Is Govt License a government website?
Aksar pooche jaane wale sawaal
Yahi jaankari, Hinglish mein.
Medical store kholne ke liye kaun sa license chahiye?
Drug license kaise banaye?
Drug license ki fees kitni hai?
Kya medical store ke liye pharmacist zaroori hai?
Drug license online kaise apply karein?
Chemist license aur drug license mein kya farak hai?
Bina drug license ke dawai bechne par kya saza hai?
Pharmacy license ka application status kaise check karein?
Pharmacy license ka application reject ho jaye to kya karein?
Bina Pharmacy license ke pakde gaye to kya hoga?
Pharmacy license by state and city
Medical store license guide for your city
Your next step
After that: