How to Get a BIS Certificate in India: Process, Documents, Timeline and Cost

Last updated: 15 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dhruv Aggarwal, Head of Operations (10+ years, 1,000+ BIS projects)

This page answers the questions we hear most often from manufacturers and importers: how to get BIS certification in India, how to apply for a BIS certificate, how long it takes and what it costs. It is a practical summary; the full scheme-by-scheme detail is in our complete guide to BIS certification in India.

Step 1: Find out which BIS scheme and Indian Standard apply

BIS does not issue one generic certificate. The route depends on the product and on where it is made:

• ISI Mark (Scheme I): for Indian factories making products covered by a Quality Control Order or voluntarily seeking the ISI mark, such as cement, steel, electrical appliances, toys, footwear, furniture, helmets and hundreds of other items.
• FMCS (Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme): the same ISI Mark licence for factories located outside India, with an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) and a BIS audit at the overseas factory.
• CRS (Scheme II, Compulsory Registration Scheme): for electronics, IT hardware, LED lighting, batteries, solar modules and similar products, where BIS registers each model on the basis of a test report and no factory visit is required.

Check the product against the current QCO list and the relevant IS number before anything else, because the IS number decides the tests, the documents and the fee.

Step 2: Get the product tested

Samples are tested against the Indian Standard in a BIS-recognised laboratory. For CRS, the test report from a BIS-recognised lab is the core of the application. For ISI Mark and FMCS, BIS also expects the factory to have the in-house testing equipment listed in the standard, because the licence is tied to the factory's own quality control, not only to one test report.

Step 3: Prepare the documents and apply online

The exact list varies by scheme, but an application typically needs:

• Business registration, GST and address proof of the manufacturer; for foreign manufacturers, the AIR nomination and agreement.
• Factory details: layout, manufacturing process flow, list of machinery and test equipment, quality control staff.
• Product details: model list, drawings or specifications, critical components list, trademark or brand documents.
• Test report(s) from a BIS-recognised laboratory and, for ISI Mark and FMCS, the in-house test records.
• Application fee and, for ISI/FMCS, the audit and licence fees.

ISI Mark and FMCS applications are filed on the Manak Online portal; CRS registrations on the CRS portal. A complete first submission is the single biggest factor in avoiding queries and delays.

Step 4: Factory inspection and grant of licence

For ISI Mark and FMCS, a BIS officer visits the factory, verifies the manufacturing and testing set-up and draws samples for independent testing. When the report is satisfactory and the fees are paid, BIS grants the licence with a CM/L number. For CRS there is no inspection: BIS reviews the test report and documents and issues a registration with an R-number for the listed models. The licence or registration is then visible in the public BIS database, which buyers and Customs use to check a BIS certificate online.

How long does it take to get a BIS certificate?

• CRS registration: about 30 to 60 working days from sample submission to grant.
• ISI Mark licence (Indian manufacturer): about 45 to 90 working days, depending on the inspection schedule and the lab testing time for the product.
• FMCS licence (foreign manufacturer): about 3 to 4 months, as the BIS audit of the overseas factory has to be scheduled.

Incomplete documents, a factory that is not ready for inspection, or a failed test are the usual reasons an application takes longer.

How much does a BIS certificate cost?

The cost has three parts: BIS fees (application, inspection and licence or registration fees, plus the annual marking fee for ISI/FMCS), the laboratory testing charges, which depend on the standard and the number of models, and any consultant fees. Because the testing charges vary widely between products, the realistic range is only known once the IS number and the model list are fixed. See our separate page on BIS certification cost for the breakdown.

Can an importer or trader get a BIS certificate?

A BIS licence or registration is always granted to the manufacturer of the product, because it certifies the factory and its quality control. Importers and traders cannot hold the certificate themselves, but they can get their foreign supplier certified under FMCS or CRS, and an Indian company can act as the Authorised Indian Representative. We cover the details on our pages for importers and traders.

Since 2016 our team has handled 5,000+ certification projects for 1,300+ Indian and foreign manufacturers. If you would like us to take the process end to end, from standard identification to licence grant, write to info@sunconsultants.co.in or call +91-8010505057.