BIS Certification in India: Which Route Applies, What It Costs, and How to Apply
BIS Certification is the Bureau of Indian Standards' approval that a product meets the relevant Indian Standard. For products covered by a mandatory order, you cannot make, import, or sell them in India without it.
The certificate belongs to the manufacturer, not the importer, so your route depends on whether you manufacture in India, import electronics, or buy from a foreign factory. Before anything else, check whether your product is under a mandatory order today, because that list has been changing.
Key Takeaways
BIS certification is held by the manufacturer. An importer cannot take an ISI licence in its own name for goods made abroad.
Three routes exist: the ISI Mark (Scheme-I) for Indian factories, the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for electronics and IT goods, and the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) for overseas factories.
Mandatory orders have been withdrawn for a number of products since November 2025, so a product that needed a licence last year may not need one now.
The application fee is ₹1,000, but testing, factory inspection, licence, and marking fees are charged on top.
Do not surrender an existing licence just because an order was withdrawn. Withdrawn orders can be reinstated.
Step Zero: Check Whether Your Product Needs BIS at All
India controls mandatory certification through Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which name the products and the Indian Standards they must meet. Those orders move.
| Date |
Change |
| 12 November 2025 |
Central government withdrew a batch of QCOs covering chemicals and polymers |
| January 2026 |
Omnibus machinery and electrical equipment safety order rescinded, removing a requirement that was due to apply later in 2026 |
| Ongoing |
Electronics and IT goods remain under their own registration regime (CRS) |
So the working rule is: do not rely on last year's checklist, and do not assume a product is exempt because a competitor ships it without a mark. Confirm the current status of your product's IS number on the BIS website, or ask us to check it.
Where a mandatory order has been withdrawn, certification becomes voluntary. It is still useful for buyers and tenders but is no longer a legal gate.
Do not surrender your licence: Law firms that tracked the November 2025 withdrawal advised holders not to surrender licences, because the government reserves the right to reinstate an order without notice.
Which BIS Route Fits You
Choose by where the product is made and what kind of product it is:
| Route |
Who It Is For |
What You Get |
Inspection |
| ISI Mark (Scheme-I) |
Manufacturers with a factory in India |
A licence number and the right to print the ISI mark |
Factory inspection and sample testing |
| CRS |
Electronics and IT goods, made in India or abroad |
An R-number and the right to use the CRS mark |
Testing at a BIS-recognised lab; no factory inspection |
| FMCS |
Manufacturers outside India selling non-electronics covered by an order |
A licence for the foreign factory |
Inspection of the overseas plant |
A foreign manufacturer applying under FMCS must appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), who handles BIS communication on its behalf. ISI and FMCS licences carry a CM/L number, while CRS registrations carry an R-number.
BIS Licence for Importers: What Actually Applies to You
Importers often ask for "a BIS licence in my name." For most products that is not how the system works. Use this sequence:
1
Find Your IS Number
Find your product's IS number and check whether a mandatory order is in force for it.
2
Check Your Supplier
If the product is under FMCS, the overseas factory must hold the licence. If it is electronics under CRS, the registration is held by the manufacturer, with an Indian representative where required.
3
Ask for Certificate Details Before Ordering
Get the licence or R-number, product scope, and validity before you place an order.
4
Verify Them Yourself
BIS Care lets you check licence details, and CRS products can be verified by R-number.
5
Confirm the Consignment on Manak Online
For FMCS products, confirm the consignment is recorded on Manak Online so the goods can clear customs.
Check before you buy: Uncertified goods that need a mark can be held or rejected at the port, so this check belongs before the purchase order, not after the shipment.
BIS Registration Process: Step by Step
This is the sequence for the ISI Mark and CRS, filed through the Bureau of Indian Standards online application on the Manak Online portal:
1
Identify the Standard and Scheme
Identify the Indian Standard that applies to your product and the scheme you fall under.
2
Create Your Manak Online Account
Fill the application for your scheme. ISI uses Form V, and CRS uses Form I.
3
Pay the Fee and Upload Documents
Pay the application fee and upload the documents listed further below.
4
Send Samples for Testing
Under ISI, BIS draws samples or the applicant sends them to a recognised lab. Under CRS, the product is tested at a BIS-recognised lab and the report goes in with the application.
5
Complete the Factory Inspection
ISI and FMCS only. BIS checks your process, test equipment, and quality control.
6
Receive the Licence or R-Number
Sign the licence agreement where applicable.
7
Mark the Product as Prescribed
Use the ISI mark with the IS number and licence number, or the CRS mark with the R-number.
Timelines vary widely by scheme and product, from a few weeks for CRS to several months for ISI and FMCS. Practitioners' estimates differ, so treat any single figure with caution. What moves the schedule most is how quickly your test report arrives and whether your factory is ready when BIS inspects.
BIS Certification Fees
The fee has fixed and variable parts:
| Charge |
Amount |
Note |
| Application fee |
₹1,000 |
Non-refundable, paid with the application |
| Factory inspection |
About ₹7,000 per audit |
As reported by practitioners; confirm on the BIS fee schedule |
| Annual licence fee |
About ₹1,000 per product |
Reported figure, ISI Mark |
| Sample testing |
Varies |
Set by the lab and the product |
| Marking fee |
Varies |
Calculated per the Indian Standard, often on production volume |
Worked case: A small factory applying for one ISI licence pays ₹1,000 up front, around ₹7,000 for the first inspection, and then lab charges that depend on how many parameters the standard tests. The marking fee comes later, once you ship marked goods.
Ask for the lab quote before you commit, because testing is usually the largest single item. Verify every figure against BIS's current schedule before budgeting.
Validity, Renewal, and Surveillance
Certification is not one-and-done. Track these:
ISI Licence
Initially granted for one year. Can be renewed for one or two years if inspections and sample tests are satisfactory.
Surveillance
Continues during the licence term, with periodic factory inspections and sample testing from the factory and the market.
CRS Registration
Reported to run for two years and then needs renewal.
Missing a renewal date can leave you unable to print the mark, so diarise it the day the certificate arrives.
Documents Required
Keep these ready before you open the application:
Business registration proof (company, LLP, partnership, or proprietorship)
Product details and the applicable IS number
Manufacturing process flowchart and factory layout
List of production and testing equipment, with calibration records
Test reports from a BIS-recognised lab (for CRS, and where ISI testing is done outside)
For foreign manufacturers: details of the AIR and the overseas factory
Trademark or brand details for the product
Authorisation letters and signatory identity proof
Mistakes That Delay or Void a Licence
These are the errors we see most often:
Wrong scheme
Applying under the wrong scheme, such as ISI for an electronic product that sits under CRS.
Assuming BIS is irrelevant
Assuming a withdrawn QCO means BIS no longer matters for a buyer or tender that still asks for it.
Printing the mark too early
Printing the mark before the licence is granted. The BIS Act, 2016 provides for imprisonment and fines for misuse of the Standard Mark, so check the Act before you print.
Unverified supplier
Choosing a supplier who cannot show a valid licence number.
Lapsed licence
Letting the licence lapse because the renewal date was not tracked.
Related filings you may need alongside BIS: Import Export Code, Legal Metrology registration, and ISO certification.
How LEGALDEV INDIA Gets You Certified
A simple four-step process, handled end to end:
1
Tell Us About Your Product
Share your product, IS number if known, and whether you manufacture or import.
2
We Confirm the Scheme
Our team confirms whether a mandatory order applies today and picks the scheme.
3
We Handle the Application
We prepare the documents, manage the Manak Online application, and coordinate testing and inspection.
4
We Track the Grant and Renewals
We track the grant, marking guidance, and renewal dates.
Published by the LEGALDEV INDIA Editorial Team, drawing on current BIS scheme information and recent changes to mandatory orders.
Pricing
Our service charges by scheme:
| Service |
Includes |
Price |
| Applicability check |
Is your product under a mandatory order today |
[₹ - insert] |
| ISI Mark licence |
Application, testing coordination, inspection support |
[₹ - insert] |
| CRS registration |
Application and lab coordination |
[₹ - insert] |
| FMCS with AIR |
Foreign factory application and representation |
[₹ - insert] |
| Renewal |
Filing and surveillance support |
[₹ - insert] |
Government fees, lab testing, and inspection charges are paid at actuals. See the pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? Find clear answers from our team:
It is confirmation by the Bureau of Indian Standards that a product meets the applicable Indian Standard.
Manufacturers and importers of products covered by a mandatory order. Check whether your product's order is currently in force.
Certification is granted to the manufacturer, not the importer. Importers rely on the licence of the foreign manufacturer or the CRS registration of the product.
The ISI Mark is a licence for Indian factories with inspection. CRS is a registration for electronics and IT goods, based on lab testing, and carries an R-number.
It is the scheme for overseas manufacturers. They must appoint an Authorised Indian Representative.
Online through BIS's Manak Online portal.
The application fee is ₹1,000. Inspection, testing, licence, and marking fees are charged on top and vary by product.
ISI licences start at one year and can be renewed. CRS registrations are reported to run for two years.
Yes. Several QCOs were withdrawn from November 2025, though the government can reinstate them. Check your product before acting.
Use BIS Care for licence details, or verify a CRS product by its R-number.