What Is a Shop Act Licence?
A Shop Act licence is the registration certificate a state labour department issues under that state's Shops and Establishments law. There is no single national version. Each state has its own Act, portal, fee and thresholds, and between August 2025 and September 2026 several states changed who has to register at all.
It records who the employer is, where the establishment stands, what it does and how many people work there. In return it brings the business under that state's rules on working hours, weekly holidays, leave, wages and the employment of children and women. The same document goes by several names: Shop and Establishment Registration, Shop Act Certificate, Shop and Establishment Certificate, Shop Act Registration Certificate and, in some regions, Gumasta.
In practice the certificate does a second job: it is asked for when opening a current bank account, applying for a loan or obtaining other business licences. That is why many owners register even when their state's law no longer forces them to. It is not a tax registration (GST is separate), and it is not the municipal permission for a trade at an address (that is a trade licence). Factories sit under factory law and now the OSH Code.
Timeline
Real-time (Delhi) to about 7 days
Government Fee
₹0 in Delhi; slab-based elsewhere
Validity
Until closure to 21-year cycle
Key Takeaways
- It is a state registration. The same shop can face different rules in Jaipur, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
- “Mandatory for every shop within 30 days” is no longer safe. Rajasthan exempted establishments with up to 10 workers in August 2025, Gujarat and Delhi moved their thresholds to 20 in 2026, and Maharashtra asks for registration only from 10 workers.
- Validity runs from “until you close” (Karnataka, since September 2026) to up to 10 years (Maharashtra) to a 21-year renewal cycle in Delhi.
- Delhi's online registration carries no government fee according to the Delhi Labour Department's FAQ. Other states charge by worker slab.
- The OSH Code has been in force since 21 November 2025. Establishments with 10 or more workers may now register centrally instead of, or alongside, the state registration. Maharashtra and Karnataka have already addressed the overlap.
Who Needs Shop Act Registration?
Owners and employers of shops, offices and other commercial establishments need it, provided the state they operate in requires registration at their size. There is no qualification test — what decides the matter is the type of business, the state and the number of workers.
Retail and wholesale shops, including a small neighbourhood shop
Offices, including the back office of a new business
Restaurants, cafes, eating houses, residential hotels, theatres and places of public amusement
Godowns, storerooms and warehouses used in connection with the business
In some states, clinics and professional practices. Maharashtra's Act names medical practitioners, architects, engineers, accountants and tax consultants, and also societies and trusts that carry on a business.
Thresholds now sit at 10, 11 or 20 workers depending on the state, and the definition of “worker” is not identical everywhere. Maharashtra's Act excludes apprentices; Gujarat's Act includes people engaged through an outsourcing agency. Read your state's definition before deciding you are under the line. Government establishments are outside these Acts (Maharashtra and Gujarat both say so).
Which Businesses Come Under the Act?
Statutory wording differs slightly by state. Maharashtra's definition covers any business, trade, manufacture, banking, insurance, brokerage or profession, plus the named professions above, provided the Factories Act does not apply. Gujarat follows the same pattern. Delhi's online form asks you to pick from: shop, commercial establishment, residential hotel, restaurant, theatre, public amusement, or retail trade or business.
| Usually covered | Usually not covered |
|---|
| Retail and wholesale shops | Factories (Factories Act, now the OSH Code) |
| Offices and consultancies | Central and state government establishments |
| Restaurants, cafes, hotels | Local authority establishments |
| Warehouses and godowns tied to the business | Categories in a state's own exclusions, e.g. educational institutions in Maharashtra |
| Clinics and professional practices (state-dependent) | Family members of the employer (outside the Act in Maharashtra and Gujarat) |
Rajasthan's Act was extended to towns and areas by notification, so confirm that your town is covered before assuming anything either way.
Is Shop Act Licence Mandatory for Every Business?
No, not any more in several states. For years the standard answer was that every shop had to register within 30 days of opening, and many guides still say exactly that. It stopped being accurate once states began raising thresholds.
Rajasthan
Establishments employing up to 10 workers were exempted from registration by a notification issued in August 2025.
Delhi
The 2026 amendment says the Act applies only to establishments with 20 or more employees.
Gujarat
The 2026 amendment raised the threshold from 10 to 20 workers. Establishments below it file an intimation instead.
Maharashtra
Registration is for 10 or more workers. Below 10, the employer files an online intimation and receives a receipt.
Karnataka
The Act still applies broadly, but the September 2026 amendment carves out establishments with 10 or more workers that are already registered under the OSH Code.
An exemption from registration is not always an exemption from the law. Rajasthan's notification removes only the registration step, so hours, leave and wage rules can still apply to a small employer. Delhi's amendment goes further, because it narrows the Act itself. Which applies to you is a question for the state labour department, not a consultant's brochure.
If a bank, landlord or marketplace asks for the certificate even though your state no longer requires it, ask which document they will accept instead.
Is Shop Act Registration Different in Each State?
Yes. Every state has its own Act, worker threshold, fee schedule, portal and idea of how long a certificate lasts. That is why a fee or validity quoted without a state name is close to useless.
| Rajasthan | Maharashtra | Gujarat | Karnataka | Delhi |
|---|
| Governing law | Rajasthan Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 | Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 | Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019, amended 2026 | Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, amended September 2026 | Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, amended March 2026 |
| Registration needed | 11 or more workers | 10 or more workers | 20 or more workers | Covered establishments; OSH-registered units with 10+ workers carved out | 20 or more employees under the 2026 amendment |
| Below the line | Exempt from registration (0 to 10 workers) | Online intimation, receipt only | Online intimation | Not applicable | Outside the Act once the amendment operates |
| Where to apply | LDMS portal via SSO Rajasthan | lms.mahaonline.gov.in | Local body, with an online route reported through eNagar | e-Karmika | labourcis.nic.in |
| Validity | Sources differ, read your certificate | Up to 10 years | Until ownership or nature of business changes | Until closure (from September 2026) | Renewal every 21 years per the rules |
Last checked: 24 September 2026. The state sections further down explain each column.
The Central OSH Code Layer
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 came into force on 21 November 2025 and requires establishments employing 10 or more workers to register under it. The central rules were notified on 8 May 2026 and cover establishments for which the Centre is the appropriate government, such as ports and central public sector undertakings. State governments notify their own rules for everyone else.
Maharashtra issued a circular on 30 April 2026 saying that establishments with 10 or more workers registered under the Code do not need a separate Shops Act registration, while those below 10 still file the intimation. Karnataka wrote a similar carve-out into its Act in September 2026. For a small shop the state Act is still the registration to check. With 10 or more workers, ask your labour department whether OSH Code registration now replaces the state one.
What Documents Are Required for Shop Act Registration?
You need proof of who you are, proof of where the business sits, papers showing what kind of entity it is, and details of the people who work there. The exact checklist depends on the state, and Delhi's online form does not ask for uploads at all.
Rajasthan Official Checklist
Everything is filed online, no hard copies are taken, and the department issues the approved certificate online.
Passport size photograph of the employer
Photograph of the shop along with the owner
List of management employees (.xls format)
Rates of wages (.xls format)
Details of employees working in the establishment (.xls format)
Employee weekly holidays (.xls format)
Address proof of the establishment: rent agreement if rented, ownership document if owned
Affidavit (declaration form)
Photo ID: PAN card, driving licence, Aadhaar or passport
Other states ask for a similar core with their own variations: the owner's or partners' identity and PAN, proof of premises (rent agreement, electricity bill or ownership paper) and a declaration in the state's format. Maharashtra and Gujarat both work on self-declaration and self-certified documents.
By Entity Type
| Entity | Documents |
|---|
| Proprietorship | Proprietor's PAN and identity proof, address proof of the premises. A proprietorship firm registration is not a prerequisite. |
| Partnership firm | Partnership deed, identity of the partners. See partnership firm registration. |
| LLP | LLP agreement and incorporation certificate, plus an authorised person's identity. See LLP registration. |
| Company | Certificate of incorporation and the MOA and AOA. See private limited company registration. |
Write the premises address exactly the same way on the rent agreement, electricity bill, GST record and this application. If the premises are rented, keep the landlord's consent or NOC ready too. A rent agreement can be arranged through LegalDev India's
rent agreement service.
How to Apply for Shop Act Licence Online
Log in to your state's labour portal, enter the establishment details, upload the documents, pay the fee where one applies, submit, and download the certificate once issued. The order of payment and approval is where states differ.
1
Select your state and applicable portal
Apply on the portal of the state where the premises stand, and only there. Registration under one state's Act covers establishments in that state alone.
| State | Where the application goes |
|---|
| Delhi | Delhi Labour Department online registration (Form A) |
| Rajasthan | LDMS portal, reached through SSO Rajasthan |
| Maharashtra | lms.mahaonline.gov.in, guidance on mahakamgar.maharashtra.gov.in |
| Karnataka | e-Karmika |
| Gujarat | Local body acting as Inspector, online route reported through eNagar |
| Other states | Search the service on the National Portal of India; some e-service portals such as serviceonline.gov.in list the form |
Check the domain before entering details or paying. Genuine state portals end in .gov.in or .nic.in.
2
Enter shop or establishment details
Employer's name, establishment name and address, category, nature of business, date of commencement, number of workers and contact details. Maharashtra uses Form A for registration and Form F for intimation. The worker count decides both the fee slab and whether you register at all, and a wrong category is an easy reason for a query.
3
Upload the required documents
Upload clear scans in the format the portal asks for — Rajasthan wants the four employee lists as .xls spreadsheets, not PDFs. Keep file sizes small. Clarification requests are answered through the same login; Rajasthan's LDMS also sends an SMS and email.
4
Pay the applicable government fee
Pay only if your state charges one, and only on the portal itself. Delhi's online registration carries no fee. In Rajasthan the department first checks the application, then instructs payment through e-Mitra or the bank gateway. Fees paid are not refundable, so the employee count must be right before you submit.
5
Submit the application
Note the application number. Rajasthan's portal generates an LDMS number and confirms by SMS and email. In Maharashtra the Facilitator verifies and issues the certificate with a Labour Identification Number (reference guides say within seven days). Karnataka's September 2026 amendment gives the Inspector seven days to communicate a refusal with reasons, else the establishment is treated as registered.
6
Download the certificate
Log in again and download it. In Delhi it is generated as soon as you submit. Print it and display it prominently at the premises (Delhi rules require this), and save the PDF — you will be asked for it often.
How Much Does Shop Act Licence Cost?
There is no national fee. Each state sets its own, usually by number of workers, and one of the five states covered here charges nothing for online registration.
| State | Government fee | What could be confirmed |
|---|
| Delhi | None for online registration | The Delhi Labour Department's FAQ says no fee is payable and the certificate is issued in real time. The 1954 Rules still carry a fee schedule, so check the portal on the day. |
| Rajasthan | One-time fee by maximum number of workers | Reference guides report ₹5,000 (up to 10 workers), ₹20,000 (11 to 50), ₹50,000 (51 to 100) and ₹1,50,000 (101 or more). The official fee table could not be opened, so confirm on LDMS before paying. With the 2025 exemption, the first fee anyone actually pays is the 11 to 50 slab. |
| Maharashtra | By worker slab under the 2018 Rules | A current official schedule could not be verified. The portal shows the amount before you pay. |
| Gujarat | Set under the state rules | Not verified. Running an unregistered establishment carries a ₹10,000 penalty that includes the registration fee. |
| Karnataka | Fixed slab by employee count | One compliance firm notes the slabs were revised by a notification dated 7 February 2025. Confirm the current table on e-Karmika. |
If you use a consultant, the professional fee is a separate line from the government fee. Ask for the two to be shown separately, and ask what happens to the professional fee if the department rejects the application.
How Long Does Shop Act Registration Take?
From a few seconds to about a week, depending on the state and whether your papers are clean. Delhi's online system issues the certificate in real time. Maharashtra's rules give the Facilitator seven days for a complete application. Karnataka's Inspector must communicate any refusal within seven days from September 2026, failing which the establishment is deemed registered. Rajasthan has no published turnaround that could be confirmed, but offers an audit trail on each application showing who acted and when.
Delays come from ordinary things: an address that reads differently on two documents, an employee list in the wrong format, a category that does not match the business. All are avoidable before you click submit.
What Is the Validity of a Shop Act Licence?
It depends entirely on the state, and the range is wide.
| State | Validity | Source basis |
|---|
| Delhi | Renewal every 21 years | Rule 5 of the Delhi Shops and Establishments Rules, 1954 |
| Maharashtra | For the period requested, up to 10 years | Section 6(3) of the 2017 Act |
| Gujarat | In force from issue until a change of ownership or nature of business | Section 6(3) of the 2019 Act |
| Karnataka | Until the establishment closes or ceases business, from September 2026 (five years before) | The 2026 amendment as summarised by SGCMS and India Briefing |
| Rajasthan | Reports conflict: older guides say five years, newer ones say a one-time fee with no renewal | Read the validity printed on your own certificate |
Guides published before September 2026 still describe Karnataka's five-year cycle, and guides differ on Rajasthan. The certificate in your hand and the portal are the last word.
Does Shop Act Licence Need Renewal?
Sometimes. Renewal is disappearing in some states and still live in others.
Maharashtra
If issued for less than the maximum 10 years, renew online at least 30 days before expiry. A late application is accepted within 30 days after expiry with an additional fee equal to half the renewal fee.
Delhi
Every 21 years, on Form L within 30 days of expiry, under Rule 5.
Gujarat
No periodic renewal. A change in ownership or nature of business needs a fresh certificate.
Karnataka
No renewal for registrations under the September 2026 amendment. Check e-Karmika for certificates issued earlier.
Rajasthan
The LDMS portal still lists a renewal menu, so confirm on your login whether your certificate has an expiry date.
Renewal and amendment are different. If your address, ownership, worker count or business name changes, notify the department even in states with no renewal: Delhi asks for Form D within 15 days, Maharashtra gives 30 days, and Rajasthan charges the fee difference if the worker count moves into a higher slab.
How to Check Shop Act Registration Status?
Use the same portal and login you applied through. The status page shows where the application sits, and most portals also let you search for a registered establishment.
- Delhi: establishment search and a list of registered shops. No tracking needed for a fresh application because it is real time.
- Rajasthan: search by application number on the LDMS home page with an audit trail; the department portal also has a “Verify Registration No. / Licence No. / Application Status” link.
- Maharashtra: log in on lms.mahaonline.gov.in.
- Karnataka: e-Karmika, with the same username and password used for registration, renewal, amendments, closure and annual returns.
- Gujarat: the local body's portal, for many areas eNagar.
If a consultant handed you a certificate, verify it yourself on the department's search page. It is the only proof that the registration exists in the government's records.
How to Download Shop Act Registration Certificate?
Log in to the portal where you applied, open the approved application and download the certificate. The trigger differs: in Delhi it is ready as soon as you submit; in Rajasthan you download the signed certificate after paying the fee the department asks for; in Maharashtra it is issued online along with the Labour Identification Number; in Karnataka it is downloaded from e-Karmika. If you lose it, Delhi's Rule 5A provides for a duplicate certificate on application. In other states raise a request through the same login rather than paying anyone for a “replacement”.
Shop Act Licence vs Trade Licence
A Shop Act licence is a labour registration issued by the state labour department. A trade licence is a municipal permission issued by your city's local body for a specific trade at a specific address. Many businesses need both.
| Shop Act licence | Trade licence |
|---|
| Issued by | State labour department (or local body acting under the state Act) | Municipal corporation or other local body |
| Purpose | Employer and worker conditions: hours, leave, wages, records | Local health, safety and zoning permission for the activity |
| Tied to | The establishment and its employer | The activity and the address |
| Renewal | Varies by state, from none to every 21 years | Commonly annual, set by the local body |
| Typical trigger | Being a covered establishment above the state threshold | Being in a trade on the municipality's regulated list, e.g. food service |
Neither replaces the other. A restaurant, for example, should expect the municipal trade licence, the Shop Act registration where the state requires it, and an FSSAI registration on top of both.
Who Can Apply? Common Scenarios
Is it required for an online business?
It can be. The state Acts are written around a business and its workers, not a shopfront, so an online seller who runs an office, warehouse or team is an establishment in the ordinary sense. A one-person online store with no staff sits below the registration line in Rajasthan and Delhi, and needs at most an intimation in Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Karnataka the general rule still applies, so check e-Karmika. A godown for stock counts as part of the establishment; Karnataka's amendment says storage within 100 metres of the principal establishment needs no separate registration. Confirm your position with the labour department once and keep a note of the answer — marketplaces, payment gateways and banks each set their own document lists.
Is it required for a home-based business?
Possibly. Working from home does not exempt you by itself, and threshold and headcount rules apply as for any establishment. A home-based business with no staff falls outside registration in Rajasthan and Delhi and needs only an intimation in Maharashtra and Gujarat. A Shop Act registration can be obtained for premises in a residential area, while a trade licence is stricter because of municipal zoning — ask the local body about trade licence conditions separately.
Can a proprietorship apply?
Yes. The Acts apply to the establishment whatever its legal form, and the proprietor is the employer. A proprietor applies with PAN, identity proof, premises address proof and, in states like Rajasthan, a passport size photograph and a photograph of the shop with the owner. You do not need to register the proprietorship anywhere first — see proprietorship firm registration for when it makes sense. MSME registration is a separate step and does not depend on the Shop Act certificate.
Can a company or LLP apply?
Yes. A company, LLP or partnership firm is an employer like any other. Maharashtra's Act defines the employer as a partner in a firm or association and a director in a company. The application is signed by an authorised person, with the incorporation certificate or deed plus identity proofs. In Delhi, first-time registration for new companies incorporated in the NCT of Delhi goes through the Agile-Pro form of the MCA's SPICe+ portal; later registrations for other branch offices are made directly on the Delhi Labour portal. Plan the Shop Act step alongside incorporation rather than after it.
What Happens Without Shop Act Registration?
Consequences depend on the state and range from a modest penalty to a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, plus practical friction with banks and licences.
Gujarat
Running an establishment without the required registration attracts a ₹10,000 penalty that includes the registration fee; on payment the establishment is treated as registered (section 28 of the 2019 Act).
Maharashtra
Below 10 workers, ignoring the intimation requirement is punishable with a ₹1,000 fine (section 7(3)). For other contraventions, a fine of up to ₹1 lakh plus up to ₹2,000 per day for continuing contraventions, capped at ₹2,000 per worker employed (section 29).
Karnataka
After the September 2026 amendment, registration offences carry a fine of up to ₹50,000. The earlier provision had imprisonment of not less than six months plus a fine of up to ₹5,000.
Delhi & Rajasthan
Penalties are set in their Acts; current figures could not be confirmed against an official source. Check the Act on the labour department site before relying on a number from a general guide.
Registration is the start of compliance, not the end. Display the certificate, maintain the prescribed registers, keep to hours and leave rules, and notify changes. Maharashtra and Gujarat also require an annual return. A missing register is what usually turns an inspector's visit into a notice.
Shop Act Licence State-Wise Requirements
Five states, each checked against the Act, the rules or an official notice on 24 September 2026. If your state is not here, start with the labour department's portal or the National Portal of India's services search, or take LegalDev India's free consultation.
Registration under the Rajasthan Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 is required only from 11 workers. By notification No. F.14(11)(3) RegistrationExemption/Labour/Law/2025/Part/002067, issued in August 2025 (sources give 19 or 20 August), establishments employing up to 10 workers were exempted from registration under the Act and Rule 3 of the 1959 Rules. The exemption covers registration only.
- Portal: Labour Department Management System (LDMS), through SSO Rajasthan. Filing, payment and document submission are all online; no hard copies.
- Procedure: SSO login, LDMS, Establishment Registration, the 1958 Act, form and documents, application number, departmental approval, fee payment via e-Mitra or bank gateway, certificate download.
- Documents: the nine-item checklist above, including the .xls employee lists and an affidavit.
- Fee: reported as a one-time fee by maximum worker count, slabs starting at ₹20,000 for 11 to 50 workers. Confirm on LDMS.
- Validity: sources conflict, so read your certificate. The department's procedure page still describes a renewal flow.
- Watch out for: the jump at the eleventh worker — hiring across that line changes both your registration duty and your fee.
Maharashtra splits establishments at 10 workers. Under the 2017 Act (text as on 5 December 2023 on India Code), an establishment with 10 or more workers applies online to the Facilitator within 60 days of starting business and receives a certificate with a Labour Identification Number. One with fewer than 10 workers files an online intimation within the same 60 days and receives a receipt, not a certificate.
- Portal: lms.mahaonline.gov.in, with procedure notes on the Mahakamgar site.
- Forms: Form A for registration, Form F for intimation, under the 2018 Rules.
- Validity: up to 10 years as requested. Renewal is filed at least 30 days before expiry, with a late window of 30 days at half-fee.
- Fee: by worker slab under the 2018 Rules, shown on the portal.
- Changes and closure: changes are notified online; closure is notified within 30 days.
- Marathi name board: section 36A requires the name board of registered and intimated establishments to carry Marathi in Devanagari script, written first and not smaller than any other language.
- OSH overlap: the 30 April 2026 circular says 10-plus establishments registered under the OSH Code need no separate registration under this Act. Smaller ones still file the intimation.
Gujarat now registers from 20 workers. The 2019 Act originally applied registration to establishments with ten or more workers. Gujarat Act No. 1 of 2026, assented to on 27 February 2026 and deemed effective from 16 December 2025, replaced “ten” with “twenty”; establishments with fewer file an intimation.
- Deadline: 60 days from the start of business for both registration and intimation.
- Validity: in force from issue until the ownership or nature of business changes, then a fresh certificate is required (section 6(3)).
- Who registers you: the local authority acts as Inspector (municipal corporation, municipality or panchayat). Reference guides point to the eNagar portal; confirm the route with your local body.
- Penalty: ₹10,000 including the fee for running an unregistered establishment (section 28).
- Fee: set under the state rules. Not verified for this page.
- Read the Act: the PRS copy of the Act has the 2026 amendment appended.
Karnataka's law changed only recently. The Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2026 received the Governor's assent on 3 September 2026, was published on 4 September and came into force at once, according to SGCMS's summary and India Briefing's report. Main changes:
- Establishments with 10 or more workers already registered under the OSH Code are exempt from separate registration.
- Godowns and storage within 100 metres of the principal establishment need no separate registration.
- Registration, certificates and fee payment move to digital mode.
- If the Inspector does not communicate a refusal with reasons within seven days, the establishment is deemed registered.
- Registration remains valid until the establishment closes, so there are no renewals.
- Registration offences now carry a fine of up to ₹50,000 instead of imprisonment of at least six months plus a fine of up to ₹5,000.
Registration runs through e-Karmika. Fees follow a slab by employee count, so confirm the current table on the portal. The amendment also bars employers from holding employees' original certificates and adds a seven-day timeline for service certificates, which is worth a read for any employer.
Delhi has the lightest process and the newest threshold. The Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954 governs registration, and the 2026 amendment notified on 11 March 2026 provides that the Act applies only to establishments employing 20 or more employees. Sources differ on whether a separate commencement date is still awaited, so confirm with the Labour Department before relying on the 20-employee line.
- Portal: labourcis.nic.in, Form A. The Department's FAQ says no fee is payable, no documents need uploading, and the certificate is issued in real time.
- Deadline: 90 days from the date the establishment starts work (Rule 3).
- Validity: renewal every 21 years on Form L within 30 days of expiry (Rule 5).
- Changes: notify on Form D within 15 days (Rule 6).
- New companies: first-time registration goes through SPICe+ (Agile-Pro form); further branch registrations are made on the Labour portal.
- Search: the portal has an establishment search and a list of registered shops.
Why Work With LegalDev India
Check whether your state and worker count actually require registration
Document review before filing — consistent addresses, correct .xls lists, right category
Application prepared and filed on the official state portal
Government fee and professional fee shown as separate lines
Follow-up on department queries and clarification requests
Help with amendments, renewals and closure notifications
Frequently Asked Questions About Shop Act Licence
A Shop Act licence is a registration certificate issued under a state's Shops and Establishments Act. It records the employer, address, nature of business and worker count, and brings the business under that state's rules on hours, leave and wages. It is also called a Shop and Establishment certificate.
It depends on your state and headcount. Registration is required from 11 workers in Rajasthan, 10 in Maharashtra and 20 in Gujarat and Delhi. Karnataka's Act still applies broadly, with a carve-out for OSH-registered units of 10 or more workers. Below the thresholds you may need only an intimation (Maharashtra, Gujarat) or nothing (Rajasthan, Delhi).
Register or log in on your state labour portal, enter the establishment details, upload the documents, pay the fee where one applies, submit, and download the certificate. The portals are labourcis.nic.in for Delhi, LDMS for Rajasthan, lms.mahaonline.gov.in for Maharashtra and e-Karmika for Karnataka.
Typically the owner's identity and PAN, proof of the premises, entity papers if it is a firm or company, and details of workers. Rajasthan's official checklist adds two photographs, an affidavit and four employee lists in .xls format. Delhi's online form needs no uploads.
There is no single fee. Delhi charges nothing for online registration according to its Labour Department FAQ. Rajasthan reportedly charges a one-time fee by worker slab, and Maharashtra and Karnataka charge by slab too. Check the portal for the exact amount before paying.
Up to 10 years in Maharashtra, until closure in Karnataka since September 2026, until a change of ownership or business nature in Gujarat, and a 21-year renewal cycle in Delhi. Rajasthan's guides conflict, so read the validity on your certificate.
Sometimes. Maharashtra needs renewal if your certificate was issued for less than 10 years, and Delhi every 21 years. Karnataka and Gujarat need none in the ordinary course. Any change of address, owner or worker count must still be notified.
Yes, in all five states covered on this page. Rajasthan makes e-filing, e-payment and e-submission of documents mandatory, and Karnataka routes everything through e-Karmika.
Possibly not. A small shop with few or no workers is below the registration threshold in Rajasthan, Delhi and Gujarat, and files only an intimation in Maharashtra. Karnataka is the state where small shops are most likely still to register.
An office is a commercial establishment under these Acts, so the same thresholds apply. A small office with a handful of staff may fall below the line in some states, while a larger one needs registration or an OSH Code registration.
It can be, since working from home does not exempt you. Most solo home-based businesses fall below the registration thresholds, but the position depends on the state and on the number of workers.
No. The Shop Act licence comes from the state labour department and covers employment conditions. The trade licence comes from the municipal body and covers a specific activity at a specific address. Many businesses need both.
Log in to the portal you applied on and open your application, or search by application number. Delhi's portal has an establishment search, Rajasthan's LDMS shows an audit trail, and e-Karmika serves Karnataka. Verify any certificate a consultant gives you on the portal itself.
Log in to the same portal and download it from the approved application. In Delhi it can be printed immediately after submission. In Rajasthan the download follows fee payment.
Every state and union territory has its own law, and a registration under one state's Act covers establishments in that state only. A business with branches in several states registers in each.
It depends on the state. A business with no employees sits below the registration threshold in Rajasthan and Delhi and would file at most an intimation in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Karnataka's Act has no worker threshold, so check e-Karmika.
GST registration has its own document list, and as far as I know the Shop Act certificate is not a mandatory part of it. Banks are different: many ask for the certificate when opening a current account, so ask your bank which documents it accepts.
Not as a rule. Delhi's Labour portal makes separate registrations for different branch offices, and other states register each establishment on its own. The Karnataka amendment is an exception for godowns within 100 metres of the principal establishment.
Notify the department through the portal. Delhi asks for Form D within 15 days, Maharashtra allows 30 days, Rajasthan charges any fee difference if the worker count changes, and Gujarat requires a fresh certificate on a change of ownership or nature of business.
Tell the department. In Maharashtra and Gujarat the Acts require the employer to notify closure within 30 days, after which the entry is removed from the register.
Yes. Gumasta is the popular name for the Shop and Establishment registration in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and some consultants use it for the same registration elsewhere.
Not across the board. The OSH Code requires establishments with 10 or more workers to register under it, and Maharashtra and Karnataka have said such units need no separate state registration. In other states, confirm with your labour department before dropping the Shop Act registration.
Official References
Delhi Labour Department online registration · Rajasthan Labour Department, Shops and Commercial Establishments procedure · Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017 on India Code · Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, 2019 with the 2026 amendment (PRS) · e-Karmika, Karnataka · National Portal of India, services
This page is general information and not legal advice. LegalDev India is a privately owned consultancy and is not affiliated with any government department or portal. Eligibility, approval, fees and timelines are decided by the relevant government authority, so verify current requirements on the official portal before you apply or pay. If you would rather hand over the filing, LegalDev India can manage the entire application — start with a free consultation.