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Q1: What additional certificates and other documents might be required for different types of businesses? 

A1: As per your line of business below are the document which can be required.

AYUSH Certificate

The AYUSH certificate is mandatory for all retail ayurvedic-related businesses. To get your AYUSH certificate, follow the steps below:

Visit the official website for AYUSH online registration.

Fill out the AYUSH registration form.

Provide the required documents, pay the AYUSH certification cost and submit the form.

FSSAI Certificate

This document is required for all food manufacturing and serving businesses based in India. If you don't have it, you can register on the FSSAI website.

SEBI Certificate

SEBI certification is mandatory for anyone wishing to provide investment advisory services to clients. Follow the steps below to get your SEBI certification:

Pay the initial registration fee to access the SEBI Intermediary portal.

Fill out the RIA registration form on the SEBI Intermediary portal and upload the relevant documents.

Pay the registration fee after SEBI approves the application.

FEMA Registration/FFMC Certificate

Merchants involved in businesses that require foreign currency exchange with a foreign country must obtain a FEMA/FFMC certificate. Follow the steps given below to get the FEMA registration/FFMC Certificate:

Apply for the FFMC License to the concerned regional office of RBI.

RBI will review the director of the applicant entity under the fit and proper criteria.

If everything is to the satisfaction of the RBI, then an FFMC certificate is issued.

NBFC Registration Certificate

If your business involves a non-banking financial institution, you are required to obtain an NBFC License. You can apply for the license online or offline with the necessary documents to the Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India. To be eligible for the certificate, your business must meet the following criteria:

The company must be registered in India (Private Limited Company or Limited Company).

The company must have at least ₹ 200 lakhs in net-owned funds.

916 Hallmark/BIS Certificate

If your business involves the sale of precious gems or jewelry, you are required to have a BIS Certificate. Follow the steps given below to get the BIS Certificate:

Visit the official site.

Download the application form and questionnaire for additional information.

Attach the required documents.

Submit the application form along with the requisite fee.

IRDA Certificate

If you are in the insurance industry or an insurance agent, then you will be required to submit the IRDA certificate for verification. To download the IRDA Certificate:

Visit the official website of the IRDA Portal.

In the top-right corner, select the PAN Lookup option.

Fill in your PAN or Aadhaar Number and click on Submit.

Download the certificates that are available to you.

AMFI Certificate

If you work as a mutual fund distribution professional, you are required to have the AMFI certification by passing an entry-level exam. To download the AMFI Certificate:

Visit the official website of AMFI.

Select the document of your choice and click download.

IATA Certificate

The IATA certification program is designed to acknowledge workplace learning practices and ensure compliance with international and industry training standards in airlines and travel offices. Follow the steps given below to get an IATA Certificate:

Register with the IATA customer portal.

Submit the application form.

Pay the registration fee to process the application.

DOT Certificate

If you are running an OSP center or IT-enabled services (such as Tele trading or Tele-education), you need this certificate. The DOT Certificate is required for policy, licensing, and coordination matters related to telegraphs, telephones, wireless communication, data, facsimile, telematic services, and other forms of communication. Follow the steps given below to get the DOT Certificate:

Log into the official DOT portal.

Choose your category from the list available.

Click download to initiate your application.

Handy Tips

DOT processes the application to obtain telemarketing registration.

TRAI Certificate

A TRAI certificate refers to a license issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for doing business. Follow the steps given below to get a TRAI Certificate:

Incorporate your company.

Gather the required documents and apply for telemarketing registration.

Pay the TRAI registration fee.

RBI Certificate

It is mandatory for a company to obtain a Certificate of Registration (COR) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before commencing or carrying on the business of a non-banking financial institution (NBFI). Follow the steps given below to get an RBI Certificate:

Apply online and submit a physical copy of the application along with the necessary documents to the Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India.

The application can be submitted online.

DGCA Certificate

The DGCA Certification is an airline certificate issued by the DGCA. To obtain this certificate, one must comply with the civil aviation requirements and airworthiness standards mandated by the Government of India. Know more about the civil aviation requirements.

GII Certificate

A GII Certificate is issued by the Gemological Institute of India for the identification and certification of all gems. Know more about the GII certificate.

Form 20B/21B Certificate

A Form 20B/21B Certificate is a wholesale drug license. To become a drug wholesaler, you must have permission from the State Licensing Authority (SLA) to distribute or sell drugs covered by the 1940 Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Certificate Issued by NHB

The National Housing Board helps in validating and regulating companies that are in the housing finance business. You can download the application form for the certificate from the online portal and submit it to the respective NHB office near you.

Affiliation certificate issued by UGC /ICSE/CBSE/AICTE

This certification is issued to various educational institutions in India. The UGC is the apex body that approves universities in the country. To obtain permanent affiliation, a college must apply to the University in the prescribed proforma along with the required fee in the form of a Demand Draft drawn in favor of the University Registrar. The application can be made any time after completing five years of temporary affiliation.

AOC Certificate/PCI-DSS

The Attestation of Compliance (AOC) is a declaration of an organization's compliance with the PCI DSS. A Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) completes this document, indicating the business's PCI DSS AOC compliance status.

To receive an AOC, the organization needs to complete a self-assessment of their compliance through a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). This is then reviewed by a QSA to determine the organization's compliance status with PCI DSS.

GIA Certificate

If you are a merchant selling precious stones or gems, you need this certificate. The term "GIA certified" is commonly used in the jewelry industry to refer to diamonds that have undergone GIA's rigorous grading process and to the reports that accompany them. Know more about how to apply for GIA certification in India.

PESO Certificate

The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) of India issues the PESO license. Formerly known as the Department of Explosives, this institute is responsible for formulating a framework for working with the oil industry. You can apply for a PESO certificate at https://www.peso.gov.in/.

Import-Export Certificate

An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is a key business identification number that is mandatory for exports from or imports into India. Follow the steps given below to apply for the certificate: 

Register/Login on the DGFT website.

Click on the Apply for IEC option on the DGFT website. Fill out the application form (ANF 2A format) and upload the required documents.

Pay the required fees.

Click the Submit and Generate IEC Certificate button.

MMTC PAMP Certificate

If your business is registered with MMTC PAMP you will obtain a certificate for the same. Your business should be in advanced precious metals or gold. You can register for MMTC PAMP at https://shop.mmtcpamp.com/register.

RERA

A RERA certificate is a legal document that acts as proof that a property, project, or property agent has been registered under a state-level RERA authority or tribunal. You can apply for a RERA certificate at the E-Start-up India site.

Copyright Certificate

A copyright grants the subject's owner exclusive ownership of his work. If a work is protected by copyright, no one can imitate, copy, or reproduce the original work in any other way.  To register for copyright certification, visit https://www.copyright.gov/.

Shop Establishment Certificate (SEC)

The shop establishment certificate (SEC) is required for all businesses registered under the Shop Establishment Act or Labor Department (depending on each state). Follow the steps below to download the shop establishment certificate.

Visit your state’s shop establishment website.

Register with a username and password.

Check the application status and click on download certificate.

MSME Certificate

An MSME certificate is a valid proof of registration for small and medium-sized businesses. This is issued after successful registration for each business. If a proprietor or individual has multiple enterprises, they must register each of these individually and obtain different certificates for each of them. To download your MSME certificate, visit http://udyamregistration.gov.in and login with your details.

MSO/Local Cable Operator

A multiple-system operator (MSO) is an operator of multiple cable or direct-broadcast satellite television systems. If you are into providing cable or DTH services to households, this certificate is mandatory for you. Know more about how to get an MSO certification.

SLA/Dealership Agreement

A service level agreement (SLA) is a contract between a provider and the end user that states the level of service that the customer should expect from that service provider.

Reseller Agreement

A reseller agreement is an arrangement between the supplier and the reseller of goods or services that is ultimately sold to the end customer.

IRCTC Agents Agreement

The Agents Agreement is mandatory for verification if you are a travel agent licensed by the IRCTC. Know more about the rules and regulations for reserved rail e-ticketing service providers.

Dealership Rights

A business is considered a dealership if its owner is authorized to sell a certain item. If you are in a business that operates under a dealership model, you will require a certificate or document authorizing the same, which will be issued by the supplier.

Pharmacy or Retail/ Wholesale Drug License

To start a pharmacy business, a drug license is required, which is issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and the State Directorate of Drug Control. Each state has its own government website that mentions the requirements for granting drug sales licenses.

Brewery addendum or Liquor license

If you are in the business of dealing with liquor, you need this license. A liquor License granted by a state’s excise department allows licensed individuals to manufacture, transport, and sell alcoholic beverages within the boundaries of the state. Know more about how to apply for a liquor license in India.

Business Correspondent

Business Correspondents are bank representatives who raise customer awareness and conduct banking transactions. This certificate was issued by Banks.

PPI License

Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPIs) are defined in the RBI Guidelines as payment instruments that facilitate the purchase of goods and services, including funds transfers, against the value stored on such instruments.

Tie Up Agreement

A tie-up agreement is a contract between two or more companies or organizations to become business partners.

FDA License

FDA licenses are issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to businesses involved in food, drug products, dietary supplements, beverages, etc.

MSA

A Master Services Agreement (MSA) is a contract that details the responsibilities and obligations of two parties toward each other. This comprehensive contract generally includes detailed rates, services, and terms for each functional area of the partnership.

Legal Opinion

A legal opinion is created by your lawyer, and it allows parties to obtain a qualified third-party opinion on the subject, object, and other issues related to the conclusion of a transaction.

Manufacturing License

A manufacturing license means all licenses necessary for or in connection with the manufacture of the products at the manufacturing site(s).

Trade license

A trade license is a document or certificate that grants permission to an individual seeking to open a business, to commence a particular trade or business in a specific area or location. The application for a trade license registration must be made to the concerned state government, corporation, or municipality, and the application procedure may vary depending on state regulations.

IATO

If you are in the business of offering tourism services, you are required to be an IATO member. IATO is the association of expert inbound tour operators whose members are recognized or approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. You can register to be a member of IATO at https://iato.in/.

BBPS

This is required of businesses that currently provide or wish to provide bill payment services to their customers via physical (agents, bank branches, business correspondents) or digital (website, Internet banking, mobile app) channels. To get the BBPS, submit the Agent-Institution Consent form to the concerned BBPOU and complete the required documentation and onboarding process.

Authorization letter

A letter of authorization is a type of contract in which one person, known as the principal, authorizes another, known as the agent, to perform particular activities to carry out the principal's duties.