Your path to BIS certification
Three routes lead to a BIS certificate. Pick the one your product falls under, and the pathway below reshapes around it.
Pick a route and the pathway and comparison below reshape around it. The scheme follows the product's QCO rather than preference, though a few QCOs carry both. On those, the specific product decides.
The certification pathway
Six stages. Most of the delay happens at stage 3, waiting on samples and lab capacity. On the ISI route, end to end is 6–26 weeks. ISI Mark guide →
- 1
Confirm which route you are on
Check that your product sits under an active QCO, and which scheme governs it. Everything downstream depends on this being right.
BIS Checker resultQCO listingIS standard numberProduct technical specifications - 2
Prepare the product and the factory
Test samples in-house before they go to a lab, and get the factory documentation into order. BIS will ask for this later, and assembling it now is what keeps the timeline short.
Factory registration / MSME / IEM certificateManufacturing process flow chartList of machinery and testing equipmentQuality control manualIn-house lab details and calibration recordsRaw material supplier list with test certificates - 3
Test at a BIS-recognised lab
Samples go to a lab on the BIS-recognised list for full testing against the IS standard. This is the longest single stage and the one most worth planning around.
Sample setTest reportLab acknowledgement - 4
Apply on the BIS portal
Submit the application with the test report, factory documents and quality control manual on Manakonline, with the application fee.
Application formFee paymentCompany PAN, GST and address proofAuthorisation letterTrademark certificate (if applicable) - 5
Factory inspection
BIS officers visit to verify manufacturing capability, QC systems and product consistency. Budget for officer travel separately from the certification fee.
Inspection readinessOfficer travel budget - 6
Certificate granted, mark applied
After inspection and document review, BIS grants the certificate. Pay the annual marking fee, then apply the Standard Mark to product and packaging. It renews annually.
Certificate / R-numberRenewal date
Which route applies to you
The scheme follows the product's QCO rather than preference, though a few QCOs carry both. On those, the specific product decides. Here is how the three differ in what they actually require of you.
Where the money goes
Testing, application and marking figures are computed from bischeck's 872-product database, so they match the product pages and the checker. Marking fee is volume-based, which is why its range is the widest.
Not sure which route you are on?
The scheme follows your product rather than what you would prefer, so the first step is always the same: check the product. Most Quality Control Orders name a single scheme, and the checker tells you which one and the IS standard it has to be tested against. A few QCOs, S.O. 4098(E) and S.O. 4958(E) among the 152 active, cover both ISI and CRS, and there the individual product decides.
Manufacturer questions
How long does ISI certification take end to end?+
Our ISI Mark guide quotes three to eight months for the certification itself. Measured end to end, from starting preparation to holding the licence, most products in our database take 12 to 24 weeks, and the full range runs 6 to 26. It is wide because testing is the variable stage: sampling, lab queue and any re-test after a failure all land there. The cost calculator will estimate your line.
Do I need an in-house testing lab?+
You need testing facilities available to you, and BIS will ask for your lab details and calibration records during the factory visit. Many manufacturers test in-house during production and still send samples to a BIS-recognised lab for the certification testing itself. Browse the lab directory to see what is near your plant.
What happens if my product fails testing?+
The lab reports the failure, you correct the product or the process, and samples go back for re-testing. There is no automatic rejection, but the clock restarts on that stage, which is why stage 3 is the one to plan around. Testing again also means paying for testing again.
Is the licence renewed every year?+
Yes. The licence runs on an annual cycle and the marking fee is payable each year, based on the volume you produce. Renewal is a document and fee exercise rather than a fresh inspection, provided your licence stays in good standing: let it lapse and you are back to applying.
Know your route?
Confirm the standard, the cost and the labs for your product line.