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You register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) online on the GST Portal through Services > Registration > New Registration, using Form GST REG-01. The application has an initial Part A for identity and contact verification and a Part B for your business, premises, signatory, goods or services, and supporting evidence. A person who becomes liable normally has 30 days to apply; a casual or non-resident taxable person must apply at least five days before starting business.
Do not decide that registration is or is not required from turnover alone. Taxable-supply type, the states involved, compulsory-registration categories, exemptions and the current wording of notifications all matter. This guide explains the portal workflow and the deadlines; use current GST Portal prompts and professional advice for an unusual fact pattern.
Who needs GST registration in India?
The CGST Act gives a general turnover route to registration, but it is only one part of the decision. In the cited text of section 22(1), registration applies when aggregate turnover in a financial year exceeds ₹20 lakh, with a ₹10 lakh threshold in the special-category states covered by that provision. Those figures should not be treated as a universal current test: later amendments, notifications, the nature and location of supplies, and exemptions can change the result.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSection 24 separately identifies classes that must register, subject to the law and applicable exemptions. A business can therefore have a registration obligation even when its turnover is below a general threshold. Conversely, an exemption or a fact-specific rule may mean that a particular activity does not require registration. The CBIC-hosted Act page is the enacted 2017 text, not a guarantee that every later amendment or notification is consolidated there.
Questions to answer before opening the application
- Are you making supplies that are taxable, exempt, or outside the GST charge?
- What is your aggregate turnover for the relevant financial year, and in which states are the supplies made?
- Do you fall into a compulsory-registration category under section 24 or a related notification?
- Does a specific exemption apply to your activity, customer type, or supply pattern?
- Are you applying as a normal taxpayer, a casual taxable person, or a non-resident taxable person?
If the answer depends on interstate supplies, marketplace or agent arrangements, reverse-charge provisions, or a special exemption, check the current law and CBIC guidance rather than relying on the threshold figures by themselves. A qualified GST professional can assess facts that the online form cannot decide for you.
Voluntary registration
You may apply voluntarily even when no compulsory-registration rule has yet attached. Once registration is granted, the registration provisions and the associated compliance responsibilities apply to you. Confirm the commercial and filing consequences before choosing this route.
What documents and information are required for GST registration?
There is no single document bundle that fits every applicant. The GST Portal changes the evidence fields according to the constitution of the business, the people authorised to sign, and the legal basis on which each business premises is occupied. Prepare the following categories and then follow the exact upload prompts shown for your application.
| Category | Information or evidence to prepare | Why the portal asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant identity | PAN of the entity or proprietor, legal name exactly as associated with PAN, state and district. | Establishes the legal applicant and the jurisdiction for the registration. |
| Primary contact | Working email address and Indian mobile number for the primary authorised signatory, with access to both for OTPs. | Part A verification and later notices use these contacts. |
| Constitution and stakeholders | Business constitution and applicable details for a proprietor, partners, directors, promoters or other persons requested by the form. | Identifies who owns or controls the applicant. |
| Authorised signatory | Identity and contact details, plus appointment or authority evidence where the portal requests it. A primary authorised signatory is required. | Shows who is permitted to submit and authenticate the application. |
| Principal place of business | Complete address, contact details and evidence supporting the declared possession or occupancy basis. | Supports the main registered business location. |
| Additional places | Addresses and possession evidence for branches, warehouses or other additional places, if any. | Records every place that must appear on the registration. |
| Business activity | Goods and services supplied and any state-specific information requested for your activity. | Classifies the registration and captures jurisdiction-specific fields. |
| Aadhaar route | Access to Aadhaar-linked OTP contacts, or availability for biometric and document verification if the portal directs you to that process. | Completes the identity-authentication path selected or assigned by the portal. |
The portal guide describes bank-account information as optional in the initial flow it covers, with bank details added after grant through a non-core amendment. Treat the current on-screen requirement as controlling; bank details are not presented as a prerequisite to submit REG-01 in that workflow.
File preparation that prevents avoidable delays
- Use names and spellings consistently with PAN and the constitutional documents.
- Scan documents so text, seals and signatures are legible and the files meet the portal’s current format and size limits.
- Keep all pages of a premises document together. If the portal asks for multiple pages in one upload, combine them as instructed rather than omitting annexures.
- Ensure the authorised signatory can receive OTPs throughout the process and can complete any later appointment for biometric verification.
- Have the exact possession basis ready—such as ownership, lease, rent, consent or another category offered by the form—so that the evidence matches the selection.
How do I register for GST online?
The following sequence follows the normal-taxpayer registration guide. The labels can change slightly as the portal is updated, but the Part A, TRN and Part B pattern remains the key workflow.
- Open the registration service. On the GST Portal, select Services > Registration > New Registration. Choose the taxpayer option, state and district. Enter the PAN-based legal name and PAN, then provide the primary authorised signatory’s email address and Indian mobile number.
- Verify both contacts. Submit the separate email and mobile OTPs. After successful verification, the portal generates a temporary reference number (TRN). Save the TRN and the exact email and mobile number used; you need them to return to the draft.
- Reopen the draft with the TRN. Go back to New Registration, select the TRN option, enter the TRN and complete the requested OTP checks. Open the saved Part B application. A TRN is not a filed application: the guide says an unsubmitted draft is purged after 15 days.
- Complete Business Details. Enter the constitution, trade name where applicable, date from which liability or voluntary registration is relevant, and the other fields displayed for your taxpayer type. Check each entry against PAN and your underlying records before moving on.
- Enter Promoter/Partners information. Add the proprietor, partners, directors, promoters or other stakeholders requested for your constitution. Upload identity or supporting records when the tab requires them.
- Nominate the Authorised Signatory. Add the primary authorised signatory and any additional signatories the form permits. Upload appointment or authority evidence where requested. The guide notes that a primary authorised signatory is mandatory.
- Declare the Principal Place of Business. Enter the full address, contact details and possession basis. Upload the evidence that matches that basis. A mismatch between the selected category and the document is a common reason for a query.
- Add Additional Places of Business. Include branches, warehouses or other locations that belong on the registration. If there are none, leave this section empty as permitted rather than inventing an address.
- Describe Goods and Services. Select the goods and services relevant to the business and complete any applicable state-specific information. Use the portal’s available classifications carefully; do not select categories solely to make the list appear comprehensive.
- Complete Aadhaar Authentication. The portal may offer OTP authentication or route you to a designated GST Suvidha Kendra for biometric and document verification. Follow the route shown for each person and complete any appointment or document check promptly.
- Review the Verification tab. Read the declaration, confirm that the information and uploaded evidence are true and complete, and correct inconsistencies before signing.
- Submit with a permitted signing method. Use an available method such as a digital signature certificate (DSC) or electronic verification code (EVC), where supported for your applicant type. Successful submission and authentication generate an acknowledgement reference number (ARN).
- Save the acknowledgement and monitor the case. Keep the ARN, submitted form details and uploaded files. Check the GST Portal and the registered email and mobile number for notices, clarification requests or an instruction to complete verification.
- Download and inspect the certificate. After approval, download the registration certificate and GSTIN from the taxpayer portal. Check the registered legal name, principal place and additional places against the application and report any discrepancy through the prescribed portal process.
What is the deadline to apply for GST registration?
| Applicant or event | Timing stated in the official material | Important consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Person who becomes ordinarily liable | Apply within 30 days from the date liability arises. | For a normal taxpayer who files within that period, registration generally takes effect from the liability date. A later application generally takes effect from the grant date. |
| Casual taxable person | Apply at least five days before beginning business. | The category has special advance-planning requirements, including advance deposit of estimated tax liability under the Act. |
| Non-resident taxable person | Apply at least five days before beginning business. | Plan the registration and the statutory advance deposit before the first supply. |
| Saved TRN or Part B draft | Submit before the 15-day purge period expires. | An unsubmitted draft is purged; a TRN alone does not establish registration or preserve the application indefinitely. |
| Aadhaar authentication request | The Aadhaar FAQ states that verification should be completed within 15 days. | Incomplete authentication can move the case to biometric/document verification or officer review and affects the deemed-approval route. |
The 30-day rule is a filing deadline, not a promise that the certificate will be issued on the thirtieth day. If you apply late, the effective-date rule can change and the officer may ask for clarification before granting registration.
How many days does GST registration take?
There is no single approval time that applies to every application. The result depends on whether Aadhaar verification succeeds, whether the application is complete, whether the officer issues a notice, and whether a biometric or document appointment is required.
Applications that follow the ordinary Aadhaar route
The GST Portal Aadhaar FAQ describes a no-action deemed-approval condition of seven working days for ordinary applications. This is a statutory-administrative outcome described by the FAQ, not a guaranteed service-level promise. A notice, a failed OTP, a missing document or a portal status requiring action stops you from safely assuming that approval is imminent.
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Failed or unverified Aadhaar cases
Where Aadhaar authentication fails or remains unverified, the application is not covered by the same seven-working-day deemed-approval route. The FAQ describes a different no-action outcome of 30 calendar days, subject to the route and conditions stated there. The actual portal status, appointment instructions and any officer notice control what you must do next.
How to monitor without missing a request
- Sign in with the ARN or the portal’s status-tracking option and record each status change.
- Check the primary signatory’s email inbox, spam folder and mobile messages for notices.
- Open every clarification or appointment instruction promptly; do not wait for the presumed seven- or 30-day period.
- Keep a copy of each response and resubmitted document so that the chronology is clear.
Ordinary, casual and non-resident registration: which route fits?
Normal taxpayer
This is the route used by most established businesses and individuals carrying on taxable activity from their regular business locations. The 30-day application period and the general effective-date rule described above apply when liability arises.
Casual taxable person
A casual taxable person needs registration before commencing the temporary or occasional business activity covered by that category. The application must be made at least five days in advance, and the Act provides for advance deposit of estimated tax liability. Gather the event, location and period details early because the five-day lead time leaves less room to correct a defective application.
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A non-resident taxable person also applies at least five days before beginning business and must account for the advance-deposit requirement in the Act. The portal may request information that differs from an ordinary domestic applicant, so follow the displayed fields rather than copying a normal-taxpayer checklist.
Turnover liability versus compulsory registration
Use the following decision sequence instead of treating ₹20 lakh or ₹10 lakh as automatic answers:
- Identify every supply and whether it is taxable, exempt or otherwise outside the relevant charge.
- Calculate aggregate turnover using the applicable legal definition and financial year.
- Identify the states involved and whether a special-category threshold or another state-specific rule is relevant.
- Check section 24 categories and current notifications for compulsory registration.
- Check exemptions and any rule that removes or modifies an obligation.
- Record the date on which liability actually arose; that date starts the ordinary 30-day clock.
If you cannot determine the liability date or category from your records, do not enter an arbitrary date merely to complete REG-01. Resolve the classification first, because the date affects both timeliness and the potential effective date of registration.
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The TRN has expired
If Part B was not submitted within the portal’s 15-day window, the saved draft is purged. Start a new Part A registration, obtain a new TRN and submit the complete Part B rather than assuming the old reference can be restored.
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OTP does not arrive
- Confirm that the email address and Indian mobile number are the ones entered in Part A.
- Check network coverage, message blocking and the email spam folder.
- Use the portal’s resend option within its allowed limits; repeated requests can create confusion over which OTP is current.
- If the contact details themselves were entered incorrectly, begin a fresh Part A rather than trying to authenticate someone else’s number.
Premises evidence is queried
Read the notice to identify whether the problem is the address, the possession category, an unclear scan or a missing page. Respond with evidence that matches the selected possession basis and correct the address only when the underlying records support the change. Upload combined pages in the format the portal requests.
Aadhaar authentication is incomplete
Complete the OTP route or the biometric/document appointment shown in the portal. An incomplete or failed Aadhaar step can move the application into officer review and changes which deemed-approval period may apply. Keep the appointment acknowledgement and any document-submission receipt.
The legal name does not match PAN
REG-01 uses PAN-based identity information. Recheck the PAN record and the spelling entered in Part A. A trade name can be different where the form allows one, but the legal name must align with PAN and the entity’s constitution.
You received a clarification notice
Read the exact issue, deadline and response function in the notice. Answer each point in one submission, attach the requested evidence and retain the ARN and response copy. Do not assume that silence will result in automatic approval; a notice places the application on a different path.
What happens after GST registration is granted?
Download the certificate and verify the GSTIN, legal name, principal place and additional places. Correct an error through the prescribed amendment process instead of continuing to use an inaccurate certificate. The portal guide describes bank details as something that can be added after grant through a non-core amendment in the workflow it covers, so follow the current portal menu for that update.
Registration is the start of GST compliance, not its end. The certificate does not by itself decide which returns, invoices, records or payment obligations apply to your business. Determine those obligations from your taxpayer type, supplies, registration choices and current law. Keep the application, acknowledgement, notices, responses and premises evidence together so later amendments or departmental questions can be answered consistently.
Practical checklist before you click Submit
- PAN and legal name match the applicant’s records.
- Primary authorised signatory can access the verified email and Indian mobile number.
- Constitution, stakeholder and authority details are complete.
- Principal and additional premises addresses are accurate.
- Possession evidence matches each selected premises category.
- Goods, services and state-specific fields reflect the actual activity.
- Files are legible and combined as the portal requires.
- Aadhaar OTP or biometric/document verification can be completed promptly.
- The liability date and the 30-day or five-day deadline have been documented.
- You have saved the TRN during drafting and will retain the ARN after submission.
Key takeaways
GST registration is an online REG-01 process with a verified Part A, a detailed Part B, evidence uploads, Aadhaar authentication where routed, and a final electronic submission. Prepare records for the applicant, signatory, stakeholders and every business premises, but let the portal’s current evidence prompts determine the exact files. Check liability through turnover, compulsory-registration rules and exemptions together. Apply within 30 days when ordinary liability arises, or at least five days before business for a casual or non-resident taxable person. Treat the 15-day TRN purge, the 15-day Aadhaar window and the different seven-working-day and 30-calendar-day no-action outcomes as process controls—not guarantees that replace monitoring your actual portal status.
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