"GST registration online" is the single most searched GST phrase in India, and most of the results are agents charging ₹2,000–5,000 for a process that is free and takes about an hour of your time. Here is the complete walkthrough for 2026, including the risk-based verification that now decides whether you get your GSTIN in three days or three weeks.
Do you need to register?
| Situation | Registration |
|---|---|
| Goods, aggregate turnover above ₹40 lakh (₹20 lakh in special-category states*) | Mandatory |
| Services, turnover above ₹20 lakh (₹10 lakh in special-category states) | Mandatory |
| Inter-state supply of goods (any turnover) | Mandatory |
| Inter-state supply of services below ₹20 lakh | Not required |
| Selling through Amazon/Flipkart/Meesho (goods) | Mandatory (e-commerce operators require it; some intra-state sellers below threshold may use the enrolment number route) |
| Casual/non-resident taxable person, reverse-charge recipient, ISD, TDS deductor | Mandatory |
| Below threshold, B2B customers who want ITC | Voluntary — often worth it |
*Special-category: Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Telangana (goods threshold ₹20 lakh).
Aggregate turnover is PAN-level, all-India, including exempt supplies and exports. Freelancers: see freelancer taxes.
Documents
| Business type | Documents |
|---|---|
| All | PAN, Aadhaar (for authentication), mobile & email, photo, bank proof (cancelled cheque / statement / passbook first page), principal place of business proof |
| Proprietor | Owner's PAN + Aadhaar |
| Partnership / LLP | Partnership deed / LLP certificate, partners' PAN & Aadhaar, authorisation letter for the signatory |
| Company | Certificate of incorporation, MOA/AOA, board resolution, directors' PAN & Aadhaar, DSC of authorised signatory |
| Place of business | Own: electricity bill / property tax receipt. Rented: rent agreement + owner's electricity bill + NOC if agreement doesn't permit business use. Shared/co-working: consent letter + owner's proof |
Scan everything as PDF/JPEG under 100 KB–1 MB per file (portal limits vary by field).
The process
Part A — TRN (10 minutes)
- gst.gov.in → Services → Registration → New Registration.
- Select taxpayer type, state, district; enter legal name (as on PAN), PAN, mobile, email.
- Verify OTPs. You get a Temporary Reference Number (TRN), valid 15 days.
Part B — Application REG-01 (40 minutes)
Log in with TRN and fill the tabs:
- Business details — trade name, constitution, date of commencement, reason for registration, composition option (see composition scheme).
- Promoters/partners — up to 10, with PAN, Aadhaar, photo, address.
- Authorised signatory — the person who will file returns; for companies, needs a DSC.
- Principal place of business — address, nature of possession, proof upload, nature of business activity (checkboxes).
- Additional places — godowns, branches in the same state.
- Goods & services — top 5 HSN/SAC codes; find them with the HSN finder.
- Bank account — can be added within 30 days of registration now, but adding it upfront avoids a suspension notice.
- State-specific — professional tax numbers etc.
- Aadhaar authentication — say yes. Complete the Aadhaar OTP for the promoter and signatory.
- Verification — submit with EVC (OTP) for proprietors/partnerships or DSC for companies/LLPs.
You receive an ARN (Application Reference Number). Track it under Track Application Status.
How long it takes
- Aadhaar-authenticated, low risk: approval within 3 working days (the portal targets same-week; a proposal to guarantee 3 days for low-risk applicants is before the October Council).
- Flagged for physical verification (high-risk parameters — shared address, many registrations at one address, mismatch with income-tax data): an officer visits within 30 days; approval after the report.
- Query raised (REG-03): reply within 7 working days with REG-04; otherwise rejection.
Registration is effective from the date of application if applied within 30 days of becoming liable; otherwise from the date of grant.
After you get the GSTIN
- Download the certificate (REG-06) and display it at your premises; print the GSTIN on invoices, signboards and your website.
- Start issuing proper tax invoices — the GST invoice generator follows the mandatory format.
- Note return due dates in the GST calendar: even a nil month needs a return.
- Choose QRMP (quarterly) if turnover ≤ ₹5 crore.
- File a LUT if you export.
- Enable two-factor authentication on the portal and never share OTPs — see GST scams.
Why applications get rejected
- Trade name/address on documents doesn't match the application.
- Electricity bill older than 3 months or in an unrelated name without NOC.
- Rent agreement not registered/notarised where the state requires it.
- Photo not passport-style, or PAN not linked to Aadhaar.
- No reply to the REG-03 query within 7 days.
FAQ
Is GST registration free?
Yes. There is no government fee. Anyone charging you is charging for their time.
Can I register without a shop, from home?
Yes. Home is a valid principal place of business with an electricity bill and, if rented, an NOC from the owner.
Do I need a separate registration for each state?
Yes — one GSTIN per state (or UT) where you have a place of business. Multiple branches within a state can share one GSTIN.
Can I cancel later if turnover stays low?
Yes, voluntary registration can be cancelled after one year; mandatory registration can be cancelled if you stop being liable. File all pending returns first.