GST Registration Approval Time and Documents: 2026 Guide

A new GST registration application is normally approved within 7 working days when Aadhaar authentication succeeds and the documents are in order. Where Aadhaar authentication is not opted for, fails, or the application is flagged as risky, the officer conducts a physical verification and the decision is due within 30 days. Officers may raise a query only on specified grounds, and the documents needed for the place of business are fixed by CBIC's instructions.

This article explains the timelines, the documents that are sufficient for each type of premises, and what the 57th GST Council meeting held on 8 October 2026 recommended for registration.

How long does GST registration approval take?

The timelines below follow Rule 9 of the CGST Rules, 2017 and CBIC's Instruction No. 03/2025-GST dated 17 April 2025, which officers follow when processing applications.

Stage	Time limit
Complete application, Aadhaar authenticated, not flagged risky	Approval within 7 working days of submission
Aadhaar not authenticated, flagged risky, or physical verification ordered	Decision within 30 days of submission, after site verification
Query notice in FORM GST REG-03 (non-risky case)	Within 7 working days of submission
Query notice in FORM GST REG-03 (risky case)	Within 30 days of submission
Applicant's reply in FORM GST REG-04	Within 7 working days of receiving the notice
Officer's decision after the reply	Within 7 working days of receiving the reply

The GST portal's user guide states that an application marked for a site visit is deemed approved after 30 calendar days if the tax officer takes no action. However, CBIC has directed its officers to act within time so that applications are not approved merely on a deemed basis, so applicants should expect a decision rather than rely on deemed approval.

Does Aadhaar authentication make a difference?

Yes. The applicant chooses whether to opt for Aadhaar authentication in the application.

• Opted and authenticated: the application follows the 7 working day track unless it is flagged on risk parameters.
• Not opted: the application is marked for a mandatory site visit. The primary authorised signatory and the promoter or partner must complete photo capture and document verification at a GST Suvidha Kendra; if this is not done within 15 days, no ARN is generated.

Authentication is needed for the primary authorised signatory and one more person depending on the constitution, for example the proprietor, one partner, the Karta of an HUF, or one director of a company or LLP. Government departments, public sector undertakings, local authorities and statutory bodies do not need Aadhaar authentication.

What documents are enough for the place of business?

CBIC's instruction lists the documents that are sufficient. Any one ownership document uploaded on the portal is enough, and originals are not to be called for.

Type of premises	Documents sufficient
Owned	One of: latest property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, electricity or water bill
Rented, registered agreement	Rent or lease agreement and one ownership document of the lessor
Rented, unregistered agreement	Agreement, one ownership document of the lessor and the lessor's identity proof
Rented, utility connection in applicant's name	Rent agreement with the electricity or water bill in the applicant's name
Rented, no agreement	Affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper before a magistrate or notary, with a utility bill in the applicant's name
Owned by a relative or other person (consent)	Consent letter on plain paper, consenter's identity proof and one ownership document of the consenter

Officers are not to ask for the lessor's PAN, Aadhaar or photograph. For a partnership firm, the partnership deed is the proof of constitution. Societies, trusts, clubs and similar bodies upload their registration certificate or proof of constitution.

Files are uploaded in PDF or JPEG format, with a maximum size of 1 MB per file.

On what grounds can the officer raise a query?

A notice in FORM GST REG-03 can be issued only where:

1. a document is incomplete or not legible;
2. the address in the application does not match the uploaded document, or the document is not a valid address proof;
3. the address is incomplete or vague; or
4. another GSTIN on the same PAN is cancelled or suspended.

Officers should not raise queries based on presumptions, such as the applicant living in another city or state, or the activity seeming unlikely at the premises. Any document beyond the prescribed list can be sought only with the approval of the Deputy or Assistant Commissioner. If the reply is not satisfactory, or no reply is filed within 7 working days, the application may be rejected in FORM GST REG-05 with reasons.

How does physical verification work?

Where a site visit is required, the officer inspects the declared principal place of business and uploads the report in FORM GST REG-30 with GPS-enabled photographs, at least 5 days before the 30-day period ends. If the premises cannot be found, the report records the efforts made to locate them. Keeping the premises open, with a name board and the uploaded documents available, helps the verification go smoothly.

What did the 57th GST Council recommend on registration?

At its meeting on 8 October 2026, the GST Council recommended:

• a comprehensive circular specifying the documents and information required for registration, along with FAQs;
• an amendment to FORM GST REG-01 so that applicants can select the prescribed documents from drop boxes, with portal guidance through drop-down lists;
• continued automatic registration under Rule 14A for applicants who do not intend to pass on more than ₹2.5 lakh of input tax credit per month; and
• a new Rule 14B for small suppliers selling through e-commerce operators.

The FAQs published with these recommendations state that the portal will show only the documents relevant to the type of premises selected and that no additional documents are to be uploaded or sought by the officer. Applicants should check the portal for the updated form and checklist when filing.

For details on who must register and common reasons for rejection, see GST registration thresholds, compulsory cases and rejections. An overview of the process is on our GST registration page.

The information in this article reflects the law as on the date of publication and is for general guidance only.

CA. Kunal Darwani

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