Food Stall Licence

Apply for Food Stall Licence

Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

Apply on GoBusiness Licensing

Application Details

For the operation of a foodstall where there is retail sale of food and/or beverage in a foodshop such as private eating houses, coffeeshops, food courts, canteens and private markets.
If you are interested in operating a hawker stall in a NEA managed food centre/market, you need to first bid for a food stall in NEA's tender. Once you have secured a food stall in a successful bid and signed the tenancy agreement with NEA, a hawker stall licence will then be issued to you by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Step 1: Submit complete application in GoBusiness

• For complete application with layout plan and tenancy agreement attached, SFA will process the application within 5 working days.
• For incomplete application and without layout plan or tenancy agreement, SFA will reject the application.
• Service standard: 5 working days if application is complete and in order

  Existing Licensed Premises
  If you are taking over a food stall, you should engage the main operator to ensure the previous licensee has cancelled the licence to avoid delays. Otherwise, SFA will require 2 weeks to engage the food stall licensee for cancellation of the licence.

Step 2: Make payment after licence approval

• Upon full compliance to licensing requirements and submission of required documents, SFA will approve the application. You will receive a notification via email and GoBusiness within 5 working days.
  Service standard: 5 working days if application is complete and in order

  - For applicants with existing GIRO arrangement with SFA, you may start business after receiving SFA's email approval
  - For applicants not on GIRO, you may start your business after you have made payment via AXS or GoBusiness.
  
• Licensees can print their own licences upon successful payment made on or after 1 January 2022.

FAQs

1. How soon can I hear from SFA after I submit my application?
   Refer to Step 1. When you submit an application for a food stall licence, SFA will respond to you within 5 working days.

   If you are taking over a food stall where the current licence is valid, you should engage the main operator to ensure the previous licensee has cancelled the licence so as not to delay your application. Otherwise, SFA will require 2 weeks to engage the food stall licensee for cancellation of licence.

2. How soon will my application be approved?
   Refer to Step 2. SFA will approve the application within 5 working days upon applicant's full compliance to licensing requirements and submission of required documents.

3. When can I commence business?
   Refer to Step 2 on when you may commence business.

4. How much does this licence cost and how long is it valid?
   The Food Stall Licence costs S$32.00 and is valid for one year except for those foodstalls in primary, secondary and junior college school canteens. Licensees are given the option to pay $64.00 for a food stall licence that is valid for two years.
   Please note that no refund of fees will be allowed once payment has been made.

5. Who can I contact for further details?
   For general enquiries or enquiries regarding your application status, please submit your enquiry and GoBusiness Licensing application ID through SFA online feedback form at http://www.sfa.gov.sg.
   If you have not submitted your licence application, you may do so online via GoBusiness Licensing. You may also renew or cancel your licence via this platform.

6. I operate a pub/ discotheque and intend to have a drink counter selling alcoholic drinks. Do I need to apply for a licence?
   Yes. You will need to apply for a food shop licence if you intend to operate a drink or snack counter in your premises.

7. I am a foreigner with a valid employment pass issued by MOM. Can I apply for the licence in my name?
   No. You will have to form a company that is registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) (formerly Registry of Companies and Business (RCB)) and apply for the licence in the company's name.

8. Can I update, renew or terminate my food shop licence through GoBusiness Licensing?
   Yes. You may update, renew and terminate your foodshop licence through GoBusiness Licensing by going to licence1.business.gov.sg.

9. Where can I obtain information on the general design of a food retail outlet?
   You may refer to the Licensing Requirements at https://www.sfa.gov.sg

10. What is the consequence if I am unable to comply with some of the hygiene requirements?
    If you are unable to comply with any of our hygiene requirements, you will not be issued with the licence.

11. What will be the consequences if I provide false information in my application for a licence?
    Providing false information in your application is a serious offence. Your licence can be suspended, cancelled or revoked. Enforcement action can also be taken against you.

12. I have taken over an existing food stall but I am unable to contact the previous licensee to surrender/cancel his licence for the same premises. How do I apply for the licence in this instance?
    You can still submit your application together with all the supporting documents to us. However, for such cases, we will need to write to the previous licensee to confirm whether he is still operating the business at the said premises. If the previous licensee indicates that he is no longer operating the said premises or did not response, then we can proceed to process your application. The processing time for such cases will take about 2 weeks.

13. I intend to set up a food premises that make food items (eg. buns, breads, nasi lemak, otah etc) for supply to other food shops and food stalls. Do I need to apply for a food shop licence?
    You need not apply for a foodshop licence if your proposed food business does not involve the retail sale of food directly to the customer. However, you may need to obtain a food factory licence from the Food Production & Processing Department (FPPD), SFA, for your proposed business.

14. Do I need to apply for a food shop licence if I were to prepare and cook food from my home for sale to the public?
    Please be informed that under the current regulations, it is an offence to sell home cooked food to the public.

15. What are the challenges of operating a F & B business?
    Please refer to the "Turning Passion into Profit" guide to understand the challenges faced by the F and B industry and managing your business.

Additional Information

Fee

The Food Stall Licence costs S$32.00 and is valid for one year except for those food stalls in primary, secondary and junior college school canteens. Licensees are given the option to pay $64.00 for a food stall licence that is valid for two years.

For those food stalls in primary, secondary and junior college school canteens, the licence fee cost $13.00 and it is valid for one year. Licensees are given the option to pay $26.00 for a food stall licence that is valid for two years.

Documents Needed

• A copy of Applicant's NRIC
  A copy of applicant NRIC if application is submitted by a filer
  File format: DOC,DOCX,GIF,JPG,PNG,PDF
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB
  
  
• A copy of ACRA registered Company Business Profile
  
  A copy of ACRA registered Company Business Profile
  File format: DOC,DOCX,GIF,JPG,PNG,PDF
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB
  
  
• Letter of authorization (if filer option is selected)
  
  Letter of authorization from applicant for the filer to act on behalf
  File format: DOC,DOCX,GIF,JPG,PNG,PDF
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB
  
  
• Layout plan
  Layout Plan (with the indication of the stall you are applying for)
  File format: DOC,DOCX,GIF,JPG,PNG,PDF
  Maximum upload per application: 5MB

Requirements

Prerequisite Licence(s)

ACRA - Registration for Companies / Business