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How to Get BIS ISI Mark and CRS Certification in India - A Guide for Vietnamese Manufacturers
To sell a regulated product in India, a Vietnamese manufacturer must hold the right BIS certification. There are two main routes. The ISI Mark, granted through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), is for products like steel, machinery, tyres, footwear and chemicals, and it includes an audit of your Vietnam factory. CRS registration is for electronics and IT products and needs only lab testing — no factory audit. Both routes require an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), and samples are tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory in India. This guide shows you how to get each one, how to pass the factory inspection, why applications get rejected, and what it costs in 2026.
Start Early - Certification Takes Months, Not Days
FMCS takes about 4-6 months and CRS about 4–6 weeks. Goods without a valid BIS licence are held at Indian customs, with daily demurrage. If you already have Indian orders, begin now. Talk to Standphill India's Vietnam team.
Step 1: Find Your Route - ISI Mark (FMCS) or CRS?
Before anything else, you must know which scheme your product falls under. Your product decides the route — and the route decides the time, the steps and the cost.
How the two BIS certifications fit together: BIS issues both the ISI Mark and CRS. The ISI Mark is BIS's product certification (Scheme-I), and when a foreign manufacturer applies for it, it is granted through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) — so FMCS is simply the ISI Mark route for an overseas factory. CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme, Scheme-II) is separate: it is for electronics and IT products and gives a registration with an R-Number, not the ISI Mark. In short — for a foreign manufacturer, the ISI Mark means FMCS, while electronics go the CRS route.
| ISI Mark — FMCS | CRS Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Steel, machinery, tyres, footwear, plywood, chemicals | Electronics & IT (phones, adaptors, laptops, LED, batteries) |
| Factory audit | Yes — in Vietnam | No — testing only |
| Time | 4–6 months | About 4–6 weeks |
| Result | ISI Mark licence + CM/L number | Registration + R-Number |
| Validity | 1–2 years, renewable (up to 3) | 2 years, renewable |
Both routes need an AIR, and both test samples at a BIS-recognised lab in India. If you make both electronics and industrial goods, you may need both — they can run together.
How to Get the ISI Mark (FMCS) - Step by Step
Identify the correct Indian Standard (IS)
Match your exact product to its IS number. Each product and each factory needs its own application.
Appoint your Authorized Indian Representative (AIR)
Mandatory. The AIR files and manages everything in India. Standphill India can be your AIR.
Prepare documents and file on the BIS portal
Quality manual, process flow, machinery and calibration records, and product specs — all in BIS format.
BIS audits your Vietnam factory
BIS officers travel to your plant, inspect the process, and take sealed samples. (See the next section on passing this.)
Sample testing at a BIS-recognised lab
Sealed samples are tested against the Indian Standard. We arrange shipping and choose the right lab.
Licence granted — ISI Mark + CM/L number
After a successful audit, test, and signing the BIS agreement and bond, your licence is issued.
How to Pass the BIS Factory Inspection on the First Visit
The factory audit is where FMCS applications most often slow down. The BIS officer checks that your factory can make product to the Indian Standard, every time. Here is what they look at — and how to be ready:
In-house testing lab
You must have the test equipment named in your Indian Standard, with valid calibration certificates. Missing or uncalibrated equipment is a common failure.
Process matches your documents
What happens on the floor must match your quality manual. Even small differences are recorded as non-conformances.
Raw-material & QC records
Keep material controls and quality-control records complete and up to date, ready to show the officer.
A trained team
Your staff should know the process the officer will check. We brief your team before the visit.
Our approach: before BIS comes, we run a full pre-audit of your Vietnam plant against the exact points the officer will check, and fix any gaps first. A factory that is truly ready passes on the first visit — no objection cycles, no lost months.
How to Get CRS Registration for Electronics - Step by Step
Electronics and IT products are Vietnam's biggest export to India, and they follow the CRS route. CRS is faster and simpler than FMCS because there is no factory audit — it is based on lab testing.
Confirm your product is a notified item
CRS covers 70+ notified electronics and IT products. We confirm your product and its Indian Standard.
Appoint your Authorized Indian Representative (AIR)
CRS also requires an AIR to hold the registration and manage it in India. Standphill India can act as your AIR.
Send samples for testing at a BIS-recognised lab
Your product is tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory in India. Testing usually takes around 30 days.
File the application with the test report
The test report and documents are submitted on the BIS portal by your AIR.
Registration granted — you get your R-Number
BIS issues your registration with an R-Number (valid 2 years) that must be shown on the product and packaging. See our CRS for electronic products page.
Why BIS Applications Get Rejected - and How to Avoid Delays
Most delays are avoidable. These are the reasons Vietnamese applications stall most often:
- × Wrong Indian Standard. Applying under the wrong IS means starting over. Correct identification at the start prevents this.
- × Incomplete or wrongly formatted documents. BIS raises objections that add weeks. Documents must be in exact BIS format.
- × Factory not ready for the audit. Missing or uncalibrated equipment, or a process that differs from the documents.
- × Sample test failure. The product does not meet a test parameter, forcing remediation and re-testing.
- × No AIR, or a weak AIR. Without a proper Authorized Indian Representative, the application cannot move forward.
How we prevent delays: correct standard from day one, documents in exact BIS format, a full pre-audit before the officer visits, and — where useful — pre-testing so problems are caught before the official samples are drawn.
BIS Certification Cost for Vietnamese Manufacturers (2026)
Cost depends on your product, the testing scope and (for FMCS) the audit. Here is what to budget in 2026:
| Cost Item | ISI Mark (FMCS) | CRS (Electronics) |
|---|---|---|
| Government + processing | Approx. INR 4–8 lakh+ (all-in) | From approx. INR 53,000 per product |
| Sample testing | Varies by product | Varies by product |
| BIS auditor travel to Vietnam | At actuals (FMCS only) | Not applicable |
| Performance bank guarantee | Approx. USD 10,000 (refundable) | Not applicable |
| Annual marking fee | Based on production | Not applicable |
Remember: foreign manufacturers get no MSME discount. You are treated as large-scale industry and pay standard fees. Any consultant promising you the MSME discount is wrong.
Figures are indicative for 2026. For an exact, itemised quote for your product — in INR with a USD reference — send us your details and we reply within one business day, at no charge.
Also Read
? BIS Consultant in Vietnam — Full Overview & Trade Guide ? Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) ? Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for ElectronicsHow Standphill India Gets You Certified
With 20+ years of experience, 10,000+ certifications and 1,000+ FMCS projects for foreign manufacturers, Standphill India runs the whole process for you: we act as your AIR, confirm the right standard, prepare your documents, run a pre-audit of your Vietnam factory, coordinate the audit and testing, and manage renewals — with clear, itemised pricing and a dedicated team for Vietnamese manufacturers.
Get Your ISI Mark or CRS Certification — Free Consultation
Tell us your product and your Indian buyer. We will confirm the route, the timeline and a clear cost within one business day — with no obligation.
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