When manufacturers ask “how long does BIS take?” the honest answer is: between 60 and 90 working days, assuming the application doesn’t bounce. Here’s the realistic week-by-week breakdown we share with every client.
Week-by-week timeline
- Week 1 — Gap assessment, IS-code mapping, document gap list
- Week 2–3 — Documentation prep & finalisation
- Week 4–6 — Sample drawn, dispatched & tested at BIS-recognised lab
- Week 7–10 — BIS factory audit (and mock-audit prep)
- Week 11–13 — Licence grant & marking authorisation
What slows things down
Three reliable delay culprits: (1) lab queue times (especially for cement, food and electrical-safety testing), (2) BIS officer travel slot availability, and (3) avoidable document re-submissions. We mitigate (1) by pre-booking lab slots at engagement kickoff, (3) by senior review of every page before filing.
Cost factors
- BIS government fee — fixed by the scheme & IS code
- Sample testing fee — highly variable; LED & food categories are at the higher end
- In-house lab gap-fill — only if equipment is missing
- BIS officer travel & per-diem — applicant’s account
- Consultancy fee — quoted upfront, fixed
We don’t publish ballpark numbers because every IS code is different. Send us your product — we share a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours.