Bed and Breakfast Registration in India (Ministry of Tourism Scheme)
Bed and breakfast registration means getting your home or spare rooms approved under the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India Bed & Breakfast / Homestay scheme. You can list one to six rooms, pick Silver or Gold, and the approval runs for two years. We prepare the file, apply online and answer the committee's queries.
What it is
A bed and breakfast is a family-run stay: a few rooms in a private home, with breakfast included in the tariff. The Ministry of Tourism runs a voluntary scheme that classifies such units as Silver or Gold. Once approved, you may describe your property as an Incredible India Bed & Breakfast and be listed in the Ministry's directory.
Here is the catch: this approval is a tourism classification, not a licence to operate. Your city may still ask for a local business licence, fire safety, food registration and GST. The scheme has a twin, the Homestay category, where the owner and family must live in the house. A B&B can be run by an agent or operator the owner names. The classification is decided by a Regional Classification Committee, and the Regional Director of the Ministry of Tourism issues the final order.
Who it applies to
You have spare rooms at home
Think of a Faridabad family with three unused bedrooms and a guest wing. The scheme covers a minimum of one lettable room and a maximum of six, with no more than 12 beds in all. Anything larger is a hotel, not a B&B.
You own a property but live elsewhere
A B&B, unlike a Homestay, does not need the owner to reside there. You name an operator or agent who runs it day to day.
You want traveller trust
A classified unit can show a Ministry of Tourism approval, which helps families, foreign guests and corporate travellers who want a verified place to stay.
Why it matters
Credibility with guests
A government classification tells a first-time guest that someone has actually visited your rooms and checked the basics.
Clear standards to build to
The guidelines fix minimum room sizes, attached bathrooms, bedding, 24-hour hot and cold water and fresh breakfast. You know what to improve before you apply.
Fewer disputes with authorities
A documented set of permissions makes it easier to answer a municipal or police query about who is staying in your house.
Documents required
Identity and ownership
- Applicant's Aadhaar and PAN
- Passport-size photograph
- Ownership proof or lease with owner's consent
- Operator details, if you are not the resident
Property file
- Photographs of each room, bathroom and the entrance
- Simple floor plan with room sizes
- Completed facilities checklist
- Undertaking in the Ministry's format
Local permissions
- Municipal or local-body permission, where it applies to you
- Fire safety arrangements for the building
- FSSAI registration if you serve food
- GST registration where turnover or rates need it
Silver or Gold: what is the difference
| Point | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee for classification or reclassification | ₹3,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Rooms allowed | 1 to 6 (12 beds) | 1 to 6 (12 beds) |
| Validity | Two years | Two years |
| Standard | Basic quality rooms and service | Higher level of facilities and service |
The committee decides the category on what it finds at inspection, so we help you build the file for the category you can truly meet.
How it works
Check the property against the guidelines
We go through room sizes, bathrooms, water supply and breakfast arrangements with you, and tell you what to fix before applying.
Prepare documents and the facilities checklist
We collect photographs, ownership papers and the undertaking, and fill the application in the Ministry's format.
Apply online and pay the fee
The application, checklist and undertaking go up on the Ministry of Tourism's classification portal, with the ₹3,000 or ₹5,000 fee paid digitally.
Support the committee's inspection
The Regional Classification Committee reviews the property. We reply to queries, share extra papers and coordinate the visit. The Regional Director then issues the order.
Timelines
Classification validity
Two years from the date of the order. Start renewal early so the listing does not lapse.
Preparation
Most of the time goes into getting the rooms, photographs and papers ready. A clean file moves faster at the committee stage.
Committee review
The scheme does not promise a fixed number of days for the order, so treat any fixed promise with caution. We track the application and keep you updated.
What happens if you skip it
You cannot use the classification
Without an approval order you cannot advertise your unit as an approved Incredible India Bed & Breakfast.
Lapsed approval
If you let the two-year validity run out, the classification ends. You must apply for reclassification and pay the fee again.
Local permissions stay separate
The tourism approval does not replace municipal, fire, food or GST requirements. Missing those can bring local action even if your classification is valid.
Frequently asked questions
What is bed and breakfast registration in India?
Bed and breakfast registration is approval under the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India Bed & Breakfast / Homestay scheme. Your property is classified Silver or Gold after review by a Regional Classification Committee. The classification is valid for two years. It is voluntary, but it gives you an official tourism listing and a clear standard to meet. We prepare and file the application for you.
How many rooms can a B&B have under the scheme?
You can have a minimum of one lettable room and a maximum of six, with at most 12 beds in total. A property with more rooms does not fit this scheme and should look at the hotel classification. If you have four spare rooms in your house, you are comfortably within the limit.
What is the government fee for B&B classification?
The fee is ₹3,000 for the Silver category and ₹5,000 for the Gold category. It applies to classification and to reclassification, and is paid digitally at the time of application. Our professional fee is separate and quoted before you commit, so you will know the full cost upfront.
Must the owner live in the property?
Not for a B&B. The owner can name an agent or operator to run it. The Homestay category is different: the owner and family must live in the house. Choose the category that matches how you actually run the property, and we will explain which one suits you.
How long is the approval valid?
The classification is valid for two years from the date of the order. After that you apply for reclassification and pay the fee again. We keep a reminder so that you start the renewal in good time and your listing continues without a gap.
Does this approval replace a municipal licence?
No. The Ministry of Tourism classification is separate from local permissions. Depending on your city you may also need a local business licence, fire safety arrangements, FSSAI registration for serving food and GST registration. We list what applies to your address, so nothing is missed.
Can I get this approval in Haryana villages under a state scheme?
Haryana has its own Home Stay Scheme for areas outside municipal limits, with a ₹200 fee and a district committee. It follows the 2024 amendment. It is a separate scheme from the central one. We compare both and help you choose the route that fits your location and your guests.
Do I need GST on B&B rooms?
GST on accommodation depends on the room tariff. Since 22 September 2025, rooms below ₹7,500 per unit per day attract 5% without input tax credit, and ₹7,500 or more attract 18% with credit. Registration is needed once your turnover crosses the limit that applies. We check your numbers and guide you.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The Ministry of Tourism fee for classification is ₹3,000 for Silver and ₹5,000 for Gold. Local permission fees depend on your municipal body and are separate.
Ready to begin?
Send us your address, room count and breakfast plan, and we will tell you whether Silver or Gold is realistic.