Food Stall Licence

Apply for Food Stall Licence

Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

Apply on GoBusiness Licensing

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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).

Overview of Licence Application:

Step 1: Licence Application

• To apply for a Food Stall licence, applicants must submit an application in GoBusiness.
• Please refer to the details below to ensure a complete application is submitted:
  - Complete all fields on the application form
  - Submit the tenancy / lease agreement along with its Certificate of Stamp Duty issued by Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
  - Submit the layout plan (with dimensions and metric scale) that reflects the location of the specific stall within the eating house / canteen / food court / coffee shop that houses it.
• If the application is complete and in order, approval will be issued. Successful applicants will be notified within 7 working days via email. Applicants may also refer to their GoBusiness for updates.
• If the application submitted needs rectification (e.g. stamp duty certificate was not provided), SFA will reach out within 7 working days. In this instance, applicants should note that the application duration could take longer. Hence to minimise delays, please ensure all documents are submitted correctly.
• If the application is incomplete, it will be rejected. Applicants will need to submit a new application.

Stamp Duty Certificate

• If the main operator of the applicant’s canteen, food court, coffee shop or eating house is collecting and paying stamp duties on behalf of the stall holders as part of the tenancy management process, please request a copy of the Certificate of Stamp Duty from them.
• If the main operator issues other types of agreements in lieu of leases / tenancies (e.g. licence agreements, service agreements, etc.), please check if these agreements are subject to stamp duty. The applicant may approach IRAS for clarification and attach IRAS' clarifications as a supporting document when applying for the licence. If stamp duties are not applicable, SFA will require documentation from IRAS stating this.

Existing Licensed Premises

• If the applicant is taking over a food stall, the applicant should engage the main operator to ensure that the previous licensee has cancelled the licence.
• Service standard: Up to 7 working days

Step 2: Complete Payment for Licence

• Upon compliance with all pre-licensing requirements, applicants will receive a payment notification via email / in GoBusiness. The applicant may proceed to make payment for the licence within 28 days. Otherwise, the application will lapse and be considered null and void. A new application will be needed if the applicant still intends to operate the food business.
  - For applicants with an existing GIRO arrangement with SFA, the applicant may start operations after receiving SFA's approval email.
  - For applicants without GIRO arrangements, the applicant may only commence operations after payment has been made via AXS or GoBusiness.
• Applicants are encouraged to sign up for GIRO payment as a convenient way to pay the fees for the renewal of their licence. Renewal of licence takes place two months before the licence expires.
• Licences paid for on or after 1 Jan 2022 must be self-printed directly via GoBusiness. The applicant may refer to the self-printing guide. The list of Community Centres with Citizen Connect Centres, including those with printing facillities can be accessed here.
• Service standard: Exact time taken is dependent on the applicant.

FAQs

1. How soon can I hear from SFA after I submit my application?
   Refer to Step 1.
   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 may take up to 2 weeks to engage the food stall licensee for cancellation of licence.
   Please also check the email account (including junk / spam mail box) that you have used for licence application to ensure that you have responded to any request for action (RFA) from our officers. SFA will not be able to approve your application until you have responded to our RFAs. If we have not heard back from you after seven days despite reminders, we will take that you are no longer interested in the application and will proceed to take the case as closed.
   For company filer who is unsure if any prior application has been submitted for the same premises, you are advised to write to SFA at online feedback form for assistance to check. Please refrain from submitting duplicate applications.
2. How soon will my application be approved?
   Refer to Step 2.
3. When can I commence business?
   Refer to Step 2.
   Licences paid for on or after 1 Jan 2022 can be printed directly via GoBusiness.  You may refer to the self-printing guide.
   
   
4. What is the difference between a food shop licence and a food stall licence?
   A food shop refers to a shop operating as an independent unit such as a takeaway kiosk, snack counter, restaurant, caterer, canteen, coffeeshop, food court, etc. A food stall operates within a food shop such as canteen, coffeeshop, food court, private market or hawker centres.
   
   
5. I have applied for a licence under the wrong entity/wrong licence type. Can I change them?
   Please note the licensee name and licence type cannot be amended and licences issued by SFA are not transferrable.
   If you have submitted the application under the wrong entity or wrong licence type, please resubmit the application using correct account (SingPass/CorpPass). Please refer to FAQ 4 above to identify the differences. If you are unsure of the licence type to apply for, please write in via SFA's Online Feedback Form and provide details such as location of the intended operations, how the food items to be sold are being prepared, and the type of equipment to be used. 
   If your business operations have changed and is no longer considered a Food Stall, you are required to apply for a new Food Shop Licence.
   If your business experienced a take over or merger, and the operating entity’s UEN has changed, verify the licence type you are required to apply for first (refer to FAQ 4 above). Thereafter, apply for either a Food Shop or Food Stall Licence using the new UEN.

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