CRS Registration for Electronics: A Complete Guide

Electronics and IT products sold in India — from mobile chargers to laptops — mostly fall under BIS's Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) rather than the ISI mark. It's a different process with its own paperwork and timelines, and getting it wrong is one of the most common ways importers lose weeks at customs.

What is CRS?

CRS is BIS's registration scheme for notified electronics and IT products, covered under the Compulsory Registration Order. Unlike the ISI mark, CRS is built around product testing and self-declaration rather than an ongoing factory licence — the product is registered, not licensed, and the registration is valid for two years before renewal.

CRS vs ISI Mark

The ISI mark (used for products like cement, steel and switches) requires a factory audit and continuous BIS surveillance of the manufacturing site. CRS, by contrast, is largely test-report driven: once your product passes testing at a BIS-recognised lab, you register it and apply the R-Number on the product — no routine factory inspection is required for most categories.

The Registration Process, Step by Step

• Identify the applicable Indian Standard and confirm your product's listing under the CRO.
• Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory in India or an approved foreign lab.
• Appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) if you're manufacturing outside India.
• Submit the registration application on the BIS CRS portal along with test reports and documentation.
• Receive your R-Number and apply it to the product and packaging as required.

CRS registrations typically take around a month once the right Indian Standard is confirmed and testing is complete. The registration is valid for two years, and needs to be renewed — or retested — if the product design or specification changes in the meantime.