How to Get a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) Licence: Step-by-Step

To get a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence, you create a My CFIA account, build a business and establishment profile, complete the Food Safety Supplemental Information (FSSI) questionnaire for each establishment, and submit your licence application through the My CFIA portal. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reviews the application before issuing a licence, which stays valid for two years. This guide walks through the mechanics of that application; for the broader regulatory picture — who needs a licence, what a Preventive Control Plan covers, and how SFCR compares to FSMA — see our guide to what SFCR actually requires.

Before You Apply: What You Need

• Confirmation that your food activities (manufacturing, processing, importing, exporting, packaging, treating, etc.) fall under SFCR licensing requirements.
• A Preventive Control Plan, or a plan to build one, covering hazard analysis and HACCP-based controls for each establishment — see our guide to HACCP certification in Canada for how HACCP fits into this.
• Business details: legal business name, address, and structure.
• Establishment-level details for every location the licence will cover.

Step-by-Step: Applying Through My CFIA

Step 1: Create your My CFIA account and business profile

If you don't already have a CFIA licence or registration, start by enrolling in My CFIA and setting up your business profile.

Step 2: Add each establishment

Add every location the licence needs to cover — CFIA licenses by establishment, not just by business entity.

Step 3: Complete the Food Safety Supplemental Information (FSSI) questionnaire

CFIA requires the FSSI questionnaire to be completed for each establishment identified in your application before a licence can be issued, renewed, or amended. This is where CFIA gathers details about your food safety practices.

Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee

Submit the application through My CFIA along with the applicable licensing fee (see below).

Step 5: Respond to CFIA review

CFIA may follow up with questions before issuing the licence. Once issued, your SFC licence is valid for two years from the issue date.

How Much Does an SFC Licence Cost?

CFIA fees are adjusted annually on March 31 based on the Consumer Price Index. As of March 31, 2026, the standard SFC licence fee is approximately $307.96, up from $299.86 the prior year. Because these fees change every year, confirm the current amount on CFIA's official fees notice before budgeting for an application.

Renewing Your SFC Licence

Your SFC licence expires two years after it was issued or last renewed. The option to request renewal becomes available in your My CFIA account 120 days before the expiry date, and CFIA recommends starting the renewal process well before expiry to avoid a lapse. Recent CFIA process updates have also lengthened pre-issuance review procedures for some new applications, renewals, and amendments — check current CFIA guidance rather than assuming past processing times still apply.

Where IONI Fits

The licence application itself is a CFIA process, not something software replaces. What IONI helps with is the Preventive Control Plan work behind it — keeping hazard analysis, supplier documentation, and monitoring records connected so the FSSI questionnaire and any CFIA follow-up questions are easy to answer with real evidence, not a scramble through folders. See IONI's FSMA, BRCGS, and SQF compliance software, or read more about how AI supports SFCR compliance.

FAQ

Where do I apply for an SFC licence?

Through the CFIA's My CFIA online portal, where you create a business profile, add your establishments, and submit your application.

How much does an SFC licence cost?

Fees are adjusted annually every March 31. As of March 31, 2026, the standard fee is approximately $307.96 — confirm the current figure on CFIA's official fees notice, since it changes yearly.

How long does an SFC licence last, and when should I renew?

An SFC licence is valid for two years. Renewal becomes available in My CFIA 120 days before expiry — start then to avoid a lapse in your licence.

What is the FSSI questionnaire?

The Food Safety Supplemental Information questionnaire is a required part of the application that CFIA uses to gather details about your food safety practices for each establishment. It must be completed before a licence can be issued, renewed, or amended.

Do I need a Preventive Control Plan before I apply?

You need a Preventive Control Plan to operate compliantly once licensed, and its details inform the FSSI questionnaire — it's best to have it built, or well underway, before you submit your application.