BIS CRS Registration for AR, VR And MR Glasses: New 2026 Classification & 5-Year Validity Rules

• BIS's 13 August 2026 guidance places AR Glasses, VR Headsets and MR Glasses under the “Extended Reality Products (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality Etc.)” category, each as its own product name.
• BIS has also created “Other AR Devices” and “Other MR Devices” product names, so non-glasses XR hardware within the same brand family still needs classification.
• BIS CRS (Scheme-II) licenses are now valid for 5 years from grant, up from the earlier 2-year term, per the 25 Feb 2026 regulation amendment.
• Annual fee payment and production-data submission remain compulsory every year, even within the new 5-year validity window.

Introduction

BIS CRS Registration For AR, VR and MR Glasses sold or imported in India must carry a BIS CRS registration mark under the Electronics and IT Goods (Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. As of BIS's 13 August 2026 guidance, AR Glasses, VR Headsets and MR Glasses are classified under the “Extended Reality Products” category, each as a separate product name requiring its own license, distinct from Audio Glasses and Smart Glasses.

A related update effective from the 25 February 2026 regulation amendment extends Scheme-II licence validity to 5 years (renewable for a further 5 years), though fees and production data are still filed annually. Manufacturers should apply through the BIS CRS portal with test reports from a BIS-recognised lab.

What Is BIS CRS Registration?

The Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. It requires specified categories of Electronic and IT products sold in India — audio devices, wearables, cameras, and extended reality hardware — to be tested against Indian safety standards and registered with BIS before they can legally be manufactured, imported or sold. Once registered, the product must carry the BIS Standard Mark, which signals to buyers, retailers and e-commerce platforms that the device has cleared mandatory safety and quality checks.

AR, VR and MR devices fall within scope because they combine wireless or wired connectivity, a battery, display and optical components, and often cameras or sensors — the same functional class BIS already regulates under CRS for other wearable and camera-enabled goods.

Why Is BIS CRS Registration Required for AR, VR and MR Glasses?

Extended Reality (XR) devices are one of the newest wearable-electronics categories BIS has formally classified, and registration matters for three practical reasons:

• Legal sale: Without a valid BIS CRS license, AR Glasses, VR Headsets and MR Glasses cannot be legally manufactured in India, imported, stocked, sold, or listed on marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart.
• Import clearance: Customs authorities check for BIS registration before releasing imported XR-device consignments; unregistered shipments face detention or return.
• Consumer trust : The BIS mark reassures buyers on battery safety, display and optical safety, and radio-frequency compliance — increasingly a purchase-decision factor for premium XR wearables.

New BIS CRS Classification for AR, VR and MR Glasses (13 August 2026 Guidance)

BIS's Registration Department issued fresh guidance on 13 August 2026 clarifying how wearable glasses and Extended Reality hardware should be classified under CRS. The notification places AR Glasses and MR Glasses within the broader “Wearable Glasses” framework, and separately fixes the full Extended Reality Products classification table covering AR, VR and MR devices, including non-glasses form factors. Here is how AR and MR Glasses sit within the wearable-glasses classification:

Full Extended Reality Products Classification: AR, VR and MR

This is the primary table for anyone filing AR, VR or MR hardware. BIS's 13 August 2026 guidance sets out five distinct product names within the Extended Reality Products category, and confirms that a separate licence is required for each one — even where two products share overlapping hardware:

AR Glasses vs. VR Headset vs. MR Glasses: What Sets Each Apart

The three core XR product names are defined by how the display interacts with the user's view of the real world:

• AR Glasses: Adds a digital overlay display visible through the lenses while the wearer still sees the real world directly — builds on Smart Glasses-level features such as audio and camera.
• VR Headset: Fully immerses the wearer in a digital environment, typically blocking out the physical surroundings, and is registered as its own distinct product name rather than as a “Glasses” sub-category.
• MR Glasses: Blends real-world and digital overlay elements, similar in structure to AR Glasses, but classified by BIS as a separate product name from AR Glasses.
• Other AR Devices / Other MR Devices: Cover non-glasses AR or MR hardware — for example, handheld or attachable XR accessories — that don't fit the “Glasses” or “Headset” form factor but still function as AR or MR products.

Major Update: BIS CRS Licenses Now Valid for 5 Years

Separately, BIS has amended the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, with effect from 25 February 2026, revising how long a Scheme-II licence — the scheme under which CRS registrations, including AR, VR and MR devices, are granted — stays valid. This directly affects renewal planning for XR-device manufacturers and importers:

• Initial license validity: A license to use the Standard Mark is now granted for 5 years from the date of grant, instead of the earlier 2-year term.
• Renewal term: On renewal, the license is extended for a further 5 years, again under the same annual fee structure.
• Annual fee payment continues: Even though the license itself now runs for 5 years, fees for grant, renewal and continuation of operation must still be paid annually, in advance, by the prescribed due date.
• Non-payment consequence: If the annual fee and production details are not submitted by the due date, the license becomes liable for suspension/deferment and eventually cancellation/expiry under the amended regulations.

Eligibility Criteria for BIS CRS Registration For AR, VR And MR Glasses

Both Indian manufacturers and foreign manufacturers can apply for BIS CRS registration for AR, VR and MR devices:

• Indian manufacturers apply directly for a license to their own manufacturing unit.
• Foreign manufacturers must apply through an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) based in India, who acts as the point of contact with BIS.
• The product must be tested at a BIS-recognized or BIS-approved testing laboratory against the applicable Indian Standard for the relevant Extended Reality product name before an application is filed.
• Each factory location manufacturing the AR, VR or MR device, and each distinct product name (AR Glasses, VR Headset, MR Glasses, Other AR Devices, Other MR Devices), generally requires its own registration or endorsement.

Documents Required for BIS CRS Registration For AR, VR, And MR Glasses

• Company incorporation and business registration proof (Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration, or equivalent).
• Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) appointment letter and AIR's own business proof, for foreign manufacturers.
• Test report from a BIS-recognized laboratory covering the applicable safety and performance standard for the specific XR product name being registered.
• Product technical documentation — schematics, bill of materials, display and optics specification, battery specification, and user manual.
• Brand authorization letter, if the AR, VR or MR device is sold under a brand different from the manufacturer's name.
• Manufacturing unit details, including factory address and process flow, for Indian manufacturers.
• Digital signature certificate (DSC) of the authorized signatory for online submission on the BIS CRS portal.

Step-by-Step BIS CRS Registration Process for AR, VR and MR Glasses

• Identify the correct product name: Confirm whether the device is an AR Glasses, VR Headset, MR Glasses, Other AR Device or Other MR Device, per the August 2026 guidance, since this decides the entire filing path.
• Get the product tested: Send samples to a BIS-recognized laboratory for testing against the applicable Indian Standard for that product name.
• Create a BIS CRS portal account: Register the manufacturer (or AIR, for foreign manufacturers) on the BIS CRS online portal.
• Submit the application: Upload the test report, company documents and product details, and pay the prescribed application fee.
• Respond to BIS queries: Address any clarification or deficiency remarks raised by the BIS Registration Department promptly to avoid delays.
• Receive the license: On successful review, BIS grants the CRS license and Registration Number, valid for 5 years under the current rules.
• Apply the Standard Mark: Affix the BIS Standard Mark and Registration Number on the product and its packaging before sale.
• File annual returns: Submit annual production details and pay the annual fee by the due date to keep the licence active through its 5-year term.

Fees for BIS CRS Registration

BIS CRS fees typically include an application/grant fee, an annual licence fee, and applicable testing charges from the laboratory, with concessional rates generally available for MSME-registered manufacturers. Because fee schedules are revised periodically by BIS, this pillar page intentionally does not quote fixed figures.

Typical Registration Timeline

Processing time depends on how quickly test reports and documents are ready and how many clarification rounds BIS raises. As a general pattern, applicants can expect sample testing to take the longest single stretch, followed by portal application review, and finally license grant once all queries are resolved.

Applying with a complete, error-free document set, matched to the correct XR product name from the start, is the single biggest factor in avoiding delays.

Renewal and Validity: What Changes and What Doesn't

Benefits of BIS CRS Registration for AR, VR and MR Glasses Brands

• Legal market access across India, including e-commerce marketplaces that require BIS proof before listing XR wearables and headsets.
• Smoother customs clearance for imported AR, VR and MR hardware, reducing the risk of consignment holds.
• Stronger consumer confidence, since the BIS mark signals independently verified safety on display, optics, battery and connectivity components.
• Longer license cycle (5 years) reduces the administrative burden of repeat renewal filings compared with the earlier 2-year term.

Why Choose Silvereye Certifications for BIS CRS Certification

Classification rules for Extended Reality hardware — AR Glasses, VR Headsets, MR Glasses and their “Other Device” variants — are evolving quickly, and BIS notifications like the 13 August 2026 guidance and the 25 February 2026 validity amendment can directly change how a brand plans its filings and renewals.

Silvereye Certifications works as a dedicated BIS CRS consultant, tracking these regulatory updates as they are issued and translating them into a clear filing plan for AR, VR and MR device manufacturers and importers — including correctly separating glasses-format and non-glasses XR hardware at the application stage.

From confirming the correct product name and test standard, to preparing documentation, coordinating with BIS-recognised laboratories, and managing the 5-year renewal cycle, Silvereye Certifications is positioned as the best consultant for BIS CRS certification for AR, VR and MR brands entering or operating in the Indian market.

Reach out to Silvereye Certifications to get your AR, VR and MR devices classified correctly and registered under BIS CRS without avoidable delays.

Frequently Asked Questions