Websites providing purely non-commercial internet information services which do not involve direct sales need to obtain an ICP filing number. For those websites hosted on Tencent Cloud’s servers in Chinese mainland, the application must be submitted through the Tencent Cloud Chinese website.
What is ICP?
Internet Content Provider (ICP) registration is issued by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Foreign enterprises that want to host a website in the Chinese mainland or use a CDN instance to host paid internet services must first apply for ICP registration.
China implements a licensing system for commercial internet information services and a filing system for non-commercial internet information services. Internet information services can only be provided after a license or a filing is obtained. In other words, all websites that provide services to the Chinese mainland must first obtain ICP registration before they can legally operate in China.
ICP Registration Categories
ICP Filing
ICP License
The People's Republic of China Telecommunications and Information Service Business License (ICP license) is a certificate that the organizer of a general business website must apply for from their local county/district authority.
ICP Filing
Impacts of Not Obtaining ICP Filing
If you have not submitted an ICP filing to Tencent Cloud China but directly resolve your domain name to CVM, Lighthouse, or other Tencent Cloud services in China, access requests to your website will be blocked by Tencent Cloud China, and you will be notified to complete the ICP filing procedure.
ICP Filing Entity
As a corporate website with internet information services, the organization or enterprise must apply for the ICP filing.
Individuals can apply for ICP filing for personal websites.
Domain Name Filing
Real-name identification is required for filing a domain name. The real-name identification information must be consistent with that of the person in charge of the filing entity.
After real-name verification for domain name is completed, you need to wait 3 calendar days (or 3 business days if your domain name is not registered through Tencent Cloud China) before submitting an ICP filing application.
ICP Filing Number
The communications administration bureau will issue the ICP filing number to the filing entities or individuals and will issue the website ICP filing number to the websites.
ICP License
Which companies must have an ICP license?
Any company that operates a paid information publishing website that offers any of the following must apply for an ICP license: online sales, online click-to-pay, pay-per-view advertising, paid membership, etc.
What happens if a commercial internet information service doesn’t have an ICP license?
If your website is hosted in the Chinese mainland without ICP license, you are in violation of regulations. According to law, competent authorities will notify you to correct the violation within a specified amount of time, impose a fine, or shut down your website. If a crime is constituted, you will be held criminally liable in accordance with the law.
How long does the process take?
01
Purchase the service
02
Consultation
Within 2 hours (for requirements communication and detailed plan creation)
03
Supporting document collection
1–3 business days
04
Submission to administrative authority for review
Within 1 business day
05
Issuance of license after approval
20–60 business days
(subject to processing rate of the authority)
Purchase the service
01
Purchase the service
02
Consultation
Within 2 hours (for requirements communication and detailed plan creation)
03
Supporting document collection
1–3 business days
04
Submission to administrative authority for review
Within 1 business day
05
Issuance of license after approval
20–60 business days
(subject to processing rate of the authority)
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. In addition, please note that we are providing ICP filing and license related consulting services only. The grant of ICP licenses is subject to the discretionary decision of the responsible Chinese authority.
Tencent Cloud China provides value-added telecom ICP and EDI license application consultation and application assistant services provided by professional consultants throughout the entire process.
Consult China Connect Solution Experts
For more information, please contact our sales and technical teams.