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What is the ICP license for websites and apps?

All websites and mobile apps that want to legally operate and provide online services in mainland China, must obtain an ICP License (Internet Content Provider License). The ICP license ensures compliance with Chinese internet regulations and facilitates smoother operations for businesses targeting Chinese consumers or offering services in China; websites or apps operating without an ICP license may be blocked by Chinese internet service providers, making them inaccessible within mainland China.

There are two types of ICP licenses:

  • ICP Filing (ICP备案): This is the most common one, required for non-commercial websites (e.g. company websites) and free apps. Completely this filing is relatively straightforward.
  • ICP Commercial License (ICP许可证): This is required for websites and mobile apps offering commercial activities, such as e-commerce, value-added telecom services, or in-app purchases. Obtaining such licenses is extremely hard.

Both ICP filing and ICP commercial license require the company to be a legal entity in mainland China. Companies without legal representation in mainland China cannot host a website in mainland China, unless they partner with local partners. While being a joint venture or wholly foreign-owned enterprise (see FAQ “What types of companies can I establish in China?”) is generally sufficient for ICP filing, for the ICP commercial license it is generally required that the applicant is a Chinese domestic entity. In such cases, EU entities will need to work with a local partner.

At the same time, if a website is stored outside mainland China (e.g. Hong Kong or in the EU), companies may choose not to obtain the ICP license. However, such websites will face slower loading speeds and restricted access within mainland China, impacting user experience.