How to Apply for China ICP License
Even if you want to set up a personal blog in China, you have to have an ICP (Internet Content Provider) License, otherwise it is unlawful. This is the condition you have to face if you need to set up your site inside China GFW. It is usually takes 20 days or even longer to get the ICP license, if the application is not denied.
To apply for ICP License, first you need to register at http://www.miibeian.gov.cn/. It is the only entrance for ICP License application. Yes, it is in Chinese, no English version.
Below is the info you need to submit for the application:
Name of the website owner
The site is owned by individual or company?
Types of your valid identification documents (e.g., passport or ID card, etc)
Passport ID or Identification ID
Name of website investor
Your Location (in China)
Address (in China)
Operation type
Contact Person
Types of valid identification documents of the contact Person (e.g., passport or ID card, etc)
Passport ID or other Identification ID of the contact person
Office Phone (in China)
Mobile Phone (in China)
Email:
Name of the website
Home page of the website
Domain name of the site
What type of site it is (e.g., blog, forum, etc.)
What is the content of the site?
After reading above info, you might have noticed that you or your company have to have an address and phone/mobile numbers in China in order to apply for the License.
For oversea companies, you need to find someone to register the ICP license for you. Some hosting companies could provide such services to register the License for their clients.
For more info, please refer to FAQ about China ICP License.
Below is the flowchart of ICP application process.
sendipad
March 30th, 2009 at 9:53 pm #
Thanks alot for this grat post.
I just wondering about if the content of the website is in not chinese, english or arabic..? do i need to apply for icp??
* will the hosting company ask me the icp , or they don’t care about it??
karen
March 31st, 2009 at 5:21 pm #
You need to apply for ICP no matter what language the web content is.
The hosting company will ask you for icp license. Hosting companies will take a great risk if they provide hosting service to web sites without icp license.
The good news is some hosting companies may help you to apply for icp license.
Suzanne M
April 1st, 2009 at 3:15 am #
Karen, can you recommend a chinese hosting company to assist for this?
sendipad
April 1st, 2009 at 7:36 am #
thankx for ur reply.
how much will i pay for non-commercial icp? and what about if i want to host a wizred website.:(
karen
April 1st, 2009 at 9:09 pm #
ICP license is free. But if you want to have anicp nse under your name, you need to have a contact address and phone number in China, it for verification purpose.
karen
April 1st, 2009 at 9:19 pm #
Do you have a contact address and phone number in China? If yes, I think I can help you with it. I am working for a Chinese hosting company myself.
If not, you are not able to register the icp license under your own name.The website has to be registered under someone else’s name. Local contact address and phone number are required when you apply for icp license online.
sendipad
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm #
actually, I am in china, studying . and of course i have P.No. and address here in china.
does It work?
what about register a .com or .net Domains, In china?
I don’t know how to thank u for your helping!
karen
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 am #
Under such condition, it is very easy for you to apply ICP License. Just summit your info (contact info, passport No., website name, etc) at http://www.miibeian.gov.cn/, then wait for approval. The website miibeian.gov.cn is in Chinese, no English version. You can either find a friend reads/types Chinese to help you to enter the info (perhaps you read Chinese yourself?) or give your info to your hosting company and ask them to enter the info fof you.
For .com and .net domain purchase, just pay for it, then you own it. No restrictions from government at all.
Thank you for visting my blog
sendipad
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 am #
i Have to thank u.
By the way, can u give me the url of the hosting company u r working for it?!
This is my qq No. 463202208.
karen
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:05 pm #
the url is http://www.eblhost.cn/. I have added your qq.
nitin soni
April 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm #
Hi,
I want to register a domain in china and also want chinees hosting, can you please do it for me, you can contact me on geeknitin@gmail.com
CHandra Hie
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 pm #
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the information. Can you provide the contact of the provider who can help register website at http://www.miibeian.gov.cn?
Best regards,
Chandra Hie
Singapore
+65-91276537