ICP Filing for Websites
Overview
If your app relies on a web-based backend or displays web content (e.g. H5 pages, embedded webpages, or external domains), you may also be required to complete ICP Filing for your website. This process is mandatory for any domain hosted in mainland China that serves content to Chinese users.
Note: Since 2019, major app stores have begun checking whether apps with online services have valid ICP filings for their associated domains.
What Is ICP Filing?
ICP (Internet Content Provider) Filing — also known as “ICP备案” (ICP Beian) — is a legal requirement for all websites hosted on mainland Chinese servers. This applies to both public-facing websites and domains used in apps for API endpoints or embedded content.
The filing must be completed through a Chinese domain registrar or hosting provider, such as Alibaba Cloud or Tencent Cloud, and is administered by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Who Needs It?
ICP filing is required if:
- Your domain is hosted in mainland China
- Your app calls services or loads content from a China-hosted domain
- You plan to deploy H5 or embedded web views served from China
- Your app store submission includes website content
If you’re not hosting in China, this filing may not be required — but your app may face performance and compliance issues.
Required Materials
| # | Item | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainland China legal entity | Yes | A company registered in mainland China |
| 2 | Eligible domain name | Yes | Must use an approved suffix (e.g. .com, .cn), registered in China and verified under your entity |
| 3 | Hosting in mainland China | Yes | Physical or cloud server with IP located in China |
| 4 | Website information | Yes | Site name, function, access method, contact person, etc. |
| 5 | Industry-specific licenses | Optional | Required for regulated industries like finance, healthcare, etc. |
We can assist you with all ICP website filing requirements, including domain verification and registrar submission.
Filing Process
- Prepare legal entity license and domain registration
- Real-name verify domain via registrar (e.g. Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud)
- Log in to the hosting service provider's ICP filing portal
- Fill out form and submit supporting documents
- Await MIIT review
Approval Timeline
The official processing time is around 2 weeks, but may vary by province and volume of applications. In some cases, approval may take up to 4 weeks.
After Approval
Once the ICP filing is approved:
- You must display your ICP filing number in the footer of your website
- The number should link to the official MIIT portal: https://beian.miit.gov.cn
Example HTML:
<a href="https://beian.miit.gov.cn/" target="_blank">ICP filing number</a>
Failure to display the ICP number may result in penalties or suspension by MIIT.
Need Help?
We offer end-to-end support for ICP filing of both apps and websites.
Contact us to start your filing process.