Licensing and Legal Qualifications: Overview
To launch and operate a mobile app in China, developers must comply with a range of licensing and legal requirements. These include filings, registrations, and official documentation that prove the app’s legal standing, ownership, and regulatory compliance.
Some qualifications apply broadly to all apps (such as copyright certificates or security filings), while others depend on the industry, functionality, or data usage of your app.
We’ve grouped these into two categories:
1. Common Qualifications
These are general legal or regulatory documents that are required for most apps:
-
ICP Filing for Apps
Required for publishing mobile applications via Chinese internet infrastructure. -
ICP Filing for Websites
Required for apps with a connected website targeting Chinese users. -
Software Copyright Registration
Verifies software ownership and is often mandatory for app store submission. -
Security Assessments
Required for apps with social, messaging, content publishing, or public interaction functions. -
Trademark Registration
Strongly recommended to protect your app name and prevent brand impersonation.
2. Industry-specific Qualifications
Apps in regulated sectors must obtain additional documentation based on the industry they serve. These include financial, healthcare, education, news, video streaming, and other sensitive domains.
We maintain a dedicated page outlining the most common industry-specific licenses such as:
- Financial Services Licenses（金融许可证）
- Medical Practice Certificates（医疗机构执业许可证）
- Online News Service Licenses（互联网新闻信息服务许可证）
- Payment Licenses（支付业务许可证）
- Insurance Operation Licenses（保险业务许可证）
- Online Culture Business Licenses（网络文化经营许可证）
- Education Filing and Publishing Licenses（教育备案、出版许可）
- And more...
Important: App stores may adjust required qualifications depending on your app’s actual functionality and content. We help evaluate and collect the right licenses based on your situation.
Need Help?
Our team can assist with:
- Determining which qualifications your app needs
- Coordinating document preparation and translation
- Connecting you with local filing agents or legal teams
Contact us to ensure your app meets all necessary licensing and regulatory requirements in China.