To save time and ensure a successful ICP filing, review this topic and complete the necessary preparations beforehand.
Create an Alibaba Cloud account
When you apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing Management System, you must have an Alibaba Cloud account, which you should plan and prepare in advance. For more information, see Register an Alibaba Cloud account for a filing entity.
Each Alibaba Cloud account can be used to apply for an ICP filing for only one entity (an individual or an organization). To apply for multiple entities, you must use a separate Alibaba Cloud account for each.
The filing account does not require real-name verification.
If the account has completed real-name verification, there are no restrictions on the verification type. For example, an account with individual real-name verification can be used to file for an enterprise.
Domain name preparation and checks
An ICP filing requires a domain name. If your domain name was registered with a registrar outside the Chinese mainland, you must transfer it to a registrar within the Chinese mainland before applying.
The top-level domain (TLD) is approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The domain name registrar is approved by the MIIT.
The domain name must have passed real-name verification. The owner's name, ID type, and ID number used for verification must match the information of the filing entity.
For an individual filing, the domain name owner's information must match the filing entity's information.
For an enterprise filing, the domain name owner's information must match the filing entity's information. Some local communications administrations allow the domain name owner's information to match the entity principal's information.
The domain name must be valid and have an expiration date more than 45 days in the future. Some local communications administrations require a longer validity period.
For more information about how to prepare and check your domain name, see Domain name preparation and checks. For detailed requirements for domain name verification, see Domain name verification.
Cloud product preparation and checks
To apply for an ICP filing through Alibaba Cloud, you must first purchase an eligible Alibaba Cloud product that is deployed in the Chinese mainland. A service identification number with a status of Filed cannot be used for another ICP filing. In other words, service identification numbers are single-use and non-refundable.
If you have reached the maximum number of free service identification numbers, you can use a paid service identification number to proceed with the ICP filing.
If your current account does not have a cloud product that supports ICP filing, but another enterprise account has an eligible cloud product, you can use an authorized service identification number from the other account for the ICP filing. For more information, see (Optional) Authorize another account for ICP filing.
The following Alibaba Cloud products are eligible for ICP filing:
|
Eligible product type |
Server requirements |
Purchase link |
Free service codes |
|
ECS instance |
Important
|
5 |
|
|
Cloud Web Hosting |
|
5 |
|
|
Simple Application Server instance |
|
5 |
|
|
Low-Code Development Platform |
|
1 |
|
|
Smart Website Building |
Ensure that the node selected for the website building product is in the Chinese mainland. Otherwise, you cannot apply for an ICP filing. The number of service codes varies based on the product edition and specifications. |
|
|
|
Function Compute resource plan |
|
1 |
|
|
LinkedMall |
|
2 |
|
|
IoT Studio |
|
1 |
|
|
Website Building Marketplace products (Alibaba Cloud Marketplace) |
|
1 |
If the remaining subscription period of your ECS instance does not meet ICP filing requirements, you must renew the instance first.
Each server can be used to apply for a fixed number of service identification numbers. Renewing a server does not increase the number of service identification numbers that can be applied for. If you have used all available service identification numbers, you must purchase a new server to apply for more service identification numbers.
For more information about how to prepare and check your server, see Check the server for an ICP filing.
ICP filing documents
If the ICP filing type is Individual, prepare the documents for an individual ICP filing.
If the ICP filing type is Government, Public institution, Enterprise, or Social organization, prepare the documents for an enterprise ICP filing.
The system identifies the required documents based on your ICP filing scenario. Upload the documents as prompted on the page.
Essential documents, such as identity documents and business licenses, are mandatory and must be uploaded.
Auxiliary documents may be required based on the ICP filing scenario and the rules of the local communications administration.
Uploaded images must be in the JPG, JPEG, PNG, or GIF format. The size of each image must be 200 KB to 4 MB.
Individual filing
Document | Description | Guideline |
Personal identification documents (originals) |
Note For an enterprise ICP filing, some provincial communications administrations require that the entity principal must be the legal representative. For more information, see ICP filing rules of different regions. | Prepare the documents in advance. |
Domain Name Certificate | Some provincial communications administrations require a domain name certificate to verify domain name registration information during an ICP filing. To check whether this document is required, click the desired province in ICP filing rules of different regions. | For more information about how to obtain the document, see Domain Name Certificate. |
Photo of the principal holding their personal certificate | Some provincial communications administrations require you to upload a photo of the principal of the Internet information service holding their ID card or household registration booklet. To check whether this document is required, click the desired province in ICP filing rules of different regions. | For more information about the photo and upload requirements, see Photo of the principal holding their personal certificate. |
Website Construction Plan |
| For more information, see Website Construction Plan. |
Temporary residence permit or residence permit | The Fujian communications administration requires a temporary residence permit or residence permit (original or color copy) if the household registration address on the applicant's ID card is in a different province from where the ICP filing is applied. | Prepare the documents in advance. |
Networking Construction Plan | If your ICP filing includes a website, you must provide a networking construction plan for the domain name regardless of whether a new ICP filing is added for an existing entity or for a new entity. The plan must include the following points: | No template is provided. Draft the document based on the requirements for website service content, the networking plan, the network security and information management system, and the commitment statement. |
Website ICP Filing Commitment | The Henan communications administration requires a website ICP filing commitment. | Click to download the Website ICP Filing Commitment template. |
Enterprise filing
Document | Description | Guideline |
Identification document of the entity principal (original) |
Note For an enterprise ICP filing, some provincial communications administrations require that the entity principal must be the legal representative. For more information, see ICP filing rules of different regions. | Prepare the documents in advance. |
Identification document of the entity (original) | The official registration document of the entity, such as a business license. | |
Domain Name Certificate | Some provincial communications administrations require a domain name certificate to verify domain name registration information during an ICP filing. To check whether this document is required, click the desired province in ICP filing rules of different regions. | For more information about how to obtain the document, see Domain Name Certificate. |
Photo of the principal holding the entity certificate | Some provincial communications administrations require you to upload a photo of the principal of the Internet information service holding the entity's business license. To check whether this document is required, click the desired province in ICP filing rules of different regions. | For more information about the photo and upload requirements, see Photo of the principal holding the entity certificate. |
Website Construction Plan |
| For more information, see Website Construction Plan. |
Temporary residence permit or residence permit | The Fujian communications administration requires a temporary residence permit or residence permit (original or color copy) if the applicant's household registration address on their ID card is in a different province from where the ICP filing is applied. | Prepare the documents in advance. |
Networking Construction Plan | If your ICP filing includes a website, you must provide a networking construction plan for the domain name regardless of whether a new ICP filing is added for an existing entity or for a new entity. The plan must include the following points: | No template is provided. Draft the document based on the requirements for website service content, the networking plan, the network security and information management system, and the commitment statement. |
Website ICP Filing Commitment | The Henan communications administration requires a website ICP filing commitment. | Click to download the Website ICP Filing Commitment template. |
Statement of commercial use | The Sichuan communications administration requires that if the entity name, business scope, or website name contains "commercial", you must submit a statement of commercial use for the entity during the ICP filing. An ICP license for commercial services is not required in this case. | For more information, see Statement of commercial use. |
Letter of Authorization | Some provincial communications administrations require a letter of authorization to verify domain name registration information during an ICP filing. To check whether this document is required, click the desired province in ICP filing rules of different regions. | For more information, see Letter of Authorization. |
Certificate from the public service administration department | The communications administrations in Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Jiangxi require public institutions and government agencies to provide a certificate from the public service administration department that is issued by their supervising authority. | For more information, see Certificate from the public service administration department. |
Certificate of change | If an enterprise changes its name, a certificate of change that is issued by the relevant administration for market regulation must be provided during the ICP filing process. | For more information, see Certificate of change. |
Certificate of domain name registrant for an ICP filing of an Internet information service | Some provincial communications administrations require that the domain name must be registered in the name of the entity. If the domain name is registered in the name of an individual, this certificate is required. | For more information, see Certificate of domain name registrant for an ICP filing of an Internet information service. |
Local ICP filing rules
Requirements vary by local communications administration. We recommend reviewing the ICP filing rules for your province, autonomous region, or municipality. You can also visit the MIIT ICP Filing Management System for more details.
(Optional) Complete pre-approval
If your website provides services in specific industries, such as news, publishing, or pharmaceuticals and medical devices, you must obtain a pre-approval before you apply for an ICP filing. You must provide the pre-approval document during the application process.
For more information about the industries that require a pre-approval and how to obtain it, see Pre-approval. For more information about the pre-approval commitment, see Pre-approval commitment.