What is China's ICP License?

Deal with ICP regulation and let the Chinese users experience your website.

The best and fastest way to bring content to your Chinese users is to host in China. But it is not as easy as it may seem. China takes controlling information flow seriously. You cannot host your website unless you obtain the ICP-license from the government.

ICP in plain words

An ICP filing (Internet Content Provider related permit) is required for lawfully operating many kinds of websites and application hosting inside mainland China. Foreign organisations often face strict eligibility rules and long procedures. UD explains what filing is for, whether you qualify, and how China-routing CDN-style delivery can improve mainland user experience when hosting inside China is not immediately possible.

What is ICP-license?

ICP-license is China’s special permit to those who want to post information on the Internet. Unregistered websites are all unlawful and cannot be normally accessed. However, the application process is complicated and prolonged.

The Internet Content Provider (ICP) permit is required for:

Hosting a website in a China server
Hosting a mobile app in a China server
Using a China CDN server

Even after you obtain an ICP-license, you need to do another filing at the Public Security Bureau within 30 days after website launch.

Am I eligible to apply?

Requirements (may differ in different provinces):

1.Registered company in China
2.Register capital no less than RMB$1,000,000
3.Foreign capital cannot hold more than half the share
4.Purchased a domain and hosting server in China
5.Must be physically operating in China
6.May not get approved if your business is deemed “sensitive”

Clearly, it can be a huge obstacle for foreign companies to enter China and they are inherently deprived.

If you are eligible, with a small one-time service fee, we can register everything on your behalf.

China Routing CDN as an alternative

If you cannot get ICP-license and host in China, your website is bound to be slow. UD’s China Routing CDN can relieve you from this trouble. Chinese users can enjoy high network speed as if the website is hosted in China.

Without CDN

Mainland China users must directly access your server half the world away

With CDN

Mainland China users can retrieve website contents from the nearest node

No need to apply for ICP-license
Increase loading speed for up to xx%
Prevent DDoS attacks
99.99% of uptime guarantee
User-friendly control panel
More traffic and better search ranking
24x7 manned technical support
Grow your business

Why China Solution (overview)

Map challenges and UD’s one-stop guidance.

Website setup

Hosting choices when entering China.

Faster website (CDN)

Improve mainland delivery when origin is overseas.

DDoS protection

Mitigate volumetric attacks affecting availability.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ICP filing the same as registering a domain?

No. A domain registration proves control of a domain name. ICP-related filing is a separate regulatory step tied to legally operating certain internet services hosted inside mainland China. UD can help you understand what applies to your hosting architecture.

Can UD guarantee approval?

No provider can guarantee government outcomes. UD helps eligible organisations prepare materials and navigate procedures; when filing is not feasible, UD can recommend compliant alternatives such as Hong Kong hosting plus China-routing acceleration.

How long does preparation typically take?

Timelines vary by province, entity type, and completeness of documentation. Share your intended hosting location and business scope and UD will outline realistic milestones.

What should I prepare before enquiry?

Prepare your company profile, intended domain names, target audience geography, whether you require mainland hosting, and any prior correspondence about filing. This helps UD route you to the right specialists quickly.