Website ICP Filing Process and Internet Compliance Requirements Detailed Guide

Websites hosted on servers within China must undergo ICP filing, a legal requirement. Unfiled websites will be blocked by service providers.

1. ICP Filing Types

ICP filing is divided into: ① ICP filing (domain name information filing, required for all websites, free); ② ICP business license (Value-Added Telecommunications Business License, required for commercial websites such as e-commerce, paid content, advertising, etc.). Non-commercial websites (corporateofficial website, brand display) only need ICP filing; commercial websites need both filing and license. Filing is submitted on behalf by the server access provider (Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, etc.), reviewed by the Communications Administration.

2. Filing Process

Process: ① prepare documents (business license, legal representative ID, domain certificate, websiteresponsible party ID and photo, verification form); ② log in to access provider filing system to fill in information (website name, domain, service content, person in charge info); ③ upload documents and conduct face recognition/backdrop photo; ④ access provider preliminary review (1–3 working days); ⑤ Communications Administration review (usually 7–20 working days, varies by province); ⑥ approval passed, obtain filing number, website can be accessed normally. Website must be closed during filing period (access provider requirement).

3. Filing Considerations

① website names cannot use prefixes like "China," "Chinese," "National" (requires special approval); ② personal filing cannot be used for enterprise or commercial websites; ③ filing information must be truthful and accurate—false information leads to filing cancellation and blacklisting; ④ filing domain must be real-name authenticated and valid for over 3 months; ⑤ one entity can file multiple websites; ⑥ changes to filing information (domain, person in charge, access provider) require timely modification filing; ⑦ filing number must be displayed at the bottom of the homepage and linked to the MIIT filing system.

4. Internet Compliance Requirements

Besides ICP filing, websites must also comply with: ① public security filing (National Internet Security Management Service Platform, within 30 days); ② commercial websites need ICP business license; ③ special industry pre-approval (news, publishing, education, medical, pharmaceutical, culture, etc. require prior industry authority approval); ④ Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, PIPL compliance (user information protection, data security, privacy policy); ⑤ website content compliance (no illegal content); ⑥ copyright compliance (images, fonts, music require authorization). Establishing a website compliance review mechanism with regular checks is recommended.