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ICP Filing:ICP filing process

Last Updated:Feb 13, 2025

When using Alibaba Cloud servers in Chinese mainland nodes, you can submit your filing application through the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing Management System. Once the review is approved, you can activate website or App access services. This article provides a guide on the process and important considerations for submitting ICP filings via the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing Management System.

Usage notes

ICP filing supports applications via PC (Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing Management System) and mobile (Alibaba Cloud app). Before applying for ICP filing, you need to be aware of the following filing instructions.

  • Both the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system and Alibaba Cloud app are only available in Chinese, with no English version. You must be able to read, write, and understand Chinese when applying for ICP filing.

Filing scenarios

You do not need to manually select your filing scenario. Simply follow the filing process to fill in your entity information and website/app details, and Alibaba Cloud will automatically determine your scenario and generate the order.

Entity not filed with Alibaba Cloud

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  • Initial ICP filing

    The entity and website/App are performing ICP filing for the first time.

  • (No Existing Entity) Adding New Internet Information Service

    The entity already has filing information with the MIIT, and a new website or app needs to be hosted on Alibaba Cloud servers in the Chinese mainland.

  • New access

    The entity already has filing information with the MIIT, and the website or app already has filing information with the MIIT. You need to add Alibaba Cloud as an access service provider. Access filing will not affect your domain registrar.

Entity already filed with Alibaba Cloud

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  • (Existing Entity) Adding New Internet Information Service

    The entity already has filing information with Alibaba Cloud, and a new website or app needs to be hosted on Alibaba Cloud servers in the Chinese mainland.

  • New access

    The entity already has filing information with Alibaba Cloud, and the website or app already has filing information with the MIIT. You need to add Alibaba Cloud as an access service provider. Access filing will not affect your domain registrar.

Preparations

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Description

References

Create an Alibaba Cloud account

An Alibaba Cloud account is required to submit the ICP filing application and maintain the ICP filing information. An Alibaba Cloud account can have only one ICP filing entity.

Create an Alibaba Cloud account to apply for an ICP filing

Prepare and check a domain name

Register a domain name and complete real-name verification before you apply for an ICP filing. Make sure that the domain name complies with ICP filing requirements.

Prepare an Alibaba Cloud server

To apply for an ICP filing through the ICP Filing Management System, you must purchase an Alibaba Cloud server in the Chinese mainland.

Check the instance for ICP filing

Prepare required documents

The required documents vary depending on whether the entity is an individual or an enterprise/organization.

Required materials

(Optional) Obtain a pre-approval

Internet information services related to news, publishing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, financial services, religion, and other industries require corresponding pre-approval procedures.

Pre-approval

Read and understand ICP filing regulations

Read the ICP filing rules of the local provincial communications administration and prepare ICP filing information as required.

ICP filing regulations of the MIIT for different regions

Filing process

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Step 1: ICP filing order submission

  1. Enter the basic information.

    In the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system, click File Now and enter the required information as prompted, such as entity information and website or app information. The system verifies the information and determines whether you can apply for an ICP filing.

  2. Enter the entity information.

    Enter the authentic information about the entity.

  3. Enter the information about the website or app.

  4. Upload documents and complete authenticity verification.

  5. Confirm the information.

    Before you submit the filing order, carefully check the filing information, such as the entity information, website or app information, and access information. Make sure that the information is correct.

Step 2: Alibaba Cloud initial review

After you submit the ICP filing application, Alibaba Cloud performs an initial review within about one business day. After the filing is approved, your order will be submitted to the communications administration for review.

Step 3: MIIT SMS verification

When submitting an ICP filing application, you must undergo SMS verification through the MIIT ICP Filing Management System.

Step 4: Communications administration review

If your ICP filing application passes the final communications administration review, Alibaba Cloud will send you an SMS and an email. You can log on to the ICP Filing Management System to view the ICP filing progress.

Step 5: Post ICP filing processing

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Description

References

Activate your website or app

After your ICP filing application is approved, you can activate your website or app for normal access. For example, if you use an Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance, you can add the public IP address of the ECS instance to domain name resolution, allowing access to the website via the domain name.

Add a DNS record

Add ICP filing number and other information

After successful ICP filing, you need to add the filing number and a link redirecting to the MIIT at the bottom of your website homepage. In the app, display the filing number prominently in sections like "Settings" or "About," making it easy for visitors to verify the ICP filing information. Some provincial communications administrations require adding copyright notices below Internet information services.

Add an ICP number and copyright

Apply for a PSB filing

According to the relevant provisions of the Measures for the Administration of International Networking Security Protection of Computer Information Networks, all Internet information services must submit a public security network filing application to the National Internet Security Management Service Platform within 30 days of launch.

Apply for a PSB filing on the Alibaba Cloud China site (aliyun.com)

(Optional) Apply for an ICP license

If your Internet information service is a commercial website or app (providing paid information services or webpage creation services to online users), you need to apply for a commercial ICP license after completing the ICP filing.

Commercial ICP filing