If you host your website or app on a server that resides in the Chinese mainland, you must apply for an Internet content provider (ICP) filing based on the regulations of the local authority. If you host your website or app on an Alibaba Cloud instance that resides in the Chinese mainland, you can apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system on a PC or on the Alibaba Cloud app. Your website or app is allowed to provide services only after your ICP filing application is approved. This topic describes how to apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system.
The ICP filing process involves many steps. You can purchase the ICP Filing Manager service to quickly understand how to apply for an ICP filing for your website or app and preview the required materials. This shortens the preparation time.
Usage notes
You can apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system on a PC or on the Alibaba Cloud app. Before you apply for an ICP filing, take note of the following items:
The Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system and the Alibaba Cloud app support only the Chinese language. Make sure that you can read, write, and understand Chinese when you apply for an ICP filing.
You can use your Alibaba Cloud account that is created on the Alibaba Cloud international site (alibabacloud.com) to log on to the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system on a PC and apply for an ICP filing. However, you must use the Alibaba Cloud app to upload documents. After you download and install the Alibaba Cloud app, use the app to scan the QR code on the web page for uploading documents on your PC. You do not need to log on to the Alibaba Cloud app to perform this operation. We recommend that you create an Alibaba Cloud account on the Alibaba Cloud China site (aliyun.com) to apply for an ICP filing and manage ICP filing information.
If the entity leader of the ICP filing application is not a resident from the Chinese mainland, the website administrator must perform facial recognition for identity verification. Under special circumstances, the system prompts the entity leader and the website administrator to perform facial recognition for identity verification.
NoteIn specific cases, the system prompts the legal representative to perform facial recognition. Complete the steps as prompted.
You must use an Alibaba Cloud account that is created on the Alibaba Cloud China site (aliyun.com) to log on to the Alibaba Cloud app. Do not use an Alibaba Cloud account that is created on the Alibaba Cloud international site (alibabacloud.com). We recommend that you create an Alibaba Cloud account on the Alibaba Cloud China site (aliyun.com) to apply for an ICP filing on the Alibaba Cloud app.
ICP filing types
The system automatically determines your ICP filing type. You do not need to manually select the type.
Type | Whether the entity has obtained an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud | Whether the entity has obtained an ICP filing from the MIIT | Whether the entity has obtained an ICP filing for the website or app |
Initial ICP filing | No | No | No |
Transferring ICP filing information to Alibaba Cloud | No | Yes | Yes |
Noninitial ICP filing (The entity has obtained an ICP filing from another service provider.) | No | Yes | No |
Noninitial ICP filing (The entity has obtained an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud.) | Yes | No | No |
Initial ICP filing
The website or app is hosted on an Alibaba Cloud instance in the Chinese mainland and no ICP filings have been obtained for the entity and domain name of the website or app. In this case, the entity must apply for an ICP filing for the website or app in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system before the website or app can provide services. For more information, see the Procedure section of this topic.
Transferring ICP filing information to Alibaba Cloud
If the entity and the domain name have obtained an ICP filing from another service provider, you need to transfer the ICP filing information to Alibaba Cloud by changing the service provider to Alibaba Cloud or adding Alibaba Cloud as a new service provider for the website. In this case, you can access the website or app that is hosted on an Alibaba Cloud instance. For example, if the primary domain name has obtained an ICP filing from another service provider and you want to access the primary domain name by using an Alibaba Cloud instance, you need to transfer the ICP filing information about the primary domain name to Alibaba Cloud. To apply for an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud, select Website as the service type and enter the primary domain name in the Internet Information Service Verification section. For more information, see the Procedure section of this topic.
If you have obtained an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud, Alibaba Cloud is added to the ICP filing information as a service provider. Your ICP filing data with the previous service provider is not affected. You can use the servers of both service providers.
The ICP filing information about the domain name is transferred to Alibaba Cloud. The domain name is not transferred to Alibaba Cloud. If you want to renew your domain name, you can renew it from the previous service provider.
Noninitial ICP filing (The entity has obtained an ICP filing from another service provider.)
The entity has never applied for an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud and has obtained an ICP filing from another service provider. The entity purchases an Alibaba Cloud instance in the Chinese mainland and wants to host a new website or app on the Alibaba Cloud instance. In this case, the entity must apply for an ICP filing for the website or app from Alibaba Cloud. For more information, see the Procedure section of this topic.
Noninitial ICP filing (The entity has obtained an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud.)
The entity has obtained an ICP filing from Alibaba Cloud and wants to host a new website or app on an Alibaba Cloud instance in the Chinese mainland. In this case, the entity must apply for an ICP filing for the website or app from Alibaba Cloud. For more information, see the Procedure section of this topic.
In this scenario, you do not need to enter the basic information about the entity and website or app for verification or the detailed information about the entity. You can start from entering the detailed information about the website or app.
You can also modify the ICP filing information about the filed website or app.
ICP filing process
You can submit an ICP filing application in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system on a PC or on the Alibaba Cloud app.
Most operations related to an ICP filing application can be performed both on a PC and on the Alibaba Cloud app. However, if you need to claim or import ICP filing information, you must perform the operation on a PC.
To meet the authenticity requirements of the ICP filing authority, you must use the Alibaba Cloud app to upload identity documents and complete authenticity verification when you apply for an ICP filing on a PC.
If you have completed an ICP filing application in the HiChina ICP Filing system, you can import the ICP filing information to the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system and claim the ICP filing information.
The procedure for applying for an ICP filing on a PC is similar to that on the Alibaba Cloud app. The following example demonstrates how you can apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system on a PC. The differences between using a PC and using the Alibaba Cloud app are described in each step.
Procedure
Preparations
Item | Description | References |
Create an Alibaba Cloud account | Before you apply for an ICP filing, you must create an Alibaba Cloud account that is used to submit the ICP filing application and maintain the ICP filing information. | |
Prepare and check a domain name | You must 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. Important After you complete real-name verification and modify the domain name or transfer the ownership of the domain name, the real-name verification information is synchronized to the database of the local authority in approximately three days. We recommend that you submit an ICP filing application at least three days after the real-name verification of the domain name is complete. Otherwise, the ICP filing application may fail due to the lack of real-name verification information in the database of the local authority. | |
Prepare an Alibaba Cloud instance | Purchase an Alibaba Cloud instance that resides in the Chinese mainland or obtain the service identification number of an Alibaba Cloud instance. Make sure that the instance meets the ICP filing requirements. Note If the Alibaba Cloud account that you use to purchase an instance is different from the account that you use to apply for an ICP filing, you can apply for a service identification number by using the account that is used to purchase the instance. For more information, see Apply for service identification numbers for free. | |
Prepare required materials | The required materials vary depending on whether the entity is an individual or an enterprise or an organization. | |
(Optional) Obtain a pre-approval | If your website or app provides Internet information services related to specific industries, you must obtain a pre-approval from the local authority before you apply for an ICP filing. | |
Read and understand ICP filing regulations | You must read the ICP filing regulations of the local authority and prepare ICP filing information as required. |
Step 1: Complete an ICP filing application
Enter the basic information.
In the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system, 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.
NoteIf you use the Alibaba Cloud app to apply for an ICP filing for your website or app for the first time or for a new website or app that has an ICP filing provided by another service provider, you must upload the certificates of the entity in this step. If the entity is an individual, you must also complete authenticity verification.
Enter the entity information.
Enter the authentic information about the entity that applies for an ICP filing.
Enter the information about the website or app.
Enter the authentic information about the website or app and the website or app administrator.
NoteIf you use the Alibaba Cloud app to apply for an ICP filing for your website or app for the first time or for a new website or app that has an ICP filing provided by another service provider, you must upload the certificates of the entity leader and the website or app administrator in this step. In addition, you must verify the authenticity of the website or app administrator in this step.
Upload certificates and complete authenticity verification.
Use the latest version of the Alibaba Cloud app to take photos of the authentic certificates and the original ICP filing documents, and then upload them. In addition, facial recognition is required for authenticity verification when you upload specific materials related to personal information.
NoteIf you use the Alibaba Cloud app to apply for an ICP filing for your website for the first time or for a new website that has an ICP filing not provided by another service provider, you need to upload only the required auxiliary materials in this step, authenticity verification is not required.
From July 29, 2019, facial recognition is required when you use the Alibaba Cloud app to apply for an ICP filing based on the authenticity requirements of the ICP filing authority. The original verification method of taking a photo in front of a backdrop is no longer used.
Confirm the information.
Before you submit the ICP filing application, carefully check the ICP filing information, such as the entity information, website or app information, and access information. Make sure that the information is correct.
NoteIf you use a PC to apply for an ICP filing, after you upload certificates and complete authenticity verification on the Alibaba Cloud app, you can continue to confirm the information on the Alibaba Cloud app. If you cannot log on to the Alibaba Cloud app by using your Alibaba Cloud account, confirm the information on the PC. If you want to apply for a noninitial ICP filing or add Alibaba Cloud to the ICP filing information of a website or app as a new service provider, make sure that the content of your filed website or app is visible and consistent with the information in the completed ICP filing. Otherwise, your ICP filing application is rejected.
Step 2: Alibaba Cloud reviews your ICP filing application
After you submit the ICP filing application, Alibaba Cloud performs a preliminary review on your ICP filing application and submits the application to the local authority for review within about one business day. The actual submission time prevails.
During the preliminary review, you may be asked to mail specific materials to a specific address based on the information that you provided and the regulations of the local authority.
Step 3: Complete SMS verification from the MIIT
Based on the latest requirements of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), from August 17, 2020, when you apply for an ICP filing, you must pass the Short Message Service (SMS) verification in the MIIT ICP Filing Management System.
Step 4: The local authority reviews your ICP filing application
After your ICP filing application passes the preliminary review, Alibaba Cloud submits the application to the corresponding authority for a final review. If your ICP filing application passes the final review, your ICP filing application is approved. Alibaba Cloud sends you a text message and an email to notify you of the review result. You can log on to the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system to view the ICP filing progress.
Subsequent operations
Item | Description | References |
Launch your website or app | After your ICP filing application is approved, you can launch your website or app to provide services. For example, if you host your website or app in an Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance, you can add the public IP address of the ECS instance to the domain name for resolution. Then, you can use the domain name to access the website or app. | |
Add the ICP number and a copyright notice to your website or app | After your ICP filing application is approved, you must add the ICP number and a URL to the MIIT website in the lower part of your website or app. Visitors to your website or app can use the URL to query your ICP filing information. Authorities in specific provinces require you to add a copyright notice in the lower part of your website or app that has obtained an ICP filing. | Add an ICP number and copyright |
Apply for a Public Security Bureau (PSB) filing | After you obtain an ICP filing for your website or app, you must log on to the National Internet Security Management Service Platform and submit a PSB filing application within 30 days after your website or app is launched based on the regulations in Computer Information Network and the Internet Security Protection and Management. | Apply for a PSB filing on the Alibaba Cloud China site (aliyun.com) |
(Optional) Apply for a commercial ICP license | If your website or app is a business-related website or app that provides information or web design services for Internet users for commercial purposes, you must apply for a commercial ICP license after you complete ICP filing application. | Commercial ICP filing |
After you obtain an ICP filing, Alibaba Cloud verifies the ICP filing information that is recorded in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system. If the ICP filing information is inconsistent with the actual information, you must modify the ICP filing information at the earliest opportunity. If inconsistency is found when Alibaba Cloud checks your ICP filing information, Alibaba Cloud sends you a rectification notice that requires you to correct the information within a specific period of time.