China - Apply for Business License

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Procedure

The company needs to file a completed application form along with the following documents, in order to receive registration certification:

• Lease or other proof of company office.
• Notice of approval of company name.
• Capital verification certificate or appraisal report.
• Representation authorization.
• Articles of association, executed by each shareholder.
• Identification documents of officers and identity cards of shareholders.
• Identification documents (certifying name and address) of the supervisors, officers and directors and appointment documents.
• Identification documents of the companys legal representative and appointment documents.
• If the initial contribution is in nonmonetary assets, the document authorizing transfer of the property title of such assets.
• Additional documents may also be needed by the authorities.

Once the AIC has received all documents, they should reach a decision to approve or not approve the company registration, within 15 working days. Once registered, the company can open formal bank accounts, apply for taxation registration and progress to have its seal carved.

Application forms may be downloaded from the local government authorities Web sites, in accordance with the new administrative regulations. Depending on the type of application, statutory time limits were put in place for acceptance of application documents and for registration decision making. Generally, once the application has been received , the decision will usually be made within 15 days. Since documentation requirements for company registration were standardized, the Registry now has to publicly display them.

• If an application is filed (by letter, fax, telex, email, telegraph, or electronic data exchange), in accordance with Article 52, the Company Registry are required to decide whether to accept the application, within 5 days of receipt of the relevant application documents and materials. The Registry must inform the applicant, within 5 days, of all contents subject to corrections and supplementation, if application documents and materials are incomplete, or if applications do not meet the statutory requirements.
• In accordance with Article 54, if the organ in charge of company registration must certify the application materials and documents, it should decide whether to approve the registration within 15 days of acceptance, and in other cases, the organ must decide whether to approve the registration straight away or within 15 days of acceptance.
• If the organ approves company registration, it should order a notice on approval for establishment registration and advise the applicant to collect its company / business license within 10 days, according to Article 55.

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Required Documents

• Lease or other proof of company office.
• Notice of approval of company name.
• Capital verification certificate or appraisal report.
• Representation authorization.
• Articles of association, executed by each shareholder.
• Identification documents of officers and identity cards of shareholders.
• Identification documents (certifying name and address) of the supervisors, officers and directors and appointment documents.
• Identification documents of the companys legal representative and appointment documents.
• If the initial contribution is in nonmonetary assets, the document authorizing transfer of the property title of such assets.
• Additional documents may also be needed by the authorities.

Office Locations & Contacts

State Administration for Industry and Commerce People's Republic of China
Address: 8 Sanlihe Donglu, Xichengqu, Beijing, 100820, P. R. China
Phone: +86-10-68010463/68013447
Facsimile: +86-10-68010463/68013447
Email: [email protected]
Contact
Address

Eligibility

Local and foreign enterprises in China.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Application form

Sample Documents

Sample Business License

Processing Time

• If an application is filed (by letter, fax, telex, email, telegraph, or electronic data exchange), in accordance with Article 52, the Company Registry are required to decide whether to accept the application, within 5 days of receipt of the relevant application documents and materials. The Registry must inform the applicant, within 5 days, of all contents subject to corrections and supplementation, if application documents and materials are incomplete, or if applications do not meet the statutory requirements.
• In accordance with Article 54, if the organ in charge of company registration must certify the application materials and documents, it should decide whether to approve the registration within 15 days of acceptance, and in other cases, the organ must decide whether to approve the registration straight away or within 15 days of acceptance.
• If the organ approves company registration, it should order a notice on approval for establishment registration and advise the applicant to collect its company / business license within 10 days, according to Article 55.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

Law Guide

Required Information

• Official Company Name
• Registration Number
• Registered Address
• Business Type
• Established Date
• License Expiry Date
• Legal Representative
• Registered Capital
• Paid-up Capital
• Business Scope
• Registration Bureau

Need for the Document

To register in China, companies are required to apply to the relevant authorities for a business license.

This application is usually made at the companys local Administration for Industry and Commerce (AIC).

Information which might help

Throughout Mainland China the appearance of the business licence certificate is fairly consistent and will clearly state the text (business licence) in a large font.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

In Mainland China it is very common for many companies such as shops and restaurants to display their Chinese business license in their premises to demonstrate to customers that they are a legitimate business.

When you are doing business with a Chinese company it is a good idea to request a copy of their China business license to ensure that they are registered.

External Links

Enterprises Registration

Enterprise Registration Bureau website

State Administration for Industry and Commerce People's Republic of China

Others

If and when the company is issued a business license, they will receive their business licence in the form of a certificate. All companies in China should be registered and have such a certificate.