How do I attend the Canton Fair?

The 129th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair 2021 Spring) will be held online from April 15th to 24th. With Live Streaming, Exhibitors + Exhibits Search, Virtual Events, Instant Messaging, and so on. Buyers and exhibitors can trade remotely. The Official Website's Buyer Guide can help you.

The following information is for the regular Canton Fair only.

To attend the Canton Fair, you will need an Invitation to get a Chinese Visa and Registration for a buyer badge.

Invitation

With the Invitation, overseas buyers could:

Apply for Visa to China(Please be kindly noted that the invitation letter issued by Canton Fair might help you get the Chinese Visa, but it all depends on the Chinese Embassy in your country)
Get a registered and free entry badge to the Fair by Express Channel.

Overseas buyers could apply invitation to Canton Fair through:

By BEST (Buyer E-Service Tool)
By contacting Canton Fair Call Centre, China Foreign Trade Centre
By contacting the Economic & Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Embassy (The Economic & Commercial Section of the Consulate General) of P.R. China in your region
By contacting Overseas cooperative organizations of China Foreign Trade Centre
By contacting Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office - (852)28771318
By contacting the Chinese foreign trade corporations (enterprises) with whom you are business-related

(for government authorized invitation, please try option 2.3.4.5,6, or apply for a visa by an agency)

Visa

Do I need a Chinese visa to visit the Canton Fair?

Who from countries without China's visa-free policy, please apply for a Chinese visa(any type, usually "M") with the Invitation to the Canton Fair before you go to China.

Here is the place you can get a Chinese Visa.

The Embassy or Consulate General of P.R.China in your country(Missions Overseas). Each state is different. Please contact them to get more information. Lots of paperwork but cost less money.
A local travel agency or visa agency. It can be so challenging to do it by yourself. The embassy often wants a professional agent to help with the visa application.
The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong. Website http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/fwxx/wgrqz/ Tel: 852-34132300 or 852-34132424 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
72/144-hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy. (Q&A on 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption Policy)

Notice:

The official Canton Fair invitation list only the Buyer's Name, Nationality, and Company Name. Usually, an invitation from any Chinese factories or foreign trade corporations (enterprises) more works for Chinese visa applications. Please be kindly noted that the Canton Fair's invitation might help you get the Chinese Visa, but it all depends on the Chinese Embassy in your country.
Buyers who need to leave Mainland China to Hong Kong, Macau, and come back again to Guangzhou, must apply for a multi-entry visa.
It is tough to extend the visa and apply for a new visa in China mainland. We suggest reaching it by going to Hong Kong.
If you already flight to China without a Chinese Visa, you have to fly to Hong Kong.

Registration

Pre-registration gets a free ticket for Canton Fair at the official website Now!

The only place to get the buyer badge is Canton Fair Registration Offices(below) - in person. To encourage online pre-registration to save everybody's time, pre-registered can get it by Express Channel at the registration office and avoid the 150RMB register fee.

+ - Registration Offices Click to collapse

You can register when you get to these 3 Buyer Registration Offices below.

1. Registration Offices set up in cooperation with hotels

2. Registration Offices set up in China Import and Export Fair Complex

Overseas Buyers' Registration Position:

Road opposite of Area A west side
Road opposite of Area B Eastside
Hall 16.1 Area C

3. Registration Offices set up in Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office

Address: Room 3106 – 3107, Office Tower, Convention Plaza, No.1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Customer Service Hotline: (852)2877 1318
Fax: (852) 2838 3169
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 12:30 pm & 2 pm to 5 pm; Closed on Saturday, Sunday and in Hong Kong Public Holidays
Website: http://hk.cantonfair.org.cn/en/commondetail.aspx?oid=18807

+ - Badge-getting Express Channel for Online Pre-application Buyers at Registration Offices Click to collapse

Documents Requested:

Online pre-applied Receipt.
Personal documents(Overseas passport, H.K./Macau Home-return Permit, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, Valid Id as Overseas Chinese, or Chinese Passports with an above-one-year overseas work visa);

Notes:

Pre-applied buyers don't need to give photos.
The badge can be effectively used for multiple sessions; re-application due to losing or forgetting taking it will be charged 200RMB; kindly keep it safe.
The old badge would become invalid right after re-application. Please ensure the badge you wear is the newest.

+ - Registration Documents Requested Table Click to collapse

Buyers	Documents Requested	Registration Venues
Paper Invitation/E-Invitation Holders	a. Paper Invitation Card or E-Invitation issued by Canton Fair b. Personal documents (More details, please see notes) c. A recent photo with the size of 5cm X 4cm d. Name Card	China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Online Pre-Apply for Badge	a. Notice for Acquiring Cards b. Personal documents (More details, please see notes) c. Name Card	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Non-Invitation Buyers who have been to Canton Fair	Buyer Card for the past Canton Fair	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Non-Invitation Buyers	a. Personal documents (More details, please see notes). b. A recent photo with the size of 5cm X 4cm c. Name Card d. Service Charge: RMB 100	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex or in the appointed hotels
Representatives of Foreign Company's Representative Office in China	a. Copy of Business Registration Certificate of Foreign Company's Representative Office in China b. The Employee's ID Card & Copy c. A most recent personal photo d. Name Card 300 RMB /day plus another 30 RMB/card as service fee must pay besides presenting the requested document. Only one local representative is allowed for each overseas company and must be accompanied and signature-confirmed by buyers of the relative overseas company)	Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex

+ - Doucuments Notes Click to collapse

Personal document. Include Overseas Passport(not China Passport), Hong Kong/ Macao Home-return Permit, or I.D. Card, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Certificate, valid documents for overseas Chinese, or a Chinese passport with a valid overseas employment visa valid for over one year.
The personal photo 5cm X 4cm (or cost money when the register).
Name Card

+ - Registration Time Click to collapse

Overseas Buyers' Registration Office in China Import and Export Fair Complex:

Phase I
Apr./Oct.14, 10:30-18:00
Apr./Oct. 15-18, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.19, 8:30-16:00

Phase II
Apr./Oct. 23-26, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.27, 8:30-16:00

Phase III
In Spring: May 1-4, 8:30-18:00，May 5, 8:30-14:00
In Autumn: Oct. 31-Nov.3, 8:30-18:00， Nov. 4, 8:30-14:00

Overseas Buyers' Registration Office in appointed hotels:

Phase I
Apr. /Oct.14, 8:30-18:00
Apr. /Oct.15-17, 8:30-18:00
Phase II
Apr. /Oct.22-24, 8:30-18:00
Phase III
In Spring: Apr. 30-May 1, 8:30-18:00; May 2, 8:30-14:00
In Autumn: Oct. 30-31, 8:30-18:00; Nov.1, 8:30-14:00

+ - Registration Process Chart Click to collapse

+ - Tips for the Entry Badge Click to collapse

If you have got a Buyer's IC Card, please be informed that: The Entry Badge (IC Card) is valid for the upcoming sessions of the Fair, which surely saves your time with easy access. If you forget to bring the Card or lost it, re-application will cost you 200RMB/card as a service fee.

Buyer Card is the only official admission to the Fair and is available at China Import and Export Fair Complex. However, to save your time and make the registration more manageable, we now set 31 Overseas Buyers' Registration Office at appointed hotels. And we strongly suggest you get the Canton Fair entry badge in these 31 hotels, considering the registration peak hour that occurs from 9:30 am to noon at China Import and Export Fair Complex. It is the best way for you also, for the buyers who stay near these areas, please register in hotels too.

The Buyer card(badge) is the only official admission to Canton Fair. It is valid for years of multiple sessions of the fair.

FAQ:

How do I get the buyer badge?

Must I get an invitation or register online to attend the Canton Fair?