The 2021 Guide to Getting Import License in China

China has been the world’s top exporter for over a decade. In 2013, the Asian powerhouse became the world’s largest trading nation – finally usurping the United States that held the position for years. While China is the world’s no.1 marketplace, importing goods is as lucrative as exporting Chinese manufactured products. 

In 2020, China imported more than $2 trillion worth of goods. At present, the United States is the country’s third-largest import trading partner – next to South Korea and Japan. To start importing products into the country, retailers need to apply for an import license in China. Without it, imported products can get held at customs. 

In this article, we discuss all the relevant details necessary for securing an import license in China. 

What is an Import License?

Before we get into details on how you can get an import license in China, it is important to understand what it actually is. After all, simple mistakes when product sourcing from China can result in significant losses for retailers. Here’s a simple and straightforward explanation of what an import license is:

An import license or a non-automatic import license, are rights to do import business. The Chinese government requires it to import goods. It’s a measure to control the influx of imported products. The documents are non-tariff barriers that ensure the implementation of import quotas. These quotas are set in place to protect local traders and manufacturers.

There are two types of import license in China that an exporter needs before importing goods: automatic and non-automatic import licenses. China’s Ministry of Commerce or MOFCOM handles the distribution of both types of import licenses in the country. 

Import License in China: Automatic Licenses versus Non-automatic Licenses

Automatic and non-automatic import licenses are the two essential import documents that an exporter needs to transact with Chinese importers. The difference between the two types involves import quotas and the specific imported goods in question. 

You’ll need an automatic license for the importation of “permitted goods.” This license type’s primary purpose is for documentation and statistical reference. That said, there are certain “permitted goods” that MOFCOM monitors, and these require additional licensing. On the other hand, non-automatic licenses are integral to maintaining import quotas.

Once an exporter receives their automatic import license, they are free to apply for other rights. Each document is suitable for six batches of imports. 

Products that Require an Import License in China

Imported products fall under four categories. The categories differ based on how receptive the country is to receive the specific goods in question: 

Permitted Goods (no monitoring)

Permitted goods that require no monitoring are the most accessible products to ship into China. Exporters that offer these items are only required to secure an automatic import license. Documents disbursed for permitted goods are only valid for six months for six batches of goods. Exporters may apply for a new license once the six months are up. Below are a few products that belong to this category:

• Meat products, specifically beef and pork.
• Clothing and other textile items

Permitted Goods that are monitored

There are permitted goods that require additional licensing. While they are no quotas in place, MOFCOM monitors the importation of the following products:

• Wines;
• Poultry products;
• Vegetable oils; and
• Electrical and mechanical goods

Restricted Goods

Restricted goods are subject to import quotas. As such, exporters who want to ship products under this category need a non-automatic import license. Failing to do so can result in the shipment being held at customs and sent back to its place of origin. Items within this category include but aren’t limited to:

• Used Electronic products
• Substances that carry environmental concerns 
• Food, fibers, and animal feed products that have some health risk

Prohibited Goods

Prohibited goods are items that exporters cannot import into China. These products are banned license or not:

• Weapons and ammunition
• Forged currency
• Printed materials, or various forms of media including films, photos, movies, audiotapes, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, computer storage devices, and other things that could harm China’s politics, economy, culture, and morality
• Poison and addictive drugs
• Food, drugs, or other substances that cause bodily harm and are infectious or from epidemic areas
• Specific animal products
  • All living animals (excluding dogs and cats) and their sperm, zygotes, embryos, and other genetic things
  • Silkworm chrysalis, silkworm eggs, animal blood, and its products, 
  • Products of aquatic animals
  • Eggs and their products that are not heat-treated
  • Fur, mane, bones, horns, oil and fat, flesh, and the corresponding products
  • Edible bird’s nests (excluding canned bird’s nests)
  • Transgenic biomaterials
• Plants and plant products:
  • Fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Tobacco leaves (excluding cut tobacco)
  • Seeds, sprouts, nursery stock, and other fertilizable plants
  • Organic cultivation medium
  • Soil
• Other prohibited goods:
  • Animal bodies, samples or specimens, and offal from animals
  • Transgenic biomaterial
  • Pathogens of animals and plants, dangerous insects and organisms
  • Human blood and corresponding products

Applying for an Import License in China

It is relatively easy to apply for an import license, but it requires close coordination between the Chinese importer and the exporter. Interested parties need to download and accomplish a form from the MOFCOM website. Once it’s filled up and you submit all required documents, the license should be ready in two weeks. It is free of charge.

Information Required for Acquiring an Import License 

MOFCOM requires the necessary information listed below from the importers and exporters involved in the transaction to complete the application process.

• Name/company number of importer
• Import license number/expiry date
• Importer’s consignee in China
• Country or region of exportation
• Country or region of the product’s origin
• Terms of trade and foreign exchange
• Place of clearances
• Uses, description, and product code of the goods
• Product’s specification, unit, quantity, and price
• Other supplementary details, and
• Issuing authority stamp carrying the text ‘automatic import license’ in Chinese along with the city of issuance.

Importing products into China almost always requires an import license. It’s prudent for retailers to apply for this document even before closing a deal with Chinese companies. Never leave it up to chance. This way,  you avoid the hassle and cost of delays due to customs holding your goods. 

Venturing into importing goods into China is a lucrative yet complex undertaking. To ensure that all your bases are covered, you need partners in logistics that can dot the i’s and cross the t’s. We at ZhenHub offer tech-based logistics solutions that can fit every need. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for your business or request a free quote to get things started.