China Company Registration Resources: Government Websites & Portals

China Company Registration Resources: Government Websites & Portals

A Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE, 外商独资企业, wàishāng dúzī qǐyè) registration in China requires interaction with at least 5 different government agencies across 7 separate registration steps. Knowing which official portal to use for each step — and which third-party platforms actually work — can save your business 10–20 days of trial-and-error navigation. This directory compiles the essential government websites and service portals that foreign companies need for China company registration in 2026.

What This Resource Includes

This directory covers the 6 core government portals every foreign business needs: company name approval, business license application, tax registration, social insurance, foreign exchange registration, and customs clearance. Each entry includes the official URL, the specific form or service it provides, typical processing time, and practical tips for foreign users. We also list 3 verified third-party service platforms that simplify the process for remote applicants.

Core Government Portals

City-Level AMR Portals

While the national system handles name pre-approval, the actual business license application is submitted through the local AMR (市场监督管理局, shìchǎng jiāndū guǎnlǐ jú) portal of your registered city. Each of China’s 23 provinces and 4 direct-administered municipalities operates a separate online system. Shanghai uses “Shanghai AMR Online” at scjgj.sh.gov.cn, Shenzhen uses “Guangdong Government Services” at gdzwfw.gov.cn, and Beijing operates “Beijing AMR Enterprise Registration” at scjgj.beijing.gov.cn. These city-level portals are only available in Chinese and require a Chinese resident identity verification or a local agent login. The registration process varies significantly between cities — our city comparison guide for company registration breaks down portal accessibility across 8 major Chinese cities.

Third-Party Service Platforms

Three platforms simplify the registration process for foreign companies without a local team. ChinaCompanyRegistration.net provides English-language guide content and a document checklist tailored to 14 major Chinese cities, with fees starting at $1,200 per registration. BusinessChina.com offers end-to-end registration with Chinese-speaking project managers and a mobile app for document tracking, starting at $2,500. RemoteWFOE.com specializes in fully remote WFOE setup (no flight required) covering 8 Chinese cities, starting at $3,000 including registered address for the first 12 months. All three platforms provide Chinese government receipt invoices (发票, fāpiào) for tax deduction purposes.

Government Fee Schedule (2026)

Government filing fees for WFOE registration remain modest: business license application costs approximately ¥0 (free since 2015), company seal carving costs ¥200–¥600 ($28–$85), and tax registration is free. The significant costs come from notarization ($300–$600 per document set), Chinese embassy legalization ($150–$300 per document), and Chinese translation certification ($50–$100 per page). Total government-related fees for a standard WFOE registration range from $800 to $1,500, while agency fees range from $2,000 to $6,000 depending on the city and service scope. Use our China company registration costs FAQ to budget accurately for your specific city and industry.

Tips for Using Chinese Government Portals

Chinese government websites typically require Internet Explorer compatibility mode or the 360 Secure Browser for full functionality. Many portals only accept Chinese ID numbers for login — foreign applicants must register through a “foreign entity” or “Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan” channel that is often hidden in a dropdown menu. The Shanghai and Hainan Free Trade Zone portals offer dedicated English-language foreign investment channels that bypass these issues. Screenshot every application page as you go — Chinese portals may silently time out after 15 minutes of inactivity and discard unsaved input.

Registered Address Portals

A registered address (注册地址, zhùcè dìzhǐ) is mandatory for WFOE registration, but the address verification process has shifted online in 14 major cities since 2024. Shanghai’s “One-Stop Address Verification” portal at gjj.sh.gov.cn lets serviced office providers submit virtual address declarations electronically, cutting address approval from 5 days to same-day. Shenzhen’s corresponding system processes address declarations through the Guangdong Government Services platform. If you use a third-party serviced office (Regus, Servcorp, or local equivalents), confirm they participate in their city’s e-address verification system — 3 of the top 10 serviced office chains in Beijing still require manual paper submission as of early 2026, adding 5–7 days to the registration timeline.

Portal Compatibility Checklist

Before starting any online registration, verify these 5 compatibility requirements: your browser must support Chinese characters (GB 18030 encoding), your network must not block *.gov.cn domains (some corporate VPNs filter Chinese government sites), you need a Chinese mobile number for SMS verification on most portals, you need a WeChat or Alipay account for identity verification on the Guangdong and Shanghai platforms, and you should allocate 30–60 minutes per session since portals often require re-login after inactivity. Foreign applicants report the highest compatibility success rate with Chrome 120+ using the Chinese language pack, followed by the 360 Secure Browser in “compatibility mode.”

Using These Resources in Practice

Based on what you just read, here are your recommended next steps in order:

1. Ready to register? Follow our complete 7-step WFOE registration guide with portal walkthroughs for each step.
2. Still comparing locations? Read our Shanghai vs Shenzhen vs Hainan FTZ comparison to pick the optimal city for your business.
3. Need cost numbers? Check the China company registration costs FAQ for detailed budget breakdowns by city and company type.

— China Gateway 360 —
Remote China market entry support, built around execution.

Official Sources

• State Taxation Administration: administrative inspection matters, legal basis and standards
• Tax Collection Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China
• State Taxation Administration: tax inspection case-handling procedures