Canton Fair 2026 Buyer Registration Guide: Pre-Registration, Badge & Invitation Letter

Key Highlights

For overseas buyers planning the 140th Canton Fair (October 15 – November 4, 2026):

• Pre-registration for overseas buyers is open year-round and free of charge, per the official Canton Fair announcement.
• You need two separate things: an invitation letter (only if you need a Chinese visa) and a buyer badge (IC card) — the only official admission credential.
• The buyer badge is issued once and remains valid for future sessions, so returning buyers simply log in and confirm their details.
• Badge pre-application is approved with an email notice within about three working days; pre-applying saves you the on-site queue.
• Badges can be collected at the Canton Fair Complex, appointed hotels, or the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office.
• A replacement for a lost badge is charged at RMB 200 (or HK$250), according to the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office.

What the 140th Canton Fair Is and When It Runs

The 140th China Import and Export Fair takes place in Guangzhou over three sessions, with two switch-over breaks in between. According to the official Canton Fair site, the on-site exhibition is scheduled as follows.

The fair covers roughly 1.55 million square metres across 13 categories and 54 exhibition sections. For scale: the 139th session drew 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions.

The venue is the China Import and Export Fair Complex, No. 382 Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou. Everything below happens against that timeline, so start registration as early as you can — the earlier you register, the more time you have for visa and flights.

Step 1: Open a Buyer Account and Pre-Register

Pre-registration runs through the official Canton Fair website and app, and the official announcement states that the overseas buyer pre-registration channel is open all year, so you can register at any point before travelling.

The flow is:

1. Go to the official Canton Fair website and open the overseas buyer pre-registration section (the official app works too).

2. First-time buyers create an account with personal and company details, including sourcing interests.

3. Existing buyers log in with their current account and confirm their details.

4. Complete the pre-registration form before applying for the badge.

New overseas buyers register through the buyer service system, and the account is issued to your company within a few working days of completing registration. Keep the login details — the same account is used for invitation letters, badge applications and future sessions.

If you are unsure whether you need a visa, check our GoChinaKit entry and visa tools before you start, because visa status determines whether you need an invitation letter at all.

Step 2: Apply for an Invitation Letter (Only If You Need a Visa)

The official guidance from the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office is blunt about this: the Canton Fair invitation can be used to apply for a Chinese visa, but if you do not need a Chinese visa, an invitation is not necessary — skip straight to the badge.

For buyers who do need one:

• Apply through the buyer service system using your company's account, selecting the invitation for that session.
• The invitation is free of charge.
• Check that your name, passport number, nationality and company details match your documents exactly before you download and save it.
• Visa approval itself is decided by the Chinese embassy or consulate, not by the fair — apply early and verify current requirements with the relevant visa centre.

Buyers entering on visa-free entry or the 240-hour transit scheme generally do not need the invitation. That is worth confirming before you spend time on an extra step.

Step 3: Apply for the Buyer Badge (IC Card)

The buyer entry badge — the IC card — is the only official admission credential for the physical fair. It was introduced in October 2008 and, per the official buyer service guidance, remains valid for all future sessions, which is why returning buyers rarely re-register from scratch.

Pre-application is made through the buyer service system, and the official process notes that an application is approved with an email notice containing collection details within about three working days. Pre-applying is worth the ten minutes it takes: it lets you avoid the registration queue on your first morning at the complex.

Two collection routes exist:

• Guangzhou — the registration counters at the Canton Fair Complex and appointed hotels, which operate during the fair period only.
• Hong Kong — the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office, which provides this service throughout the year.

One detail that catches people out: if you pre-apply through the Hong Kong office but then collect at a counter in Guangzhou instead, a service fee of RMB 200 per badge applies. Pick one route and stick to it.

Losing your badge is also charged — a replacement costs RMB 200, or HK$250 at the Hong Kong office.

Where and How to Collect Your Badge

Collection is straightforward if you arrive with the right documents. For buyers who pre-applied through the buyer service system, the official list requires:

• The online notice from the buyer service system, or the paper invitation card / e-invitation issued by the Canton Fair.
• Your original personal identification document — the same one you registered with.
• A personal business card.

Buyers who did not pre-apply can still register as regular buyers, but the requirements are stricter: the paper or electronic invitation issued by the fair, original identification, and a business card. In practice this means joining the on-site queue, which is exactly what pre-registration is designed to avoid.

Practical tip: if your hotel is one of the appointed hotels with a registration counter, collect your badge when you check in. Doing this the evening before your first hall day turns a two-hour morning into a ten-minute one.

What to Bring and When to Start

Work backwards from the session you want to attend. A realistic timeline for a first-time buyer:

• Six to eight weeks out — register online and apply for the badge; check your visa position and, if needed, request the invitation letter.
• Four to six weeks out — book flights and accommodation near Pazhou, Zhujiang New Town or Panyu; rates rise as the fair approaches.
• One week out — confirm your badge collection notice, print your business cards, and shortlist exhibitors using the official product search.
• On arrival — collect the badge, then spend the first morning walking your zone before opening negotiations.

Beyond paperwork, the official fair services include translation desks, trade-matching and on-site customs and IP-protection support — free to use and worth knowing about before you need them.

If you want the wider picture of the trip, including transport, factory visits and leisure extensions, our Canton Fair 2026 business travel guide covers the whole arc from arrival to post-fair sourcing.