When a corporate website is ready but DNS still cannot point to a domestic server, filing is usually the blocker. ICP filing is not automatic with a domain purchase—it is a compliance procedure where entity credentials, site information, and the access provider are bound and approved through the MIIT system and provincial communications administration. When building sites for clients, XYN Technology aligns filing with development on one timeline so the site is not finished only to wait weeks idle.
The following helps enterprises understand the process. It does not replace the latest guidance from local authorities and cloud providers. Use the MIIT filing management system and your access provider console as the official entry points.
Two things to complete before filing
First, the domain must be real-name verified, and the registrant should match the filing entity to avoid explaining "company site, personal domain." Second, choose mainland cloud servers or virtual hosting and submit filing through that access provider. Without an access provider, the authority cannot confirm which domestic resources will host the site.
Before obtaining a filing number, do not point the domain to a domestic production environment offering information services. Many teams use overseas test environments or the provider's filing check page until approval, then switch to production DNS.
What the five stages do
In practice, remember one chain: prepare documents → access-provider preliminary review → MIIT SMS verification → provincial authority audit → filing success and public display.
- Document preparation: business license, entity responsible person ID, website responsible person ID (authorization letter if not the legal representative), site name and service content description. Documents must be valid; photos clear, full corners, no glare or obstruction.
- Access-provider preliminary review: cloud or hosting provider verifies authenticity and completeness, usually 1–2 business days; issues are returned for correction.
- MIIT SMS verification: after preliminary approval, responsible persons receive a verification SMS from 12381. Complete verification on the MIIT filing system within 24 hours; timeout may auto-reject and require resubmission.
- Authority audit: MIIT sets a general limit of about 20 business days; actual speed varies by province. Phone verification may occur—the responsible person's mobile must be reachable and able to explain site purpose.
- Filing success: after obtaining the filing number, display it in the site footer linked to the MIIT query page. Some regions also require separate public security filing—different from ICP filing.
How to prepare documents to reduce rejections
The site name should read like a site name, not an ad slogan; service content should match the business license scope. E-commerce, payments, news, publishing, education, healthcare, and other pre-approval businesses cannot be hidden inside a "general corporate showcase site" without proper permits.
Face verification, on-site photos, and document validity are high-rejection areas. Poor lighting, cropped ID borders, unclear annual inspection stamps on licenses—all trigger returns. For non-legal-representative handlers, use the access provider's authorization template; do not omit key clauses.
Common rejections you can avoid before submission
- Domain not real-name verified, or registrant entity mismatches the license.
- Website responsible person's phone unanswered, or unable to explain what the site does.
- SMS verification exceeds 24 hours.
- Site content description too vague—for example only "internet information services" without specific sections.
- Uploaded images too large or blurry, causing compression or recognition failure.
- Server under the access provider not purchased or expired, making access information invalid.
How to schedule filing with website construction
Design and development can run in parallel with filing: produce site structure and pages while documents are processed, but domestic go-live must wait for the filing number. For executives, reserve "document prep 2–5 days + preliminary review several days + authority up to ~20 business days"—do not promise "live next week" externally.
Commercial internet information services may require an ICP license—different from ordinary corporate site filing. Whether a license is needed depends on actual business, not simply whether there is a shopping cart button.
When delivering corporate websites, XYN Technology reminds clients about domain real-name verification, access provider choice, and footer display placement. If you are building a new official site, tell us your entity province and whether you already have a cloud account—we will reserve filing windows in the construction plan so the site is not finished but cannot resolve.