China, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion and a massive user base of mobile devices, has become a lucrative market for app distribution. However, unlike other parts of the world, operating mobile apps in China entails many unique legal requirements, such as the app filing system introduced in August 2023. In this article, we will explore how foreign app developers can file their apps in China.

If you're unfamiliar with app filing, you can read several articles to gain a general understanding after going through this.

• Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Notice on Carrying Out the Filing Work for Mobile Internet Applications
• What is Mobile App Filing?
• Benefits of Mobile APP Filing
• How To Get a Mobile App Filing Number in China?

Operators of mobile apps are also considered Internet Content Providers (ICPs). Therefore, in accordance with the notice issued by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in August 2023, enterprises or individuals operating apps within mainland China are required to file their apps. This is to strengthen the management and control of app content and uphold user rights. According to the notification, all app operators must obtain an app filing number by March 31, 2024, before they can publish and operate their apps. Apps that have not completed filing by then may be removed from app stores.

The primary requirement for filing a mobile app is that the operator of the app must be an individual or legal entity within mainland China. Therefore, as a foreign app developer, you have two options for filing:

• Establishing a Legal Entity in China

The cost of applying for a joint venture business license in China is approximately 5000 RMB (800 USD), depending on the city where your company will be registered. Additionally, you must have a valid office address to operate the company, so you'll need to pay for office rent. Office rent varies significantly depending on the city but generally ranges from at least 12,000 RMB per year (about 1700 USD per year). According to the relevant requirements of China's tax authorities, you must hire full-time or part-time accountants for accounting management, with accounting costs approximately ranging from 300-500 RMB per month (50-80 USD). Establishing a company in China typically takes 2-12 months, and you need to continue investing in manpower, compliance, and other aspects.

Therefore, the cost of establishing a legal entity in China is at least 2500 USD, with maintenance costs of approximately 2600 USD per year.

Additionally, if you lack local staff support in China, you may struggle with the cumbersome process of setting up the company. Many foreign companies collaborate with Chinese agencies when applying to establish a Chinese company, with the agency assisting in completing the relevant work. Of course, the costs vary depending on the company, but they are generally quite high, starting at tens of thousands of dollars.

After completing your company registration, you can begin the app filing process. If you do it yourself, the application process is completely free. The Chinese government does not charge any fees for app filing. However, the application process for app filing can be quite cumbersome. You need to be fluent in Mandarin and be prepared to address applications rejected for various reasons. Therefore, many foreign companies collaborate with Chinese agencies to expedite the process. Since these companies will collect, fill out, and upload all necessary documents for you, they will charge a certain fee. Taking Alibaba Cloud, a well-known domestic example, their fee structure starts at a minimum of 5,000 USD.

• Partnering with a Collaborator

To avoid the cumbersome process and hefty costs of setting up a new company, you can choose to partner with us. We'll handle the app filing process for you. This will save you a significant investment in establishing a new company and save months of unnecessary time and a considerable amount of money wastage. You can contact us to learn more.