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Canton Fair buyer badge: pre-registration, accepted ID and where to collect it

Sources checked

If you are an overseas buyer going to the 140th Canton Fair, you pre-register, bring one of four accepted types of ID with a business card and your pre-registration QR code receipt, and then collect your badge. The fair's notices say pre-registration for overseas buyers opens all year round, and that new applications, replacements and renewals are free of charge.

These fees, dates and procedures apply to the 140th session only, cannot be carried over to the next session, and the organiser's website for the session in question governs.

Pre-registration

The notice "First-Ever Year-Round Overseas Buyer Pre-registration" says pre-registration for overseas buyers opens all year round. The 2026 Attendance Guide for Overseas Buyers of the Canton Fair says overseas buyers attending onsite should complete pre-registration, which opens year-round.

New buyers follow three steps:

  1. Create your account
  2. Complete questionnaire for pre-registration
  3. Apply for badge

Returning buyers follow three steps:

  1. Log in
  2. Confirm personal and company information
  3. Complete questionnaire for pre-registration

The notice says you can scan the QR code shown on the page, or visit the Canton Fair official website or APP, to pre-register.

The same notice says that once pre-registered successfully, new buyers can enjoy express badge pickup during the Canton Fair at any registration office in the Canton Fair complex, airport, or hotels.

Accepted ID and what to bring

The Canton Fair Badge Guide — Your Go-to for Overseas Buyers says overseas buyers must present the original of one of the following four types of ID:

  • Foreign Passport
  • Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
  • Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents
  • Chinese Passport + Overseas Permanent Residence Permit / Permanent Residence Visa

The guide also lists a business card and the pre-registration QR code receipt.

Badges from earlier sessions

The Badge Guide says holders of a valid Overseas Buyer Badge issued at a previous session can use the badge to enter the Fair Complex directly upon verification, and that no badge activation is required.

The same guide says Overseas Buyer Badges issued on the basis of a "work visa" at or before the 134th Canton Fair are no longer valid. Holders must apply for a Purchasing Agent Badge as required to attend the Canton Fair. This page does not cover that procedure.

Fees

The Badge Guide says new applications, replacements and renewals are free of charge.

Where to collect your badge

The 2026 Attendance Guide says overseas buyers can collect Buyer Badges for free at alternative registration offices (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, designated hotels in Guangzhou and Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office) and buyer registration offices at the Complex.

The same guide says overseas buyers are encouraged to collect Buyer Badge at alternative registration offices rather than the Canton Fair Complex.

The Badge Guide sets a different rule for one group. It says buyers holding a Chinese passport together with a permanent residence permit or visa should apply directly at registration offices at the Complex, as applications cannot be processed at alternative registration offices.

Session dates

The organiser's English "About" page gives the three phases of the 140th session as follows: Phase 1: October 15-October 19, 2026; Phase 2: October 23-October 27, 2026; Phase 3: October 31-November 4, 2026. The full phase calendar is on the 140th session dates page.

Other notice

The Membership page says the 140th Canton Fair launches its first-ever Overseas Buyer Membership.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. Sourcing Agent Asia (sourcingagent.asia) is not affiliated with the Canton Fair, its organisers or any government body, and the organiser's website for the session in question governs.