Do I Need an Invitation Letter to Enter the Canton Fair in October 2026?

When attending the 140th Canton Fair in October 2026, what overseas buyers truly need to enter the exhibition halls is a valid Overseas Buyer Badge, not a paper invitation letter. An invitation letter can be used to apply for a visa or as internal corporate travel proof, but it cannot replace the Buyer Badge. First-time overseas buyers should first complete pre-registration and badge application on the official Canton Fair buyer service system, and then collect their Buyer Badge according to official announcements.

Is an Invitation Letter an Admission Credential for the Canton Fair?

No. According to the Canton Fair participation guidelines for overseas buyers, entry to the exhibition halls requires an Overseas Buyer Badge. The main purpose of an invitation letter is to prove travel plans, and some buyers need it when applying for a Chinese visa or processing company travel procedures. Whether an invitation letter is needed depends on the buyer's visa, entry requirements, and company approval; specific visa materials should be subject to the requirements of the Chinese embassy or consulate in the buyer's location.

You can simply distinguish between the two as follows:

• Buyer Badge: The credential used on-site to enter the Canton Fair exhibition halls.
• Invitation Letter: Attendance proof material, which cannot replace the Buyer Badge.

Even if a buyer has received an electronic invitation letter, they should still check the buyer badge application status in the official system. Bringing only an invitation letter to the exhibition hall does not mean admission formalities have been completed.

Can I Enter Directly with the QR Code After Registering Online?

Usually no. The main purpose of the pre-registration QR code or application receipt is to prove that the application has been submitted and to help buyers collect their Buyer Badge; it is not equivalent to the final physical Buyer Badge. Overseas buyers should follow system prompts to present corresponding materials at officially announced badge collection points to claim their Buyer Badge, and then enter the exhibition halls using the badge.

Therefore, completing account registration is only the first step. Buyers must also confirm whether the buyer badge application has been submitted, whether it has been approved, and where to collect the badge. Do not confuse "registration success," "obtaining a QR code," and "being able to enter" as the same thing.

How Should First-Time Canton Fair Attendees Apply?

First-time overseas buyers can access the buyer service system through the official Canton Fair website. The basic process is:

• Register an account using your personal email address.
• Select that you do not have a previous buyer badge, and fill in your personal, company, and sourcing intention details.
• Enter the Overseas Buyer Badge application page, and complete your company and personal information according to system requirements.
• Upload valid identification documents and ID photos required by the system, and verify information such as your name.
• Submit the Buyer Badge application; if you genuinely need a participation invitation letter, you can apply for it simultaneously via the page options.
• After approval, save the badge collection QR code or receipt, and collect the Buyer Badge according to the current session's official notification.

The official buyer service system portal is: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/. Buyers should submit identification information directly in the official system and avoid handing passport photos over to unknown proxy websites.

What Should I Bring to Collect the Buyer Badge?

According to the current guidelines for overseas buyers at the Canton Fair, first-time buyers should prepare the following when collecting their badges:

• Original valid overseas identity document, such as a valid personal passport.
• The badge collection QR code or application receipt generated by the official system.
• Personal business card.
• Other materials required by the official system or the badge collection notice for the current session.

The name in the registration data should match the identification document. Credential categories, collection locations, and opening hours may be updated according to current session arrangements. Before departure, you should check the official notifications for the 140th Canton Fair again rather than relying solely on social media screenshots or past guides.

Can I Enter Without an Invitation Letter If I Already Have a Buyer Badge?

From the perspective of admission credential functions, a valid Buyer Badge is the required credential for entering the exhibition halls, and an invitation letter is not a substitute for scanning at the site. If buyers do not need an invitation letter for visa or other procedures, they should focus on confirming whether the Buyer Badge is valid and whether the current session's participation registration is completed. On-site management remains subject to the current official notifications of the Canton Fair.

Do Buyers from Countries Like France Still Need to Apply for a Buyer Badge?

Yes. Whether a buyer needs a Chinese visa and whether they need a Canton Fair Buyer Badge are two separate issues. Even if a particular buyer can enter China visa-free under current policies, they must still complete overseas buyer pre-registration and obtain a valid Buyer Badge according to official procedures when entering the Canton Fair exhibition halls. Visa-free entry does not mean exemption from exhibition badge registration.

Easysail China can help overseas buyers understand the differences between the official registration page, invitation letters, and buyer badges, and explain the operating steps. Passports, ID photos, and other sensitive identity materials must be submitted directly by the buyers themselves to the official Canton Fair system; we do not collect or fill them out on behalf of clients.