Can You Register Onsite at the Canton Fair in October 2026?

The 140th Canton Fair features onsite badge-making service desks for overseas buyers, but "onsite badge issuance" does not mean "no pre-registration required at all." According to the latest overseas buyer badge guide released by the Canton Fair on September 26, 2026, the required documents for obtaining a buyer badge include the original valid ID document, a company business card, and the pre-registration QR code receipt. Therefore, if you have already arrived in Guangzhou but have not yet pre-registered, the safest approach is to complete the pre-registration to obtain the QR code receipt before heading to the onsite service desk to collect your buyer badge.

Can Buyer Badges Be Issued Onsite at the Canton Fair Complex?

Yes.

喜び (The Canton Fair officially designates overseas buyer registration and badge-making desks at the exhibition complex. Eligible overseas buyers can obtain their badges there. In addition, the 140th Canton Fair has established off-site badge service points, and officials encourage eligible buyers to complete their badge collection at these locations in advance to reduce waiting times at the exhibition venue.)

Therefore, if you are asking, "Can I still collect or process my Canton Fair buyer badge after arriving in Guangzhou?" the answer is yes.

However, if the question is, "Can I come directly to the exhibition complex with just my passport without doing any prior registration and complete all procedures on the spot?" the answer cannot simply be a flat yes.

Why Is a Pre-Registration QR Code Still Required?

According to the latest badge guide for the 140th Canton Fair, the required documents consist of three items:

• Original valid overseas identity document
• Company business card
• Pre-registration QR code receipt

Accepted identity documents include foreign passports, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, and eligible Chinese passports accompanied by overseas permanent residence permits or permanent residence visas.

This means that the authorities now clearly encourage buyers to submit their personal and corporate basic information in advance before verifying identity and collecting badges at the service desks.

Thus, "onsite badge issuance" is more accurately understood as verifying identities and printing badges onsite, rather than skipping the pre-registration step entirely.

What to Do If You Arrived in Guangzhou Without Pre-Registration?

If you have already arrived in Guangzhou, there is no need to panic or assume you cannot attend the exhibition just because you lack a buyer badge.

According to the current procedures announced for the 140th Canton Fair, you should complete the overseas buyer pre-registration as soon as possible to obtain the corresponding QR code receipt, prepare your original valid identity document and company business card, and then proceed to an officially designated badge service point.

Buyer service portals for the Canton Fair currently still provide the overseas buyer pre-registration entry, alongside the separate overseas buyer badge guide.

Crucially, do not mistake "onsite service points exist" for "pre-registration is unnecessary."

Handling registration and badge processing on the same day you arrive at the exhibition complex can also eat into valuable time meant for viewing exhibits and meeting suppliers.

Do Returning Buyers Need to Reapply?

If you already hold a valid overseas buyer badge issued from previous sessions, the 140th official guide states that you can enter the exhibition venue directly after verification, without needing to reactivate your badge.

Therefore, veteran buyers are advised to check if their existing buyer badges remain valid before traveling to Guangzhou.

First-time overseas buyers attending the Canton Fair, or those whose previous badges no longer comply with current regulations, should prepare their documents in accordance with the latest 140th badge requirements.

Do Not Leave Onsite Registration to the Last Minute

For overseas buyers, obtaining a buyer badge is merely the first step to entering the Canton Fair.

If you are sourcing machinery, furniture, building materials, sanitaryware, or multiple categories, your genuinely valuable time should be dedicated to finding suppliers, comparing products, and arranging subsequent factory visits, rather than sorting out paperwork at the exhibition entrance that could have been completed beforehand.

Even if you are already in Guangzhou without a buyer badge, it is strongly recommended to fulfill the latest official pre-registration and document preparation requirements for the 140th session before heading to the corresponding service point.

How Easysail Can Assist

Easysail China is located in Foshan, in close proximity to the Canton Fair exhibition complex in Guangzhou. For overseas buyers who have already arrived in Guangzhou and are preparing for the Canton Fair, we can assist in verifying current official event information, reminding clients to prepare required badge documents in advance, and planning your Canton Fair exhibition schedule alongside subsequent factory inspection itineraries in Foshan, Guangzhou, and the Pearl River Delta based on your actual sourcing list.

Our focus is not to replace official Canton Fair badge processing services, but to help overseas buyers with genuine procurement needs maximize their limited time in China for effective sourcing. If your procurement scope covers machinery, furniture, building materials, lighting, sanitaryware, or multiple suppliers, you can also share your product sourcing list with Easysail before arriving in China. We can accordingly assist with subsequent supplier screening, factory audits, quotation comparisons, and project procurement coordination.