Input the 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码) displayed on your Chinese supplier's business license. Our decoder will translate the administrative divisions, entity type, registration authority, and verify the mathematical checksum.
Fact-Checked by Audit Panel•Last Updated: May 26, 2026•Interactive Tool
Official Registry Source: This decoder parses codes according to the GB 32100-2015 national standard established by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
Chinese USCC License Decoder & Validator
If you purchase goods from a Chinese company, asking for their **Business License (营业执照 - Yingye Zhizhao)** is your first step. However, a business license scan is simply a piece of paper that can be photoshopped in ten minutes. To verify if the document represents a valid, active business entity, you must check it against China's official corporate database.
This guide walks you through reading, translating, and verifying a Chinese business license on the government's official registry platform, and explains how to decode key legal variables.
Decoding the 18-Digit Unified Social Credit Code (USCC)
The most critical string on the business license is the Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码). This 18-digit code acts as the legal ID number of the company. It usually starts with "91" (indicating a joint-stock or limited liability enterprise) and is positioned at the top of the business license.
Anatomy of an 18-Digit Chinese USCC:
9 1 4 4 0 3 0 0 M A 5 D Y 6 G E 4 T
First digit (9): Indicates registration under the Market Regulation Administration (SAMR).
Second digit (1): Indicates a Limited Liability Company (Enterprise).
3rd to 8th digits (440300): The geographic administrative division code (e.g., 440300 represents Shenzhen, Guangdong).
9th to 17th digits (MA5DY6GE4): The business registration code (formerly organizational code).
18th digit (T): Verification checksum digit.
The Official Registry Lookup: Step-by-Step
To verify a license, you must query the official database managed by China's State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (NECIPS).
Important Technical Warning: The NECIPS website (http://www.gsxt.gov.cn) is entirely in Chinese. Furthermore, due to aggressive web scrapers and traffic protection rules, the database server routinely blocks queries from IP addresses originating outside of mainland China or throws complex slider captcha verification screens. If the site fails to load, you will need to utilize a local Chinese proxy or a verification service with local nodes.
If you successfully access the portal:
Paste the 18-digit USCC or the exact Chinese company name into the search box.
Solve the slider captcha.
Click the matching company listing to open their official registry page.
Business License Translation Matrix
Use this matrix to locate and translate the key fields of your supplier's license scan. Ensure the values displayed on the scan match the live government data perfectly. If you are verifying a manufacturer, the Business Scope is highly telling; you can also study our guide to distinguish between a factory and a trading company in China. Additionally, to make sure you wire money to the correct legal entity, ensure the legal name matches their bank details perfectly. You can follow our playbook to verify a Chinese company bank account before sending any deposit.
Chinese Term
English Translation
Sourcing Audit Value
统一社会信用代码
Unified Social Credit Code (USCC)
Check it on NECIPS. The core corporate identifier.
名称
Company Legal Chinese Name
Must match official bank account names and contract seals.
类型
Company Entity Type
Usually "有限责任公司" (Limited Liability Company).
法定代表人
Legal Representative
The only person authorized by default to sign legal contracts. Check our guide on Chinese Company Stamps & Seals to verify signatory authority.
注册资本
Registered Capital
Should reflect scale. Factories usually exceed 1M RMB.
住所
Registered Address
Cross-verify coordinates to check if it's an office or factory space.
成立日期
Establishment Date
Cross-check with claims of "years of industry experience."
登记状态
Operating Status
Must display "存续" (Active) or "在营" (In Business).
经营范围
Business Scope
Factories must list keywords like "生产" (Produce) or "制造".
Understanding Operating Status Warnings
When reviewing the **登记状态 (Operating Status)** column on the registry, ensure you understand the legal implications of the Chinese terms:
存续 (Cunxu) or 在营 (Zaiying) - Active / In Business: The company is operating legally. This is the only status that represents safe trading parameters.
注销 (Zhuxiao) - Deregistered / Closed: The company has been liquidated and dissolved. It no longer exists as a legal entity. If you wire money to this company, the bank account is likely frozen or operating under fraud conditions.
吊销 (Diaoxiao) - Revoked: The government has forced the company to shut down due to illegal operations or failure to submit annual reports. They are banned from trading, and their corporate assets may be frozen.
迁出 (Qianchu) - Moving Out: The company is transferring its registration to another city or province. Proceed with caution during this administrative transition.
Bypass Chinese Database Blocks & Language Barriers
VeriSupplier routes queries through local Chinese nodes, bypasses captchas, translates corporate files, and checks for hidden litigation risk in real-time.