How to Get a Canton Fair Invitation Letter in 2026
The official invitation letter is free — and it's the document your China business visa rests on. Here's how it works, the scams to avoid, and how HCSG gets yours sorted.
The invitation letter at a glance
What the invitation letter is — and isn't
Three things to be clear on before you start.
Confirms your registration
It verifies you're a registered overseas buyer for the fair — issued through the official buyer system.
Not the visa itself
It supports your business (M) visa application; it doesn't replace the visa or guarantee approval.
Beware paid “sellers”
The official letter costs nothing. Pay for done-for-you coordination if you want it — never for the free document.
How to get your Canton Fair invitation letter
The official path, in plain terms — HCSG runs it for you and keeps the visa timing aligned.
Register as an overseas buyer
Complete overseas-buyer registration with your business details through the official buyer system.
Apply for the invitation letter
Request the official invitation letter once your buyer registration is in place.
Receive & download it
The letter is issued in about 3–5 working days for you to download and print.
Use it for your visa
Submit it with your business (M) visa application at the Chinese embassy or consulate that serves you — whether that's in Abuja, Nairobi, Accra or elsewhere.
How to spot a Canton Fair invitation scam
Two simple rules protect you. First, the official invitation letter is free — if someone is charging a “fee” for the official letter itself, be cautious. Second, no one can guarantee a visa; approval is the consulate's decision alone, so a “guaranteed visa” promise is a red flag. Legitimate help is about doing the work for you — registration, documentation, visa timing and travel — not selling a free document. When in doubt, ask us before you pay anyone.
Free letter, paid done-for-you — here's exactly what you're paying for
To be completely clear: the official invitation is issued free through the official BEST buyer portal, and you never pay HCSG for the document itself. What our fee covers is the done-for-you process: securing the correct invitation, business (M) visa support, travel and on-the-ground logistics, buyer–seller matchmaking and interpreter support (our Global Trade Access service). The free document stays free; the work of turning up ready to do business is what we handle.
How HCSG handles this for you
We turn a free document into a fully-handled trip — so the letter, the visa and your meetings all line up.
Secure the invitation
We complete your overseas-buyer registration and obtain the official invitation letter, correctly and on time.
Prepare the visa
We assemble your business-visa documentation and align it with the invitation so the timing works.
Line up suppliers
We arrange buyer–seller matchmaking in your product category so the trip pays for itself.
Support you on the ground
Interpreting, booth support and logistics so language and travel never cost you a deal.
The outcome: your invitation and visa sorted, and a trip built around real supplier meetings — not a free PDF you had to chase alone.
Questions founders ask us
Specific, net-new answers — not a repeat of the guide above.
Is the Canton Fair invitation letter really free?+
Do I need an invitation letter to get a China business visa?+
How long does the invitation letter take?+
Can I get an invitation without an exhibitor or supplier?+
Someone offered to “guarantee” my visa for a fee — is that legitimate?+
What documents do I need before applying for the letter?+
Does the invitation letter guarantee entry to the fair?+
Does HCSG charge for the Canton Fair invitation letter?+
Can HCSG handle the whole thing for me?+
Need your Canton Fair invitation letter sorted?
We'll secure the official (free) letter, prepare your business-visa documents, and build the rest of the trip around real supplier meetings.
