Badge, entry and security

At a glance

• No tickets, no walk-ins. You get in only with a real-name badge. There is no ticket counter and no temporary entry channel.
• The overseas buyer badge is free to issue, and the same badge works across all phases and future sessions. Replacement and renewal are reported free. Confirm the current fee in the official system.
• Three steps: pre-register online, get a QR receipt, then collect the printed badge with the QR code, your original passport and a business card (paper or electronic).
• Collect it before you reach Pazhou if you can: 20 self-service badge machines in Baiyun Airport T2 and T3 since Oct 12, plus desks at Guangzhou South station, Pazhou Hong Kong/Macao ferry port, designated hotels and the Hong Kong office. Printing takes about 30 seconds after passport verification.
• Assistant or interpreter companion: applied for online by you at least 2 full calendar days ahead, maximum 1 assistant + 1 interpreter per phase, 300 RMB per day + 50 RMB one-off card fee (also seen on a screenshot of the buyer portal's fee notice). Nothing can be done at the counter on the day.
• An invitation letter is not a visa. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines and Turkey are not on the 240-hour visa-free transit list.
• Gates check your face against the badge. Lending, borrowing or buying a badge gets it confiscated and can get you blacklisted.
• Worst queues: arrivals 08:00-11:00 and departures 16:30-19:00.

1. Who can get in, and with which badge

Lanyard colours come from one 140th guide (secondhand).

Applies only to Chinese nationals or China-registered firms:

• Domestic buyer badges need a registered Chinese company with annual revenue of at least 50 million RMB, invited through local commerce bureaus, at 300 RMB per person per day + 50 RMB card fee. Ordinary individuals cannot apply.
• Mainland Chinese citizens holding a foreign work visa of 1 year or more can get a free "Buyer Representative" badge with passport, visa and an entry record dated on or after Aug 1, 2026.
• Chinese staff of foreign companies' representative offices: up to 4 free badges per office, with audited accounts and social-security proof.

2. The overseas buyer badge, step by step

Step 1: Pre-register online

• If you already have a BEST account, log in. Otherwise create a buyer account, upload your ID, fill in personal and company details, verify your email and submit the Overseas Buyer Badge application.
• A spring 2026 walkthrough listed an email address, passport photo, blue-background portrait and electronic business card. Check the current photo specification on the official site.
• One author says that if email verification fails you can call 4000888999 (a China number) with your passport number. Verify the number on the official site before sharing personal data.
• Pre-registration is open year-round, so a Phase 2 visitor can register now for Phase 3.

Step 2: Bring three things to the badge point

1. The QR code from your pre-registration receipt.
2. Your original ID: foreign passport, HK/Macao Home Return Permit, Taiwan Compatriot Permit, or Chinese passport plus foreign permanent residency. Photocopies are not mentioned as acceptable.
3. A company business card, paper or electronic.

A buyer on a forum asked whether a physical business card is required for entry. The answers did not settle it. The official guide accepts paper or electronic for badge collection.

Step 3: Collect the badge (pick the point nearest your arrival)

Scale: 70 registration sites with 628 windows citywide for the 140th. Treat processing-speed claims as reported, not guaranteed.

Speed: after passport verification a badge prints in about 30 seconds ("tens of seconds"). On Phase 1 opening morning one visitor who arrived at 09:30 took about 30 minutes to get a companion badge, mostly walking. (Phase 1, one report)

Applies to overseas Chinese only: buyers holding Chinese passports plus overseas residence documents are directed to the registration offices at the complex, not the remote desks.

Spring pattern (not confirmed for the 140th): in spring 2025, Asia International Hotel and Dong Fang Hotel ran night badge desks from 21:00 to 07:00 the evening before each phase opened. Do not count on the same hours now.

Returning buyers

• A valid badge from a previous session works at the gates without re-activation.
• Exception: old badges issued on work visas at the 134th session or earlier are void.
• If you get a new badge, the old one is automatically deactivated.

Physical badge vs phone QR

• Reports describe a printed physical badge (RFID chip) checked together with live face recognition at the turnstiles.
• Whether a phone QR code alone can open the gates is not confirmed. Collect the physical badge.
• Wear it visibly, photo side out. Do not reverse or hide it.

Lost badge

• Overseas buyer badge replacement is reported free. Confirm in the official system.
• Companion badge replacement: reported 200 RMB (non-official sources; confirm the current fee in the official system).
• Domestic buyer badge replacement: 200 RMB, once only (Chinese firms).

3. Invitation letter vs visa

An invitation letter helps a visa application. It is not permission to enter China.

• How to get it: electronic invitation letters can be requested in the Canton Fair system after the required registration steps. One visa agency says an invitation supports an M (business) visa application but does not guarantee approval.
• 240-hour visa-free transit: since Aug 20, 2026 this covers 57 countries via 65 ports and needs an ordinary passport plus a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. You must stay within the designated regions. Business and visits are allowed; work, study and journalism need a visa. Older guides that say "144 hours, 54 countries" are out of date.
• Not on the 240-hour list: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Turkey. Do not plan entry on that basis.
• 24-hour transit keeps you airside by default and is not permission to attend the fair.
• Port visa at Pazhou: Guangzhou exit-entry police run a temporary port-visa service at Pazhou Port for foreigners holding Canton Fair invitation letters, Oct 12-Nov 11, 2026 (tel 020-38612133, pazhou_visa@163.com). Confirm eligibility and fees with the police before relying on it. A port visa is not guaranteed for every nationality.
• Turkey: one 140th guide says the Chinese embassy in Turkey requires an additional "Verification of Invitation" beyond the e-invitation, with 4-6 weeks' lead time. A visa ad claims no extra form is needed. Check with your own consulate.
• At the border: dedicated Canton Fair lanes with multilingual officers; reported processing under 2 minutes. Carry printed copies of your invitation, pre-registration receipt and business cards, plus supplier emails.
• Hotel registration: foreigners must be registered within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do this for you. If you stay in a private apartment you must register yourself.

4. Companion passes: assistant vs interpreter

The fair calls them "accompanying persons" (陪同人员). There are two kinds: assistant (助理) and interpreter/translator (翻译).

The rules, fees, refunds and pickup instructions below come from photographed signs and buyer-portal screenshots reposted by third parties. They are not live official pages, so treat them as not yet confirmed.

The rules most buyers miss

• Only you, the overseas buyer, can apply, on the official system, and only after you have pre-registered and applied for your own badge.
• At least 2 full calendar days in advance. The worked example given is "submit by Oct 13 for Oct 15 entry". By the same rule this would mean applying by Oct 21 for Oct 23 (Phase 2 opening day) and by Oct 29 for Oct 31 (Phase 3 opening day). Confirm the cutoff in the official system before booking travel. An application on Oct 22 would already be too late for Oct 23 under this displayed rule. Check the earliest selectable entry date, not a claim of a same-day exception.
• The portal enforces this itself. A screenshot from the buyer portal (buyer.cantonfair.org.cn, "Add Accompanying Person") taken on Oct 19 shows the error "Please select a start date on or after 2026-10-21" when Oct 19 was chosen. That fits "apply by Oct 21 for Oct 23". (screenshot, 140th)
• No same-day applications at the counter. A furniture company group arriving on Oct 15 was told at the Badge Service Center their companion had to apply 2 days ahead, so the companion could only enter on Oct 17. A bilingual sign photographed at the Area B registration entrance says the same: "your accompanying personnel application should be submitted 2 days in advance", with the Oct 13 / Oct 15 example. (photo of on-site sign, 140th)
• Maximum per buyer per phase: 1 assistant + 1 interpreter.
• Per phase only: apply again for Phase 3. Under-18s are not eligible.
• Applications for the 140th opened Sep 28.

Who qualifies

• Interpreter: must show a CATTI or NAETI certificate or a mainland foreign-language degree.
• Assistant: no language qualification needed.
• If you hold an HK/Macao/Taiwan permit or a Chinese passport, you can sponsor an assistant only, not an interpreter.
• People already holding an exhibitor, exhibitor-representative or service badge in the same phase cannot be your companion.

What the companion must provide

• Phone number, Chinese ID number and a photo; interpreters also a clear scan of their certificate.
• One walkthrough asked for the buyer's visa type and visa-page photo plus the companion's Chinese phone number. The portal screenshot confirms the form: an "Are you visa-exempt" Yes/No question; if No, you pick a visa category and upload the visa first page (.jpg/.jpeg/.png). (screenshot)
• The same form warns that the companion's ID number and mobile number cannot be changed after submission, and the companion's invitation SMS repeats this. Check both before you press submit. (screenshot)
• One author says assistants need screenshots of your communication and a photo of the two of you holding your ID documents. (one report, verify)
• Applies to: these sources describe a companion with a Chinese ID card. It is unclear how a foreign assistant applies.

The process

1. You enter the companion's details under "Accompanying Personnel" in the buyer system.
2. The companion gets an SMS link, uploads ID and photo, confirms. A screenshot of this SMS shows it comes from 106980008999 as "【广交会客服】", names the buyer, links to buyer.cantonfair.org.cn, and gives the hotline 4000-888-999. (screenshot)
3. Preliminary review. One commenter got approval 1-2 days after the interpreter qualification check (one report, not a service standard).
4. You and the companion go to a badge centre together; you show your original passport. A Phase 2/3 note adds that the companion brings their original Chinese ID card. (first-hand note, not visible on the photo; verify)
5. Pay on site using the approval QR code, then the badge prints.

The fee: resolving 300 vs 350

• Most 140th sources, plus one person who actually paid, give 300 RMB per day + 50 RMB one-off card fee.
• Now seen on a portal screenshot: the "确认陪同" (Confirm Accompanying) page of buyer-h5.cantonfair.org.cn, captured Oct 19, lists 300 RMB/day, +50 RMB card production fee, 200 RMB per replacement badge. Its own sample record is a Phase 2 application for Oct 23-27 (5 days, which works out to 300 x 5 + 50 = 1,550 RMB). (screenshot of the official portal, posted on social media; rated high but not a page we opened)
• The same screen says: reconfirm your number of entry days before paying; a paid badge with no venue entry record can be refunded through an online request before Dec 4, 2026; and you must request a VAT invoice (发票) within 30 calendar days of payment. (screenshot)
• A video on social media says 350 RMB per day, and one commenter asks whether it is 350. The likely explanation is that 350 is the first-day total (300 + 50). This is our reading, not an official statement.
• Non-refundable once the badge has passed a gate.
• A single-day companion badge only works on the printed date. Badge photos show the dates printed on the card, for example "10.15-10.15", "10.23-10.23" and "10.31-10.31". (photos)
• We did not open the fee page ourselves. The 300 + 50 figure now rests on many reports plus one portal screenshot. Check the amount shown in the official system before paying.

Can the companion enter without you?

This is not confirmed. Some sources say the companion may enter alone; others say they must enter with the buyer.

Badge brokers and fake companions

• The buyer and companion must have a genuine relationship. Fake applications lead to both badges being confiscated, removal and blacklisting with no refund.
• You can no longer find a foreigner outside the venue, register under their details and walk in together.
• Intermediaries charging 800-1,000 RMB to "arrange" a badge have been reported. Treat them as high risk. Badges only come through the official system.

(Interpreter day rates are a separate cost from the badge; see the interpreter chapter.)

5. Security check: what happens and what not to bring

At the gate

• Every entry checkpoint has full security screening and real-name face verification.
• Turnstiles read the RFID badge and match your face. Using someone else's badge or an altered photo triggers an alarm.
• One person, one badge. No resale, transfer, forgery or use of another person's badge. Violations mean confiscation and referral to police.
• Borrowed or transferred badges are confiscated on the spot and the holder may be blacklisted for future sessions.

What not to bring (no full official list found)

• Knives, flammables and drones, per a secondary guide (not exhaustive).
• Drone detection and countermeasures are active around the venue. Unauthorised flights are banned.
• Delivered food and drinks (takeaway boxes) may not enter the complex. This is in the official Phase 1 guide and on the official catering map that covers all three phases.
• Large suitcases: no official bag-size rule found. Guides advise travelling light; a forum thread recommended a carry-on size case for catalogues. Luggage storage existed in the Phase 1 guide; see Chapter 4 for locker locations.
• Power banks: one buyer note advises keeping them under 20,000 mAh and bringing plug adapters. For flights out of China, airline rules require a visible CCC mark, carry-on only, 100 Wh or less without approval, maximum 2 per passenger.
• Passport: carry it on you, not in checked luggage. You need the original for the badge and any companion pickup.

Inside the halls

• Handing out flyers in aisles near other booths can get you escorted out (spring 2026 rule).
• People posing as "translators" or "assistants" to approach buyers are reported, as are currency-exchange offers inside and outside halls. Decline unsolicited help.

6. Queue timing: when to arrive

Opening day vs later days

• Phase 1 opening day (Oct 15): 86,000 overseas buyers entered; Guangdong TV described the venue as packed but entry orderly. (Phase 1)
• On Oct 15 one video caption reports a metro entrance congested for over an hour. (Phase 1, caption only)
• A Phase 1 exhibitor reported packed mornings and much calmer afternoons. (Phase 1)
• Expect the same pattern on Oct 23 and Oct 31. This is an inference from Phase 1; no Phase 2/3 data exists yet.

How to beat the badge queue

• Collect your badge on arrival at the airport machines, Guangzhou South, Pazhou port or your hotel, not on the morning of opening day at the complex.
• If your companion needs a badge, apply online 2 days ahead and plan to go to the badge centre together. The first-day pickup can take 30 minutes or more.

7. Entrances and gates

The complex has numbered gates. The ones that matter for buyers:

Spring 2026 visitors leaving the fair recommended Gate 3 to Pazhou Line 11 Exit E from Areas A/B, and Gate 6 to Xingangdong Exit A from Area D.

Do / Don't

Do

• Pre-register and collect your badge before your first fair morning.
• Apply for any companion at least 2 full days before the day they need to enter.
• Carry your original passport every day.
• Keep printed invitation, receipt and business cards for the border.

Don't

• Don't pay anyone to "arrange" a buyer badge. It is free.
• Don't lend your badge or borrow one.
• Don't assume 240-hour visa-free transit applies to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines or Turkey.
• Don't order takeaway to the gate.
• Don't change your companion's ID or phone number after submitting. The portal does not allow it. Re-check before you press submit.
• Don't lose the companion badge. Replacement is 200 RMB per badge on the portal fee notice.

Still to confirm

• Companion fee: 300 RMB/day + 50 RMB (most sources, one payer, and a portal screenshot) vs "350 RMB/day" (a social media video). The screenshot resolves this in favour of 300 + 50, so 350 is most likely the first-day total. We have not opened the official page directly.
• Where you pay for a companion badge: older walkthroughs say pay on site with the approval QR code. The portal screenshot shows a pre-payment confirmation screen with online refund and invoice rules. Whether payment is online, at the counter, or either is not settled.
• Companion lanyard colour: "yellow" in a colour guide; photos show a yellow lanyard with a brown band on the card itself. Not a real conflict, but do not describe the card as yellow.
• "Single-day" companion badges: photos show single dates, but the portal record shows a 5-day Oct 23-27 application. A multi-day application is shown, but the final card's multi-day printing and validity were not inspected. Do not infer a one-day-only limit from the photos.
• Companion entering alone: allowed vs must enter with buyer.
• Airport badge points: 20 self-service machines in T2/T3 vs "3 badge desks"; positions and hours not published.
• Designated badge hotels: no complete 140th list. Hotel names here come from hotel marketing and city releases.
• Phone QR vs physical badge at turnstiles: not confirmed.
• Full prohibited-item list and bag-size limit: not found in official 140th sources.
• Badge desk hours at Guangzhou South, Pazhou port, HK office and the complex: not found (8:30-18:00 is a comment only).
• Turkey invitation verification: required per one guide, not required per a visa ad.
• Foreign assistants: sources only describe companions with Chinese ID cards. The portal form screenshot has a mandatory "ID Card No." field and the pickup note asks for the original Chinese ID. Nothing we have shows a path for a foreign companion.
• Refund cutoff: "before Dec 4, 2026" and "invoice within 30 days" come from a portal screenshot. The earlier "non-refundable once used" rule agrees with it.

Official sources

• Badge preregistration: existing BEST account can log in; otherwise create buyer account, upload ID, complete personal/company info, verif...
• From Oct 12, T2/T3 have 20 badge self-service machines; airport has fair priority processing and 96158 assistance; fair Areas A/B have ai...
• New overseas buyers may preregister online year-round and obtain a free overseas-buyer badge remotely at Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou South,...
• Invitation letters can be applied for after required registration steps; an invitation is not a visa.
• Published 57-country list does NOT include India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines or Turkey. Do not promise 240-hour entry to ...
• Phase1 opening hours explicitly 9:30–18:00 October15–19. Guide says delivered food/drinks may not enter. This is current edition but only...
• 70 registration sites/628 windows; first overseas-buyer membership points scheme and new whole-complex booth-level navigation/AR applicat...
• Alternative desks serve foreign-passport/HK-Macao-Taiwan travel-permit holders; overseas Chinese with Chinese passports plus qualifying o...
• Effective Aug 20 2026, 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit covers 57 countries, not 55, via 65 ports; Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam newly added....
• 24-hour transit applies worldwide but staying airside/restricted port area is the default; leaving requires temporary entry permission. T...
• Official Phase1 guide lists luggage storage, meditation room, first aid/AED, bank/ATM, photocopy/business-card printing, post and air/tra...
• Area A/D: Line 8 Xingangdong Exit A → Gate 6. Area B: Line 8 Pazhou A/B → Gate 4; Line 11 Pazhou E/F → Gate 3. Area C: Line 8 Pazhou C, a...
• Gates 5/6/10 have temporary stop-and-go passenger bays. Taxi pickup 15:00–18:30: Huizhan Middle Road passage 2 and southbound right lanes...
• Police restrict Areas A/B/C/D vehicle access to Canton Fair vehicle-pass holders; Gate 8 permits public vehicles to borrow Zhanchang West...