Canton Fair Guide for Importers: Dates, Phases, Badge and Visa

Short answer The Canton Fair runs twice a year in Guangzhou, in three 5-day phases. The 140th session runs from 15/10/2026 to 04/11/2026. The 141st is expected from 15/04/2027 to 05/05/2027. Pre-register online for a free buyer badge, pick the phase for your product and check your visa route.

Key takeaways

• Three phases, about three weeks: each session has three 5-day phases with 3-day breaks. Phase 1 is machinery and electronics, phase 2 home goods, phase 3 fashion, toys, health and food.

• Next session: the 141st is expected from 15/04/2027 to 05/05/2027. The organiser had not published it on 01/11/2026.

• The badge costs USD 0.00 for new overseas buyers who pre-register. You collect it at the airport, a rail station, the ferry terminal, a hotel or in Hong Kong.

• Visa: UK and many EU passports enter visa-free for up to 30 days until 31/12/2026. US citizens use 240-hour transit or an M visa (USD 140.00 single entry).

• Budget about USD 2,464.00 for one phase from Dubai in our labelled example, before any orders.

Written by TRG Editorial Team · reviewed by importers

Reviewed by people who import from China every month. Every fee and rule is checked on the official page, last on 01/11/2026. How we check figures

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This Canton Fair guide starts where your real questions start. When is the next session? Which week should you fly for your product? Do you need a visa, and what will the trip cost?

Most guides list the halls and stop there. The money is made or lost after the fair, in how you record booths and follow up. So this guide covers the trip and the 30 days that come after it.

Canton Fair dates: the next session and its three phases

The Canton Fair is the short name of the China Import and Export Fair. It runs in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. Each session is split into three phases, and each phase shows different products.

The 140th session runs from 15/10/2026 to 04/11/2026. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) published the phase dates in an official notice. Over 32,000 exhibitors and about 340,000 overseas buyers were expected, according to People's Daily.

Why do we call the 141st dates "expected"? The official site, cantonfair.org.cn, blocks automated checks. We found no official notice for 2027 on 01/11/2026. But the last spring sessions followed the same calendar. The 137th ran from 15/04/2025 to 05/05/2025, says China's State Council website. The 139th opened on 15/04/2026 and ran to 05/05/2026.

📌 Note: Do not book non-refundable flights for April 2027 until the organiser confirms the dates. The confirmation usually comes in the months before the session. Re-check the official site and a MOFCOM notice before you pay.

The breaks between phases matter for your plan. The organiser rebuilds the halls for the next product groups. If you need two phases, the break days are good for factory visits outside Guangzhou.

Which phase to attend: products by phase

You do not need to stay three weeks. Most buyers attend one phase, the one that holds their main product. The MOFCOM notice lists the sections of each phase for the 140th session.

Use the diagram below as a first filter, then check the official floor plan. Accessories often sit in another phase than the main product. A lamp maker shows in phase 1, but lampshades may show in phase 2.

Here is what this means in practice. Example: a Riyadh importer of kitchen appliances and cookware needs two phases. Blenders are in phase 1, while pots and tableware are in phase 2. The 3-day break between them is a good time to visit one factory.

Not sure whether a trip is worth it yet? Start with the overview in how to import from China, step by step. It shows where a trade fair fits among the ways to find suppliers.

Is the Canton Fair worth it for your business?

The fair is big. The 139th session had 179 exhibition zones and over 32,000 enterprises, says China Daily. In its first phase alone, about 167,000 overseas buyers came from 216 countries and regions.

That size is both the strength and the trap. You can meet 30 suppliers of one product in two days, see samples and compare quality by hand. But many booths belong to trading companies, and some prices only hold for large orders.

1. The fair is a good fit when…

You already know your product and your target price. You plan repeat orders of a few thousand units or more. You want to judge quality, finish and packaging in person, and you can spare about a week.

2. The fair is a weaker fit when…

Your first order is very small, or your product is very niche. Then the trip cost may exceed your margin on the first order. A sample order and a remote check may come first. To compare online sourcing first, read our 1688 vs Alibaba guide for importers.

Fees and rules change often. Get the TRG Importer Brief: one short email a week with changes that affect importers.

How to register for a Canton Fair buyer badge

Every visitor needs a buyer badge to enter. For new overseas buyers, the badge is free. MOFCOM states that pre-registration is open all year on the official site.

1. Create an account as an overseas buyer

Register on the official Buyer Service System at cantonfair.org.cn. Choose the overseas buyer category. Use your name exactly as it appears in your passport.

2. Upload your documents

Have a scan of your passport, a recent photo and your business card ready. A company website or email domain helps show you are a real buyer. Keep the same company name you will use on contracts.

3. Wait for approval, then download the invitation letter

After approval, you can request the invitation letter in the same system. You need this letter for an M business visa. Register at least four to six weeks before the session if you need a visa (TRG planning range).

4. Collect the badge

MOFCOM listed the pickup offices for the 140th session. They were Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Pazhou Ferry Terminal, designated hotels and the Canton Fair Hong Kong Representative Office. Bring your passport and the registration QR code.

5. Keep the badge for the next session

The badge is linked to your buyer record. Keep it safe after the fair, because returning buyers can usually reuse it. Replacing a lost badge costs time at a busy counter.

🔎 In detail: Some third-party sites sell "registration services" or charge for invitation letters. The official process is free for new overseas buyers. Use only the official site, and never pay a stranger for a badge.

China visa basics for Canton Fair buyers

Your passport decides your route. There are three main options. Check the rules for your passport before you book, because China changed several policies in 2025 and 2026.

1. Visa-free entry for up to 30 days

China lets holders of ordinary passports from a list of countries enter without a visa. The stay is up to 30 days, and business is an allowed purpose. The list includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Sweden and others. The Beijing government says the policy runs to 31/12/2026.

UK citizens joined on 17/02/2026, also until 31/12/2026, says the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC). UAE nationals have had a 30-day exemption since 16/01/2018, says the UAE foreign ministry. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain had a 30-day trial from 09/06/2025 to 08/06/2026. Confirm whether it was extended before you travel.

2. 240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55 countries can stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. The list includes the USA, the UK, Canada, the UAE, Qatar and most of Europe. You need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. For the Canton Fair, that can mean arriving from New York and leaving to Hong Kong.

The Shanghai government lists 65 eligible ports. Guangzhou is among the Guangdong ports, after an expansion on 05/11/2025. A return ticket to your home country does not qualify for transit.

3. M business visa with the invitation letter

If neither option fits, apply for an M (business) visa. Use the Canton Fair invitation letter as your proof of purpose. Most countries handle applications through the official China Visa Application Service Center. The Chinese Consulate in New York lists a reduced fee of USD 140.00 for a US single-entry visa, valid until 31/12/2026.

Here is what this means in practice. A Paris buyer for phase 2 needs no visa. A Chicago buyer can fly in, attend one phase and leave via Hong Kong within 10 days. An importer from Egypt or Morocco should check the Chinese embassy page and plan for an M visa.

Canton Fair trip budget: worked example

The fair itself costs nothing to enter. Your budget is travel, hotel, help and samples. The table below is a labelled example with TRG assumptions. Only the badge and visa lines are verified rules.

Example scenario. A Dubai importer with a UAE passport attends phase 2 for kitchenware. The trip lasts 6 nights. The importer hires an interpreter for 2 days and couriers samples home.

Hotel and flight together are USD 1,430.00, or 58.04% of the total. Booking the hotel early is the biggest saving, because rates near Pazhou rise during the fair. A hotel near a Line 8 metro station gives you more choice.

How does the example change for other buyers? A London buyer pays no visa while the UK exemption lasts, but a longer flight. A Chicago buyer on an M visa adds USD 140.00 for the visa. Transit entry costs nothing in fees, but needs the Hong Kong exit ticket.

Plan for the order too, not only the trip. A deposit to a new supplier is usually your largest cost that month. Our guide to landed cost from China shows how to price the goods once they arrive.

How to work the fair: a five-day plan

Each phase lasts five days. The halls cover 1.55 million square metres, says MOFCOM. Walking without a plan wastes the first two days. Split the week into scanning, shortlisting and deeper talks.

1. Day 0: arrive and set up

Collect your badge on arrival and set up mobile data. Consider setting up a mobile payment app before the trip. Mark your halls on the floor plan and plan the metro ride to Pazhou station on Line 8.

2. Days 1-2: scan, then shortlist

Walk your halls once and mark 20 to 30 booths. Collect catalogues and take a photo of every booth number. On day 2, go back to the best 10 and fill a booth card for each.

3. Day 3: go deeper

Talk price, minimum order quantity (MOQ), lead time and packaging. Ask every supplier the same eight questions, so the answers compare. Book one or two factory visits for day 4.

4. Days 4-5: visit and recap

Visit a factory near Guangzhou to see that it is real. On the last evening, score each supplier and send the first thank-you emails. Do this before you fly, while the details are fresh.

The booth card below is the tool that makes the follow-up work. Print it, or copy the eight fields into a phone note.

Two fields matter most. The first is the 18-character unified social credit code from the business licence. You need it to check the company later. The second is the Incoterm next to every price. A price "FOB Ningbo" and a price "EXW factory" are not the same offer. Our guide to FOB, CIF and DDP for China imports explains the gap.

How to follow up suppliers after the Canton Fair

Most of the value of the trip appears in the month after it. Write within 48 hours, while the supplier still remembers your face and your product. Then follow a fixed plan, so no lead goes cold.

1. Days 0-2: send a short thank-you email

Add your booth photo and booth number, so the salesperson finds you fast. Repeat the product, the target quantity and what you need next. Keep it short, in simple English.

2. Days 3-5: send the same RFQ to all

Send one request for quotation (RFQ) with one specification, one quantity and one Incoterm. Ask for a proforma invoice in the same format from each supplier. Identical requests are the only way to compare prices.

3. Days 7-10: verify the top three

Check the business licence, the credit code and the bank account name. They must match the company that will sign the contract. Our 12-point checklist to verify a Chinese supplier lists each check and the free registry.

4. Days 14-21: compare samples

Order paid samples from the best two or three. Test them against your market rules, not only by look. Keep the approved sample as your quality standard for production.

5. Day 30: place a trial order

Start with a smaller first order. Pay a deposit, and tie the balance to a passed inspection. See our pre-shipment inspection guide for timing and costs. Then compare the cheapest ways to send the deposit in how to pay a Chinese supplier with Wise, Payoneer or Airwallex.

By region: MENA, Europe/UK and USA travel notes

MENA. UAE nationals enter visa-free for up to 30 days (UAE MOFA). Saudi, Omani, Kuwaiti and Bahraini citizens should confirm whether the 2025 trial was extended. Egyptian, Moroccan and Jordanian buyers should check the Chinese embassy site and allow time for an M visa. UAE residents travel on their own passport's rules, not their residence visa.

Europe and UK. Many EU passports and the UK passport are visa-free for 30 days until 31/12/2026 (Beijing government, CBBC). Check whether the policy is renewed for 2027. UK travellers can also read the GOV.UK travel advice for China.

USA. US citizens are not on the 30-day list. Use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket, or an M visa (Chinese Consulate New York). Read the US State Department page on China before you go.

Many buyers from all three regions fly via Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific describes an air-to-ferry link from Hong Kong airport's SkyPier to the Pazhou Ferry Terminal, next to the fair.

What goes wrong in practice (and what to do)

A booth at the Canton Fair is not a quality certificate. You still verify every supplier yourself, as for any new supplier. Here are common problems and the fix for each.

1. The fair price does not survive the RFQ

The booth price assumed a different quantity, material or Incoterm. Your booth card is your evidence. Reply with the exact numbers you noted, and ask what changed.

2. The "factory" is a trading company

This is not always bad, but you should know. Check the business scope on the licence and ask for a factory visit or video call. A trader adds a margin, but may handle mixed orders well.

3. You booked the wrong phase

Your product sat in the other phase, or the best suppliers were in another hall. Ask the booths you met for contacts in the right phase. Then plan the next session around the floor plan, not around guesswork.

4. Bank details "change" after the fair

Payment fraud often starts with an email about "new bank details". Confirm any new bank details by phone, on a number you collected at the booth. If money left for a fake account, call your bank at once and ask for a recall.

5. Hotel and flight costs double

Late bookings during fair weeks cost much more. Book as soon as the organiser confirms the dates, with free cancellation where possible.

Before you fly: the Canton Fair guide checklist

• Session dates confirmed on the official site or a MOFCOM notice

• Phase chosen from the floor plan for your exact product

• Buyer account created with your passport name and business card

• Visa route checked: visa-free, 240-hour transit or M visa with invitation letter

• Hotel booked near a Line 8 station, with free cancellation

• Target price and quantity written for each product

• Booth cards printed or saved on your phone, with the eight fields

• Business cards in English, with email and a messaging contact

• Mobile data and payment app set up before departure

• Follow-up emails drafted so you can send them within 48 hours

Related guides

Glossary

Canton Fair: the China Import and Export Fair, held in Guangzhou each spring and autumn since 1957.

Phase: one of the three 5-day parts of a session, each with its own product sections.

Buyer badge: the entry card for buyers, linked to your registration and reusable at later sessions.

Invitation letter: a letter from the organiser that supports an M visa application.

M visa: the Chinese visa for business and trade visits.

240-hour visa-free transit: a visa-free stay of up to 10 days for eligible passports. You need an onward ticket to a third country or region.

RFQ: request for quotation, the written request you send to compare suppliers.

MOQ: minimum order quantity, the smallest order a supplier accepts.

FAQ

This guide is general information for importers. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Fair dates, visa rules and fees change often; check them with the official sources and the Chinese embassy before you travel.