China business licence and USCC: what buyers should check
Use the Chinese legal name and 18-character Unified Social Credit Code to match the supplier to registry data. Check the licence image quality, code checksum, entity status, legal representative and consistency with the contract and bank account.
What the USCC is
The Unified Social Credit Code is the 18-character identifier used in Chinese business registration. It is more reliable than a translated company name, but the code still has to match the intended entity.
- Validate the 18-character format.
- Compare the code and name to the licence.
- Avoid using a screenshot where digits are unclear.
What to compare on the licence
Look at the legal name, entity type, legal representative, registered address, establishment date, registration status and the code.
Connect the licence to the transaction
The contracting party, invoice issuer and bank beneficiary should be consistent. Ask about any related or group company in writing and keep the explanation with the due-diligence file.
Frequently asked questions
Is an 18-character code always valid?
The format can be checked, but the code must also resolve to the intended entity and current registration.
Can I use a translated name alone?
It is not recommended. Translation can change or obscure the legal entity; request the licence or USCC.
Supplier Relationship Check Results are due-diligence leads, not findings of wrongdoing. Name-based matches are marked for manual verification and should be checked against source records.
Run a supplier checkSources: Chinese business licence supplied by the counterparty · Chinese business-registration public information
Results are due-diligence leads, not findings of wrongdoing. Name-based matches are marked for manual verification and should be checked against source records.