NZ MFAT guide restates China mobile ISBN, CADPA age bands and local stores

In September 2026 the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade published Entering China’s Mobile Gaming Market: A Guide to Licensing and Regulatory Approval (labelled Creative and ICT: September 2026). The page we opened on 20 September 2026 is official trade guidance for foreign entrants. It is not an NPPA primary bulletin and not a measurement of China UA CPI.

What the guide restates

MFAT states that games intended for official release or monetisation in mainland China generally need a Game Publishing ISBN; a foreign company cannot apply directly and must partner with a mainland operator (ICP / B25 licence, ICP filing, mobile app filing) and a Chinese publisher holding a Web Publishing Service License. Hong Kong / Macao partners and foreign-owned China subsidiaries are described as unable to apply for an ISBN.

Required submission materials listed include a full game build, scripts/assets, monetisation design, real-name authentication, and anti-addiction mechanisms. Required features include data localisation for personal information, real-name verification, minors protections, healthy-gaming splash text, MIIT-aligned privacy/ToS, and display of the NPPA licence number at startup.

Age rating is described as requested during the ISBN application and assigned via the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association as 8+ / 12+ / 16+. Distribution must use China-specific stores; Google Play is noted as unavailable in mainland China, while Apple App Store availability still requires an ISBN for Chinese users.

MFAT states NPPA does not publish fixed approval timeframes (months to a year or longer) and that monthly public approval lists are the main visibility mechanism. The report also embeds a sample table of games approved January–April 2026 drawn from NPPA lists.

Operator action

Download the field card. Use MFAT as orientation; confirm any named title on the NPPA licence index.

Research checked 20 September 2026. Local draft; human editorial review pending.