China's Microdrama Classes 1, 2 and 3 Explained: Filing, Distribution Licences and On-Screen Numbers (2026)

Who this is for, and what it helps you decide

This page is for writers, producers and small teams making short dramas in mainland China, supplying Chinese platforms, or shooting in China for overseas apps. By the end you should be able to tell which class a project probably falls into, what happens before the shoot and after the cut, and what to leave room for on screen, in ad creatives and for AI labels.

Rules are current as of November 4, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai). We re-read all six public pages that day. The tables only contain what the original texts say; our own judgement is kept in a separate, labelled section.

The three classes at a glance (facts, from the Measures)

Rules that apply across the board: a microdrama with no licence, approval document or programme number may not be released or entered for awards (Art. 17). A low-budget project with a sensitive subject is still Class 1. A project below the Class 1 or Class 2 bar may opt in to the higher class (Art. 50).

Budget lines: the old standard and the 2026 adjustment (facts, plus one inference)

Our reading: Classes 1, 2 and 3 in the Measures line up, by wording, with the old "key", "ordinary" and "other" tiers. But Article 5 only says the national regulator sets the thresholds and will adjust them; no figures appear in the Measures. Treat RMB 3m and RMB 1m as reference lines, not contract language. A commentary by NRTA Think Tank (国家广电智库), reprinted by Guangdong, also warns against splitting contracts or blurring budgets to drop a class.

Other rules that touch scripts and creatives (facts)

• Outline changes mean refiling: for Class 1, changing the listed main characters' roles or the overall direction of the story requires a new filing; a title or producer change only needs an amendment (Art. 16).
• Ads follow the same standard as the show: promotional material must match the content and may not include anything banned under Arts. 25–26 (Art. 28).
• Opening card and credits: the title and licence, approval or programme number go in a visible spot at the start, either as a separate card or worked into the scene; writer and director credits go at the start of episode 1 or the end of the last episode (Art. 27).
• AI labels on every episode: microdramas generated or produced with AI must carry a visible notice in each episode (Art. 34).
• Paid content must be explained: platforms offering paid content must state the charges clearly and may not use algorithms that encourage addiction or overspending (Arts. 40, 37).
• Shows made for overseas apps are covered: microdramas shot in China for release abroad fall under the filing and licensing rules (Art. 52).
• Penalties: producing off the filed version, airing off the licensed version, or switching regulators mid-review can bring a warning or public notice and a fine of up to RMB 100,000 (Art. 46).

What the on-screen numbers look like

The earlier notice set three formats (fact): key microdramas use "(NRTA or province) 网微剧审字 (year) No. xxx"; ordinary microdramas use "(NRTA or province) 网微剧备字 (year) No. xxx"; other microdramas use "(platform short name) 网微剧备字 (year) No. xxx".

One example under the new Measures (fact): Beijing's broadcast bureau switched to new licences and filing numbers on September 1. That day 6 titles received distribution licences and 5 received online filing numbers; one of them was numbered "(京)微短剧备字(2026)第001号". That is a single sample. We found no published national rule for the new number format; the Measures only say the national regulator sets the numbering for Class 2 approvals.

What it may mean for writers and producers (editorial inference, untested)

1. Decide the class first. If the budget sits near the RMB 1m or 3m reference lines, or the story touches courts or police, prepare for the higher class. That is cheaper than filing late.
2. For Class 1, the outline is the filing. Lock the main characters' roles and the story's direction at synopsis stage; rewriting characters mid-shoot can trigger a new filing. Our [short drama beat sheet template](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/short-drama-beat-sheet-template/) helps you fix the season arc before you file.
3. Leave a slot for the number. Non-exclusive Class 3 titles carry a different number on each platform, so make it a swappable layer in the edit. Episode length still has to meet platform minimums; see our [episode duration guide](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/vertical-drama-episode-duration-guide/).
4. Clear ad cuts to the same standard as the show. If a viral clip is racier than the episode, the risk sits in the clip.
5. Plan the AI notice into the opening card or a corner badge for every episode. For overseas platform rules, compare our [YouTube AI disclosure guide](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/youtube-ai-disclosure-guide/).
6. If you shoot in China for an overseas app, don't assume filing is optional. Article 52 says it applies.

FAQ

Q: Does a low-budget drama need a licence? A: Under the Measures, Class 3 titles need no licence from the regulator, but the platform must review them and assign a programme number before release. Without it they cannot air. Q: How long does Class 1 approval take? A: A decision within 20 days of acceptance, 10 of them for expert review. That covers the finished-cut review for Class 1 only, not pre-shoot filing; Class 2 has no national deadline. Q: A RMB 500k drama involves the police. Which class? A: Article 5 defines Class 1 as larger investment "or" a sensitive subject, so either one is enough. It is Class 1. Q: If one province rejects the cut, can I submit to another? A: No. Once a review has been applied for and no licence has been granted, or it has been refused, you may not move the submission to another regulator (Art. 21).

What remains unclear

• Budget thresholds: none appear in the Measures. RMB 3m and RMB 1m come from Guangdong's reprint of the January 2026 adjustment (originally published by Shiting Kuaiping); we did not read the regulator's original notice.
• Date of the earlier notice: the NRTA page is dated 2025-02-05, but its deadlines refer to May and June 2024, so the text may be older.
• The new number format rests on one Beijing sample; other provinces are unverified.
• Guangxi's classification page would not load from our environment today, so we do not cite it.
• The section on what this means for writers and producers is our inference, not backed by platform or regulator data. Check with your local regulator and platform for any specific project. This is not legal advice.
• For market context see [microdrama market 2026 numbers](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/microdrama-market-2026-numbers/); for terms see the [short drama glossary](https://news.shorstory.com/en/articles/short-drama-glossary/).

Sources

Accessed November 4, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai): - 国家广播电视总局, "国家广播电视总局令第16号：《微短剧发展管理办法》": https://www.nrta.gov.cn/art/2026/7/31/art_113_73785.html - 中国政府网·国务院公报, "国家广播电视总局令（第16号）微短剧发展管理办法": https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_13006/202609/content_7082247.html - 国家广播电视总局, "国家广播电视总局办公厅关于进一步统筹发展和安全促进网络微短剧行业健康繁荣发展的通知": https://www.nrta.gov.cn/art/2025/2/5/art_113_70148.html - 广东省广播电视局（转载视听快评）, "广电总局：调整微短剧分类分层标准": https://gbdsj.gd.gov.cn/zxzx/hydt/content/post_4841440.html - 广东省广播电视局（转载国家广电智库）, "《微短剧发展管理办法》9月1日施行：这部新规有哪些政策要点？": https://gbdsj.gd.gov.cn/zxzx/hydt/content/post_4949660.html - 北京市人民政府台湾事务办公室（来源：京彩台湾）, "9月1日起《微短剧发展管理办法》正式施行……获北京市广电局核发备案号": https://www.bjstb.gov.cn/bjtb/zwgk/tzgg6/1369671/index.html

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