GTIN Exemption on Amazon

Listing products on Amazon without a GTIN (barcode).

Many reseller products don’t have barcodes. These often include print-on-demand items, handmade products, private label or multipacks and bundles.

If your product doesn’t have a barcode, you have a few choices. Get a GTIN, list in an open category or apply for a GTIN exemption from Amazon.

To list with a brand name you will need to prove your brand name. Amazon will request to see your trade mark documentation. Please visit the Australian government website to learn more about trade marks. A standard trade mark application costs a minimum of $250. You will also be required to rent your barcodes from GS1.

Some clients who don’t have a trade mark will list in open or ‘ungated’ categories such as Books, Toys, Food, and Home & Kitchen items,

To sell unbranded products on Amazon Australia:

  1. Choose an Ungated Category:

    Select a, open category that doesn’t require approval for selling.

    • Ungated categories do not require any approval from Amazon to list products. 
    • This allows sellers to list products quickly and start selling without needing to go through an approval process. 
  2. Obtain a GTIN Exemption (if needed):

    If you’re selling a product that doesn’t have a GTIN (UPC, EAN, JAN, or ISBN), you may need to request a GTIN exemption from Amazon. 

  3. List Your Product:

    Follow the regular process for creating a product listing on Amazon, entering product details and including a GTIN exemption if applicable. 

  4. Use “Generic” Carefully:
    Use the term “generic” only for products that are truly unbranded. Provide detailed descriptions and clear images to help customers understand the unbranded nature of the product. 

What is a GTIN exemption on Amazon?

Amazon allows exemptions for handmade, private label, or bundled products. This helps small sellers list products without official barcodes.

How to request a GTIN exemption:

Go to Amazon Seller Central.
Start creating a new product listing.
Select “I don’t have a product ID.”
Click “Next” and then “Apply” for an exemption.

If the category is restricted, you’ll need both category approval and a GTIN exemption.
If your brand already has registered GTINs, you can’t request an exemption for similar products.

GTIN exemption requirements on Amazon Australia

Amazon usually approves or denies requests within two business days. You’ll need:

  • Clear product and packaging photos taken from all sides. No mockups or illustrations.
  • No barcodes (GTINs) visible on the product or packaging.
  • Branding on the form must match the product and packaging exactly.
  • Packaging must permanently show the brand name or logo.
  • The correct product category must be selected. Errors may lead to rejection.

Many sellers recommend waiting one more day after approval before listing the product. This gives Amazon time to update your account.

What if your exemption is denied?

Amazon will often state the reason. Common issues include:

  • Barcodes or GTINs are visible.
  • Photos are unclear or don’t meet Amazon’s standards (see below).
  • The brand already has GTINs in Amazon’s system.

If denied, fix the issue and reapply. Many sellers are approved after updating their documentation.

How to get your photos right for Amazon

Please read the extensive information set out by Amazon before you upload your photos.

Amazon Photos supports most of the commonly used file types and formats for photos and videos.

Supported by Amazon Photos

Feature

File Type

Photo and Video Types

(This is not a definitive list)

  • Photos: JPEG, JPEG XL, BMP, PNG, GIF, most TIFF, AVIF, HEIF, HEVC, iOS Burst Photos, iOS Live Photos, HEIC, ProRaw, JP2, WEBP, and iOS Live.
  • Videos: MP4, QuickTime, AVI, MTS, MPG, ASF, WMV, Flash, HEIF, HEVC, and OGG.

RAW File Types

(This is not a definitive list)

  • Nikon (NEF files)
  • Canon (CR2, CR3 Files)
  • ARW (Sony)
  • CRW (Canon RAW CIFF image)
  • ORF (Olympus) files
  • DNG files
  • ERF files
  • MRW files
  • KDC files
Unsupported by Amazon Photos

Feature

File Type

Photo and Video Types
  • Google Motion Photos
  • Samsung Motion Photos
  • 3D Photos
  • Equirectangular Panoramic Photos
  • Lenticular Photos
  • Leica Photos
Incompatible Characters

File names cannot contain:

  • Any special characters (<>:”/\|?*\) or Unicode \x00 – \x1F
  • $$

Also File names cannot end in:

  • CON
  • PRN
  • AUX
  • NUL
  • COM[1-9]
  • LPT[1-9]
  • A space or a period
File and Folder Names Restrictions
  • Files names must contain fewer than 255 characters.
  • Folder names must contain fewer than 255 characters.

File Requirements for Amazon Photos