Amazon GTIN Exemption: List Without a Barcode

An Amazon GTIN exemption is Amazon's approval to list a product that has no barcode. Small makers often sell without EAN or UPC codes, and this is the route for them. You apply with your brand name and real product photos, wait for approval, then list using exactly the brand and category shown on the approval notice.

Who can get the exemption?

Amazon's own forum post on the subject says exemptions are not available for brands that already have GS1-approved barcodes on their products. So the first check is simple: if your product carries such a barcode, use it. If it does not, you can apply. The same post says you may also need approval for the category itself, so check that first.

What must your product photos show?

Most trouble with an application comes down to the photos, so prepare them before you apply. Amazon's post sets these conditions:

• Real-world pictures of the product, not computer generated and free of digital enhancements.
• Clear, uncut and legible images.
• The brand or publisher name permanently printed on the product or packaging.
• A brand name in your application that exactly matches the name on the product.

A sticker you add only for the photo is a weak way to meet the printed-name condition. If your packs are plain today, sort out printing or stamping your brand before you apply.

How do you list after approval?

1. Check the status of your application in your case log.
2. After approval, wait before you list. Amazon's post says 30 minutes; sellers in other forum threads suggest giving it up to 24 hours.
3. Enter the category and brand exactly as your approval notice shows them. A different case, extra characters or extra spaces mean the system will not recognise the exemption.
4. Set the product ID columns as your template asks.

Should the Product Id column be blank?

Two Amazon sources read differently here, so check yours. The product template downloaded on 21 October 2026 says that if the product is exempt from external ID, you select GTIN Exempt in Product Id Type. The forum post says to leave the Product ID and Product ID Type columns blank. Follow the Data Definitions sheet of the template you actually downloaded, since that is the file Amazon will process. Then test with a few products: the template recommends a first upload of 15 or fewer.