# Buy train tickets on 12306 with a passport Source: https://chinachecked.org/china/12306-with-passport/ Publisher: China Checked Last checked: 11 Nov 2026 Evidence checks supported: 5 of 5 Status: Online evidence reviewed; not a field test. ## Short answer China’s railway sells tickets through its own platform, 12306, which has an English website and app for foreign passport holders. Register, complete identity verification with your passport details, then buy. You can only buy and board once verification has passed, so do it days before you need a ticket. Station counters also sell tickets. ## Verification on 11 Nov 2026 These checks assess evidence for the stated route and conditions. Source support is separate from personal testing; read each finding and its limits below. ## Steps - 1 Open the English version of 12306.cn, or install the Railway 12306 app, and register with your passport.Official rule - 2 Complete identity verification: enter your name, nationality and passport number as the system asks.Official rule - 3 When manual passport review is required, the 12306 page states 3–5 working days.Official 12306 page - 4 Search and buy within the official 15-day window, including the sale date. Opening times vary by station and temporary changes may apply.Official 12306 help - 5 Travel with the same passport you registered. If the site does not work for you, buy at a station ticket counter.Official rule ## How to tell it worked A red seal means the stated requirement or route has sufficient supporting evidence. It does not mean our team registered, paid or travelled. Official instructions can establish supported requirements; a live form alone does not prove a successful card settlement. Independent checks may remain incomplete, and not-applicable items are excluded from the total. [Evidence behind these checks](#verification) ## If it fails ### Identity verification has not passed in time You cannot buy online until it does. Go to a station ticket counter with your passport. ### Your date is not on sale yet Other guides report a 15-day sales window, which the railway can change. We have not confirmed the current window on a 12306 page. ### Your train is sold out Try another departure or seat class. We have not checked how the standby list works for foreign passports. ## Every fact on this page Each fact has its own link, so you can point to exactly what you are relying on. Foreign passengers can buy tickets online through the English version of the 12306 website or the 12306 app. Official rule Chongqing Government transport guide, 8 Jun 2026 · read 10 Nov 2026 Foreign passengers can only buy tickets and board trains after passing identity verification. Official rule Chongqing Government transport guide, 8 Jun 2026 Verification is done by entering name, nationality, ID number and other details on the 12306 website. Official rule Chongqing Government transport guide, 8 Jun 2026 Tickets can also be bought at railway station ticket counters. Official rule Chongqing Government transport guide, 8 Jun 2026 The English platform is for foreign passport holders. Official rule MTR High Speed Rail, 12306 account guide · read 10 Nov 2026 Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure, counting the day of sale. Official rule [Source checked · 11 Nov 2026](https://help.12306.cn/cms/answer/h5/001531826595438842083440b580b2e0) Where manual review is needed, verification may take 3 to 5 working days. Official rule [Source checked · 11 Nov 2026](https://kyfw.12306.cn/otn/view/passportVerification.html) ## Sources [Source checked 1](https://www.12306.cn/en/register.html) [Source checked 2](https://www.12306.cn/en/faq.html) [Source checked 3](https://help.12306.cn/cms/answer/h5/001531826595438842083440b580b2e0) [Source checked 4](https://kyfw.12306.cn/otn/view/passportVerification.html) [China Railway 12306, English version (official)](https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html) [Chongqing Government, buying train tickets as a foreign passenger, 8 Jun 2026](https://english.cq.gov.cn/services/liveinchongqing/Transport/202606/t20260608_15737784.html) [MTR High Speed Rail, Create a 12306 account](https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk/en/latest-news/ticketing-via-12306-account-registration.html) ## Changes to this page 11 Nov 2026 On desktop Chrome the English registration form showed nationality, passport number and expiry, birth date and email fields. Railway sources confirm a 15-day sales window including the sale date, subject to adjustments, and 3–5 working days for manual document review. We submitted no personal data and did not complete registration, identity verification or purchase. 10 Nov 2026 Page drafted from official pages. Sales window and review time rest on secondary reports. ## Evidence checks 5 of 5 applicable checks supported. Online evidence review; not a China Checked field test. ### Official rules — Evidence verified China Railway publishes the passport and real-name e-ticket rules. Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked. - [12306 English FAQ: passports and e-tickets](https://www.12306.cn/en/faq.html) — China Railway 12306 ### Procedure and interface — Evidence verified MTR provides operator screenshots from registration through activation and identity verification. Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked. - [12306 passport registration, activation and verification](https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk/en/latest-news/ticketing-via-12306-account-registration.html) — MTR Corporation ### Foreign-passport requirements — Evidence verified Operator instructions explicitly support foreign-passport registration and online or station verification. Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked. - [12306 passport registration, activation and verification](https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk/en/latest-news/ticketing-via-12306-account-registration.html) — MTR Corporation - [Passport manual-review process](https://kyfw.12306.cn/otn/view/passportVerification.html) — China Railway 12306 ### Payment route — Evidence verified The operator table specifically lists international credit cards including Visa and Mastercard for the 12306 platform. MTR publishes cross-boundary ticketing guidance; it does not guarantee every domestic order or issuing bank. - [12306 payment methods in MTR ticketing table](https://www.highspeed.mtr.com.hk/en/ticket/ticket-purchase-channels.html) — MTR Corporation ### Entry or use requirements — Evidence verified Railway rules tie the e-ticket to the original booking ID used for check-in and boarding. Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked. - [12306 English FAQ: passports and e-tickets](https://www.12306.cn/en/faq.html) — China Railway 12306