Buy train tickets on 12306 with a passport

5 of 5 applicable checks supportedEvidence reviewed 11 Nov 2026 · not a China Checked field test · How evidence checks work

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.

Applies to holders of foreign passports buying for themselves. Foreign permanent residents of China can also use their residence ID card.

Evidence behind these checks

Online evidence review; not a China Checked field test. 2026-11-11

  1. Official rules Evidence verified

    China Railway publishes the passport and real-name e-ticket rules.

    12306 English FAQ: passports and e-tickets — China Railway 12306

    Scope and limits: Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked.

  2. Procedure and interface Evidence verified

    MTR provides operator screenshots from registration through activation and identity verification.

    12306 passport registration, activation and verification — MTR Corporation

    Scope and limits: Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked.

  3. Foreign-passport requirements Evidence verified

    Operator instructions explicitly support foreign-passport registration and online or station verification.

    12306 passport registration, activation and verification — MTR Corporation
    Passport manual-review process — China Railway 12306

    Scope and limits: Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked.

  4. Payment route Evidence verified

    The operator table specifically lists international credit cards including Visa and Mastercard for the 12306 platform.

    12306 payment methods in MTR ticketing table — MTR Corporation

    Scope and limits: MTR publishes cross-boundary ticketing guidance; it does not guarantee every domestic order or issuing bank.

  5. Entry or use requirements Evidence verified

    Railway rules tie the e-ticket to the original booking ID used for check-in and boarding.

    12306 English FAQ: passports and e-tickets — China Railway 12306

    Scope and limits: Source-backed requirements and supported routes; not a successful transaction by China Checked.

Official site
12306.cn, English version
Official rule
You need first
Identity verification
Official rule
Tickets go on sale
15 days including today; station release times vary
Official rule
Also sold at
Station ticket counters
Official rule

Steps

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

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 Official source · 2026-11-11

Where manual review is needed, verification may take 3 to 5 working days.

Official rule Passport manual-review process · 2026-11-11

Sources

Source checked 1 Source checked 2 Source checked 3 Source checked 4 China Railway 12306, English version (official)Chongqing Government, buying train tickets as a foreign passenger, 8 Jun 2026MTR High Speed Rail, Create a 12306 account

Changes to this page

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.

Page drafted from official pages. Sales window and review time rest on secondary reports.

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