How to Buy China Train Tickets with a Foreign Passport (2026)

How to Buy China Train Tickets with a Foreign Passport (2026)

Last checked: August 30, 2026. This guide uses the English-language rules published by China Railway 12306 and Hong Kong High Speed Rail. It is written for international visitors using a foreign passport, not a Chinese Resident Identity Card.

How to buy China train tickets with a foreign passport is straightforward when you use the official 12306 channel and keep one rule in mind: the passport details on the booking must match the original passport you carry to the station. This guide gives you the exact account fields, passenger path, payment options, e-ticket rules and station backup route.

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains no paid booking link at the time of publication. Matt China Guide may use affiliate links in future articles; a qualifying purchase through a properly labelled affiliate link may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The official 12306 links in this guide are not affiliate links.

The answer first

You can buy mainland China train tickets with a valid foreign passport. The main recommendation is the official 12306 English website: create an account with the exact details printed on your passport, buy the ticket under the passenger’s own passport, then bring that same original passport to the station.

When your order is an e-ticket, the passport is the document used to enter the station, board the train, and leave the station. Do not rely on a booking email, an itinerary sheet, a screenshot, or a passport copy as your boarding document. China Railway says an itinerary sheet and reimbursement receipt cannot be used as tickets.

Suggested WordPress filename: china-high-speed-train-shanghai.jpg. ALT: China high-speed train in Shanghai for foreign passport train ticket guide. Photo: Benlisquare, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Who this guide is for

Use this guide when all of the following apply:

• You are visiting mainland China with a foreign passport recognised by the People’s Republic of China.
• You are a first-time or occasional independent traveller who wants to buy an intercity or high-speed rail ticket yourself.
• You are travelling alone, with friends, or with family. Every passenger needs a separate ticket under that passenger’s own valid identity document.
• You are travelling from any country. The passport rule is the same; your payment method may differ because card issuers and payment screens differ.

This guide is not for travel on a Chinese Resident Identity Card, the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, or a group-tour operator’s rail booking. Ask your operator for the booking reference and passenger-document details when a tour includes rail transport.

What to prepare before you open 12306

Prepare this	Why you need it	Exact rule or action
Original valid passport	It is your real-name ticket document and station document.	Use the passport’s Latin spelling, passport number, date of birth and expiry date exactly as printed. Carry this original passport on travel day.
An email address you can open	The 12306 English registration form requires an email address and says notifications are sent there.	Use an inbox you can access while travelling; do not use a throwaway address.
A phone or computer with internet	You need it to register, search, pay and keep the order details.	Use the official site www.12306.cn/en/ or the official 12306 mobile app.
A contact method for each passenger record	12306’s current passenger process asks for personal information and a mobile phone number; account notifications use email.	Use a mobile number and email inbox you can access during the trip.
An international payment card or China UnionPay card	12306’s current guidance lists International Card and China UnionPay at payment.	Use the payment option shown on official checkout. Bank approval still controls whether your own card payment succeeds.
The exact departure station, arrival station and travel date	Large cities often have several railway stations.	Search the station name shown by 12306, then check the train number and departure station before you pay.

Do not prepare a Chinese ID number. The current 12306 English registration page states that only foreign passports are accepted for registration. Do not use another traveller’s passport details to make your booking. A valid ID can hold only one ticket for the same train on the same travel date.

When tickets normally go on sale

Hong Kong High Speed Rail’s current 12306 guidance says that, in normal circumstances, tickets are available 15 days before departure. Its 30-minute sales cut-off applies to departures from Hong Kong West Kowloon; for trains departing a mainland station, the cut-off follows that individual station’s arrangement. This is not a promise for every route or holiday period. The safe action is simple: search your exact route and date on 12306. A date that the live search permits you to select is bookable; a date that the live search does not permit is not yet open or is no longer available.

For Spring Festival, National Day and other peak periods, do not build an itinerary around an unconfirmed ticket. Search the live inventory, choose a workable train, and keep a second departure time or route in mind before you pay.

Suggested WordPress filename: shenzhen-high-speed-train-platform.jpg. ALT: China high-speed train waiting at Shenzhen railway station platform. Photo: Timothytyy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to buy China train tickets with a foreign passport: exact steps

1. Open the official English booking site

Open www.12306.cn/en/. China Railway identifies this as the official website of the China Railway Customer Service Center and says it will not handle ticketing problems that happened on other websites.

Use the English site for your first purchase because the registration form and official FAQ are available in English. Do not buy a ticket from a lookalike site with “12306” in its name.

2. Create your 12306 account with your passport details

Select Register. The current English form requires these fields:

1. Nationality.
2. Name.
3. Passport number.
4. Passport expiration date.
5. Date of birth.
6. Gender.
7. Username.
8. Password and confirmation.
9. Email address.

Enter your name character for character as it appears in the machine-readable Latin text on the passport data page. Do not change the order of names, add a nickname, omit a middle name shown in the passport, or enter Chinese characters in place of the passport spelling. Enter the passport number and expiry date from the document in your hand, then complete the registration steps displayed by 12306.

3. Add every traveller as a passenger before searching for a train

In the current 12306 mobile app, open My, select Passenger, then select Add a passenger. On the English website, use the My Passengers list named in China Railway’s FAQ. Add each traveller’s full name, document type, passport number and mobile phone number exactly as the traveller’s documents show.

Do this before a peak-sale time. A passenger record with a spelling or number mismatch creates a real-name ticket problem; do not wait until the payment screen to discover it. The passenger must pass real-name verification. When the account labels a passenger Verification failed, complete the real-name verification before attempting to pay. For a family, create a separate record for every adult and child who needs a ticket.

4. Search the exact route and date

Open Booking. Enter the departure city or station, arrival city or station, and travel date. In a city with more than one station, select the station that matches your hotel or next connection. For example, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou all have multiple railway stations.

Read the train result from left to right before selecting it:

1. Train number.
2. Departure station.
3. Departure time.
4. Arrival station.
5. Arrival time.
6. Seat or berth class and availability.

Do not choose a train solely because the city name looks right. A ticket from Shanghai Hongqiao is not interchangeable with Shanghai Railway Station, and a departure after midnight may fall on the following calendar day.

Suggested WordPress filename: futian-railway-station-ticket-office.jpg. ALT: China railway station ticket office as a backup for foreign passport ticket purchase. Photo: Shwangtianyuan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. This photo illustrates the station backup option; it is not a current 12306 screen.

5. Select the passenger, check every detail, then pay

Select the traveller from the My Passengers list. Before you make payment, check these five items on the order page:

1. The passenger’s name matches the passport.
2. The passport number matches the passport.
3. The date and departure time are correct.
4. The departure and arrival stations are correct.
5. The train number and seat or berth class are correct.

12306’s current guidance says the system assigns the seat number randomly. Select the travel class you want, but do not promise a specific seat position to yourself or another traveller before the completed order displays it.

Select International Card or China UnionPay on the official payment page, then complete payment within the time displayed on that page. A payment that your bank declines has not created a usable ticket. Return to the official order page and confirm that the order status shows Payment Successful before leaving the site.

6. Keep the e-ticket information, but travel with the passport

After successful payment, save the train number, date, stations, departure time and seat or berth details in your phone. You may also print or download the itinerary sheet for reference. China Railway states that this sheet is not a ticket.

The document that matters at the station is the original valid passport used to buy the ticket. Keep it accessible, not packed inside checked luggage or left at your hotel.

Suggested WordPress filename: beijing-west-railway-station-entrance.jpg. ALT: Railway station entrance for China train passengers travelling with passports. Photo: N509FZ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

At the station: what to do with an e-ticket

China Railway’s FAQ says e-ticket passengers use the valid ID document used for purchase to check in, exit the station and board the train. For this guide, that means the original foreign passport attached to the booking.

Follow this order:

1. Go to the departure station printed in your order.
2. Complete the station’s security check.
3. Use the passport/manual channel indicated by the station staff or signage when the automated gate does not read your passport.
4. Show the original passport to staff whenever they request the real-name ticket document.
5. Check the departure board for the train number and boarding gate.
6. Keep the passport with you until you leave the arrival station.

Do not attempt to enter with a photocopy of the passport, a photo on another person’s phone, a payment receipt, or the itinerary sheet. These items can help you locate the booking, but they do not replace the identity document used to buy the e-ticket.

Suggested WordPress filename: china-high-speed-train-xuchang-east-platform.jpg. ALT: China high-speed train at platform before foreign passport passenger boarding. Photo: Windmemories, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Limits and failure branches

Your passport data does not match the order

Do not board with a mismatch. Open the 12306 order and use its official change or refund flow before departure, or go to a railway station ticket counter with the original passport and the order details. Do not create a second account with altered spellings to get around verification.

Your payment is declined

Stop after one failed attempt and check the reason shown by your bank or 12306. Confirm that your bank permits the payment, then try another payment method that the official checkout accepts. Do not assume that the ticket is held while a payment fails; return to the search results and check availability again after resolving the payment problem.

You have cancelled orders repeatedly

Do not use cancellation as a way to hold tickets while deciding. Hong Kong High Speed Rail’s current 12306 guidance says that, after an order has been cancelled more than three times, tickets cannot be bought online on the same day. Use the live 12306 order screen for your account’s current status, then use the railway ticket counter with the original passport when online purchase is unavailable.

The English site does not let you complete registration or verification

Use the backup route below: go to a railway station ticket counter with the original passport. The official FAQ lists station ticket counters as a China Railway ticket-sale channel. Do not use a random reseller solely because the registration screen was inconvenient.

The automated gate does not accept your passport

Use the staffed passport/manual channel designated at that station. Present the same original passport used for purchase and your confirmed train details. Do not repeatedly force the automatic gate or hand your passport to an unofficial helper.

You need to change or refund a ticket

The 12306 English site provides ticket endorsement and refund services. Open the order in your own 12306 account and follow the live terms displayed for that ticket, because deadlines and fees depend on the time before departure and can change. When the online action cannot be completed, take the original passport to a railway ticket counter.

Suggested WordPress filename: tongxiang-railway-station-ticket-office.jpg. ALT: China railway ticket office for passport holder train ticket support. Photo: N509FZ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to Buy China Train Tickets with a Foreign Passport: Two Booking Options

Option	When to use it	What you need	Trade-off
Main recommendation: 12306 English website	You can register and complete official checkout before going to the station.	Valid foreign passport, email address, mobile phone number, internet connection and an international card or China UnionPay card.	Direct China Railway channel; you must enter every passport field accurately.
Backup: railway station ticket counter	Online registration, verification or payment cannot be completed.	Original passport and your route, date and train preference.	Official sales channel, but you may face queues or find that the train is sold out.

Do not treat an automatic ticket machine as the backup recommendation for a foreign passport. China Railway lists machines as a sales channel, but the official English FAQ does not promise that every machine reads every passport. A staffed ticket counter is the reliable fallback this guide recommends.

Prefer an English or other languages booking service? Use Trip.com

If you cannot complete 12306 registration, identity verification or payment, Trip.com is a commercial alternative for searching and buying China train tickets in English. Create your own Trip.com account, enter the passenger’s passport details exactly as printed, review the train, station, date and refund conditions, then complete payment on Trip.com’s checkout page.

Important: A Trip.com booking does not remove China Railway’s real-name travel requirement. Travel with the same original passport entered on the booking. Confirm the booking status and the ticket-collection or station-entry instructions in your Trip.com order before you leave for the station.

Affiliate link: Search and book China train tickets on Trip.com

Use Trip.com because its English booking flow suits you, not because you expect a guaranteed passport approval, seat, fare, refund or payment result. Compare the total price and the change/refund terms before purchasing.

How to Buy China Train Tickets with a Foreign Passport: Final Answer

How to buy China train tickets with a foreign passport comes down to three things: register on the official 12306 English platform with exact passport data, complete payment and confirm the successful order, then carry that same original passport through the station. When online registration, verification or payment fails, use the railway ticket counter with the original passport instead of risking an unverified reseller.

FAQ

Can a foreigner buy China train tickets without a Chinese ID card?

Yes. China Railway says foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with a valid passport. The English 12306 registration page states that only foreign passports are accepted for registration. Or sign in trip.com to order within one-minute.

Do I need to collect a paper ticket before boarding?

No. China Railway sells e-tickets. Keep the booking information, but bring the original passport used to purchase the ticket. An itinerary sheet or reimbursement receipt cannot be used as a ticket.

Can I buy tickets for another person?

Yes, but enter that passenger’s exact name, document type and passport number in the passenger list. China Railway says a registered user whose identity information has the applicable verification status can buy tickets for themselves or others. Every passenger must travel with the identity document used for that passenger’s ticket.

Is a foreign credit card guaranteed to work on 12306?

No. The current 12306 guidance lists International Card and China UnionPay, but it does not guarantee every overseas bank’s card approval. Use the official checkout, confirm the order status after payment, and use the station ticket counter with your passport when online payment cannot be completed.

Can I board with a photo of my passport?

No. Use the original valid passport that was used to buy the e-ticket. A passport photo is not a replacement for the document required for real-name station entry and boarding.

Official sources

• China Railway 12306 English FAQ: passport eligibility, e-ticket document rules, official sales channels, English-site services and operating hours.
• China Railway 12306 English registration: current foreign-passport registration fields.
• Hong Kong High Speed Rail: purchase tickets on 12306: English-platform availability, current mobile-app steps, payment choices and the normal 15-day purchase window.
• Trip.com: Full service of travel agent

For payment preparation before your trip, read How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner. Start with the China travel start guide for the rest of your arrival checklist.

About Matt China Guide

I am Matt, a Chinese local writing practical China travel guides for people visiting the country for the first time. My role is to translate the local systems that visitors meet in real life – payments, rail travel, apps, station rules and booking steps – into clear English actions before they become a problem at a counter or gate.

I do not ask readers to trust a vague travel tip. For this guide, I checked the English-language rules published by China Railway 12306 and Hong Kong High Speed Rail, linked those sources above, and marked the date I checked them. When a result depends on a traveller’s passport, bank, account status, city or station, I say that directly instead of presenting it as a universal rule.

This is the standard behind Matt China Guide:

• Official rules before opinions: I link the railway, government or platform source that supports a key action.
• Exact steps before generic advice: I explain what to prepare, what to tap or select, what document to carry, and what to do when the normal route fails.
• Local context without invented claims: I explain why a station name, a passport match or a payment confirmation matters, but I do not claim to be a railway employee or promise a result that only 12306 can approve.
• Updates are part of the guide: Every time-sensitive post carries a visible “Last checked” date. When an official rule changes, I update the guide rather than leaving an old workaround online.

My goal is simple: help you arrive prepared, make the right decision once, and spend your time in China travelling instead of untangling avoidable problems. Read the China travel start guide to plan the rest of your first trip.

Read more:

How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner in 2026 – Matt China Guide