How to Buy China Train Tickets on 12306 with a Passport (2026)

By PabloNormal mode⏱ 15 min✔ Last verified 19 October 2026

Short answer: Download China Railway 12306, switch it to English, register with your passport and an international phone number, then upload your passport photo page for online verification (often minutes, up to ~24 hours). Once verified, add yourself as a passenger, book up to 15 days ahead, and pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay or a Visa/Mastercard. Your passport is your ticket. No printing.

Before you start

• Your passport, with the details exactly as printed.
• A phone number and email that can receive codes (no Chinese number needed).
• A payment method: Alipay or WeChat Pay with a linked card is the most reliable; 12306 also takes Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Diners (not Amex).
• Time: register at least a day before you need tickets, in case verification is slow.

Step by step

1. Install the right app. The official app is 铁路12306, shown as 12306 in the App Store and Google Play. The official website is www.12306.cn (English version: www.12306.cn/en/index.html). Avoid look-alike apps. Switch to English: Me → settings → Language.

   

   Railway 12306App StoreGoogle PlayOn the App Store it is listed as “铁路12306” (seller: Academy of Railway Sciences). Both listings are the official China Railway app.

2. Register. Open the 铁路12306 app (or the official site, www.12306.cn, English version). Choose passport as your ID type, scan or type your passport details, and set a username, password and email. Verify your phone and email with the codes.

3. Get verified. In the same 铁路12306 app (or on www.12306.cn, English version), upload a clear photo of your passport photo page. Approval is often automatic within minutes, but can take up to ~24 hours (longer at weekends). You can browse while waiting but can’t pay.

4. Search and book. In the 铁路12306 app or on www.12306.cn, enter From, To and the date (tickets open 15 days before departure). Tap a train, pick a class (Second / First / Business), select yourself as passenger, and choose a seat if offered.

5. Pay within 30 minutes. Still in 铁路12306 (or on www.12306.cn), choose Alipay, WeChat Pay or International Card. If a foreign card is declined, try Alipay or a different card network.

6. Board. At the station, use the staffed lane if the e-gates don’t read your passport. At the platform gate, place your open passport on the scanner or use the manual window. Arrive 30–45 minutes early at big stations.

Seats and classes

Class	What you get
Second class (二等座)	2+3 seats, the standard choice
First class (一等座)	2+2 wider seats
Business (商务座)	Lie-flat-style seats, priority lounge
Standing (无座)	Only if sold out, so try nearby stations or times first

Seat letters: A / F = window, C / D = aisle, B = middle (second class).

Refunds and changes

When you cancel	Fee
More than 15 days before	5%
48 hours – 15 days	10%
24 – 48 hours	20%
Under 24 hours	25%

Changing to another train on the same route is usually free if done more than 48 hours before departure.

If it doesn’t work

Problem	Fix
Verification still pending	Wait up to 24h; re-upload a sharper photo; or book on Trip.com meanwhile
Card declined	Pay via Alipay or WeChat Pay, try another card, or call your bank
Sold out	Try other departure times, a nearby station (e.g. Shanghai Hongqiao vs Shanghai), or second-class vs first
E-gate won’t read passport	Use the staffed lane; that’s normal for foreign passports

12306 or Trip.com?

12306 (www.12306.cn, app 铁路12306) is official with no booking fee. Trip.com (official site: www.trip.com; app: Trip.com) sells the same tickets in polished English with easier foreign-card checkout. If registration or payment on 12306 gets stuck, Trip.com is the fastest plan B; Klook sells the same tickets too (affiliate links). See our high-speed train guide for the full journey.

Trip.comApp StoreGoogle Play

FAQ

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

No. An international number with country code works for registration codes.

Can I book for friends?

Yes. Add them as passengers with their passport details; each passenger needs their own passport at the station.

Do I need to print anything?

No. Your passport is your ticket; the order screen shows your carriage and seat.

Still stuck?

Try the steps above, or get help from a real person.

Sources: official China Railway 12306 site (www.12306.cn, English) and app; registration, payment and refund details as summarized by China for Travelers (updated Aug 2026) and Real China Trip. Rules and fees can change, so check in the app before you book.