Quick answer

Your passport is the identity record behind the ticket.

Enter the passenger name and passport number exactly, finish any required verification, and do not stop at the payment screen. Before travel, confirm the order is actually issued or ticketed. Carry the same original passport to the station or attraction; it is what staff and scanners use to match you to the booking.

Prepare first

What to have ready before you book

Your first passport-linked booking takes longer than a routine domestic purchase. Set up the passenger profile before tickets go on sale, especially for popular rail routes and time-slotted attractions.

  • 01
    Your original passport

    Use the valid document you will physically carry on travel day.

  • 02
    An exact name record

    Copy surname and all given names from the passport data page.

  • 03
    A reachable phone or email

    Keep access to verification codes and order notifications.

  • 04
    A working payment method

    Prepare a supported card or mobile wallet and keep a backup available.

Choose your route

12306 or Trip.com?

Both can create passport-linked railway e-tickets. The best choice depends on how much support you want, how quickly you need to book, and whether you prefer the official railway channel.

Official railway channel

12306

Best when you want direct access to China Railway inventory and official change or refund tools. The English website and app flows are available, but passport verification and some account screens may still require extra care.

Best for: direct booking, lower service cost, repeat rail trips
International booking channel

Trip.com

Best when you want a familiar English interface, international payment methods, and multilingual support. Check the final total for handling or booking charges before paying.

Best for: first bookings, urgent trips, English support

Identity accuracy

Build the passenger record from the passport

Ticket gates compare your booking record with the ID document used to buy it. A payment can succeed while the passenger record is wrong, so this is the point to slow down.

Exact document numberUse the same letters and numbers, without invented spaces or punctuation.
Full legal nameKeep middle names when they appear on the passport data page.
Same physical documentA renewed passport normally has a different number and will not match automatically.
Passport identity chain

One identity record, four checkpoints

  1. 01
    Passport data page

    Start with the full legal name and exact document number.

    Source of truth
  2. 02
    Passenger profile

    Copy the same name, number, and passport document type.

    Must match
  3. 03
    Issued order

    Confirm the ticket belongs to that saved passenger record.

    Verify after payment
  4. 04
    Gate or staffed lane

    Carry the same original passport used in the booking.

    Physical proof
Full legal namePassport numberDocument type
If any checkpoint shows a different traveler, number, document type, or passport, stop before payment or contact the platform before travel.

From account to gate

The 7-step passport-linked booking flow

Treat the process as a chain of checkpoints. The booking is only useful when each step produces the expected result.

  1. 1

    Create and verify the account

    Add a passenger with passport as the document type. On 12306, complete the identity prompts shown for your account. Your goal is a passenger profile that the platform accepts for purchase.

  2. 2

    Copy the passport details carefully

    Enter surname, given names, nationality, date of birth, and document number exactly. Avoid nicknames, missing middle names, and a different passport from the one you will carry.

  3. 3

    Search when inventory is available

    For trains, confirm the correct city pair, date, station, and seat class. Railway tickets are commonly sold within a 15-day window, while attraction release schedules vary by venue.

  4. 4

    Review the passenger summary

    Before payment, make sure the order shows the correct traveler and passport record. If the page shows the wrong ID type or saved passenger, stop and fix it.

    Select ticketChoose passengerReview ID
  5. 5

    Pay before the order timer expires

    Use a payment method offered by the platform and finish any bank authentication. If the order expires, the seat returns to inventory and you will need to start again.

  6. 6

    Confirm the ticket was issued

    Open the order after payment. Look for an issued, ticketed, or confirmed status—not only a receipt or bank charge. Save the order number and an offline screenshot.

    • Passenger name and passport number are correct.
    • Departure station, date, and time are correct.
    • The order is no longer pending or processing.
  7. 7

    Travel with the original passport

    At a railway station, try the passport reader or use the staffed lane. At an attraction, follow the confirmation: some venues scan a QR code, some match the passport, and others require ticket collection.

After payment

How to know the ticket is usable

A bank charge or payment receipt proves that money moved. It does not, by itself, prove that the platform produced the final ticket record.

Railway e-ticket

Look for issued status

On 12306, review the completed order. On Trip.com, open the train order and confirm it is ticketed or confirmed. Keep the booking reference, but expect the passport—not the screenshot—to be checked at the station.

Ready when: the order is issued and matches your passport
Attraction booking

Read the entry method

Save the QR code or confirmation number and check whether the venue requires the passport, a collection window, or a separate reservation. Different gates may accept different proof.

Ready when: you know the exact entry or collection step

24 hours before travel

Run one final ticket check

Match the passport

Compare the document number and full name on the order with the passport in your hand.

Check place and time

Confirm the exact station or venue, departure slot, and arrival buffer.

Save offline proof

Screenshot the issued status, order number, QR code, and collection instructions.

Troubleshooting

Common ticketing problems and fixes

Identity verification does not pass

Check: glare, blur, cropped document edges, name order, and passport number. Retake the document image in even light and follow the platform’s resubmission prompts. If travel is urgent, use another authorized booking channel.

The payment succeeded but the order is still processing

Check: the final order status rather than your bank notification. Do not create duplicate orders immediately. Monitor the booking, then contact the platform if it remains pending beyond the stated processing time.

The passport gate does not open

Fix: move to a staffed lane and show the original passport plus the booking reference. If the record contains an error, staff may direct you to the ticket service counter.

The attraction rejects the QR code

Check: whether the confirmation requires ticket collection or a passport check. Take the order number and passport to the venue’s ticket or visitor-service window.

The passport was renewed after booking

Act before travel: contact the booking platform. The new document number will not automatically match the old record, and you may need to cancel and rebook.

Common questions

Passport ticketing FAQ

No. Confirm that the platform shows the order as issued, ticketed, or confirmed and that it is linked to the correct passport record.

How this preview was preparedContent was recomposed from the supplied ChinaTravelMag article and checked against the official 12306 FAQ and current Trip.com rail guidance on August 8, 2026. Platform labels and venue rules can change, so confirm the final instructions shown in your order.