新版中華人民共和國外國人永久居留身份證（以下簡稱“永居證”）將于今年12月1日起正式簽發啟用。按照有關要求，鐵路部門對12306網站（含APP，下同）進行了優化，持“永居證”旅客可在線上注冊、購票，通過車站閘機自助完成實名制驗證、進出站檢票，與持居民身份證的旅客同等享用鐵路部門提供的網上和自助服務。
同時，自11月28日起，鐵路部門推出外國護照在線身份核驗服務。此前，外籍旅客在12306網站購票需持護照原件到鐵路車站窗口核驗身份信息。外國護照在線身份核驗服務推出后，旅客登錄12306網站，可按照系統提示填寫姓名、國籍、證件號碼等信息，由系統自動完成身份核驗。旅客也可選擇在線提交護照信息頁照片，由后臺進行人工核驗。除在線核驗外，旅客仍可到鐵路車站窗口辦理核驗。鐵路部門提示，外籍旅客身份核驗通過后方可購票乘車，請持外國護照的旅客及時查看身份核驗狀態，盡快完成身份信息核驗，以免影響購票出行，更多服務信息可通過12306網站查詢。
China updates train ticket purchasing for foreigners
China has recently optimized its train ticket purchasing and checking services for international travelers, the China State Railway Group Co said on Tuesday.
According to a release posted at the company's official WeChat account on Tuesday evening, holders of the current version of foreign permanent resident ID cards can register at 12306, the State-run train ticket booking platform, and purchase train tickets online like ordinary Chinese people holding identity cards.
Self-services such as checking personal information at railway station's turnstiles and checking in and checking out of the station will also be available to these holders, according to the company's release.
Also, international travelers holding ordinary passports can check their personal information online at the platform of 12306, by filling-in their information including names, nationalities and passport ID, from Tuesday. They can also upload pictures of their passport information to the platform for checkup.
The international travelers are allowed to buy train tickets after finishing the personal information verification. Previously, the personal information verification work of international travelers could only be done through on-site staff services at railway stations.
The company said in the release that the on-site staff services is also available in addition to the online services.
Earlier in September, the National Immigration Administration said that the nation will issue the new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card on Friday, Dec 1, and a valid current version of the document can also be used.
