Which ID to register with and to bring on HSK test day

You register for the HSK with a passport or an original resident identity card. Which document you must use depends on where your test center is. On test day you must bring the original identity document whose name and date of birth exactly match your registration.

Which document to register with

You register on the official Chinese Test Service website at https://www.chinesetest.cn.

• At a test center outside your home country, you must register with a passport.
• At a test center in your home country, you may register with a passport or an original resident identity card.

What to bring on test day

You must bring the original valid personal identification document with a photo that matches the information provided during registration. Copies are not accepted.

The name and date of birth on the identity document must be exactly consistent with your registration information.

On the exam day you must present a valid government-issued identity document (passport, resident identity card, residence permit, travel permit, etc.) that meets the requirements of the country or region where the test is taken.

If you fail to present a valid document or present an invalid one, you will not be admitted to the exam. No application for deferred exam, withdrawal or refund will be accepted.

If you cannot show your original passport

There are two cases where you may show other papers instead of the original passport.

If your passport has been submitted to an embassy or immigration center for visa processing, you must present both a copy of the original passport and the original receipt of visa application issued by the visa authority. Admission will be granted only after verification is completed.

If your passport is being renewed or reissued by the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau or other relevant authorities, you should present both the receipt issued by the authority and a copy of the original passport. Both documents are required.

Taiwan region candidates and YCT

Candidates from the Taiwan region of China who take the exam in other parts of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions) must present a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents.

The type of identification required for the YCT test is not subject to the above restrictions.

Questions people ask

Can I bring a copy of my passport or ID on test day?

No. You must bring the original valid personal identification document with a photo that matches your registration information. Copies are not accepted.

What if the name on my ID does not match my registration?

The name and date of birth on the identity document must be exactly consistent with your registration information. If they do not match, you will not be allowed to take the test.

Sources

• Exams information for candidates (test regulations) Chinese Testing International (CTI), Chinese Tests Service Website chinesetest.cn

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary; it is not published by Chinese Testing International, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation or the Ministry of Education, and the official page prevails if they differ.