新版中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证（以下简称“永居证”）将于今年12月1日起正式签发启用。按照有关要求，铁路部门对12306网站（含APP，下同）进行了优化，持“永居证”旅客可在线上注册、购票，通过车站闸机自助完成实名制验证、进出站检票，与持居民身份证的旅客同等享用铁路部门提供的网上和自助服务。
同时，自11月28日起，铁路部门推出外国护照在线身份核验服务。此前，外籍旅客在12306网站购票需持护照原件到铁路车站窗口核验身份信息。外国护照在线身份核验服务推出后，旅客登录12306网站，可按照系统提示填写姓名、国籍、证件号码等信息，由系统自动完成身份核验。旅客也可选择在线提交护照信息页照片，由后台进行人工核验。除在线核验外，旅客仍可到铁路车站窗口办理核验。铁路部门提示，外籍旅客身份核验通过后方可购票乘车，请持外国护照的旅客及时查看身份核验状态，尽快完成身份信息核验，以免影响购票出行，更多服务信息可通过12306网站查询。
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.
