Identification Requirements for the GRE® revised General Test

• ID Document Requirements 
• Primary ID Documents
• Supplemental ID Documents
• Unacceptable ID Documents
• Exceptions and Requirements
  • Testing in Mainland China
  • Testing in Hong Kong/Macau
  • Testing in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nigeria
  • Testing in Saudi Arabia
  • Testing in the Philippines
  • Testing Outside Your Country of Citizenship
  • Testing in European Union/Schengen Zone/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab Countries
  • Two-part Last Name
  • Driver's License Renewals
  • Military ID Without Signature
  • Unable to Meet ID Requirements
  • Questions About ID Documents

All test takers are responsible for bringing valid and acceptable identification each time they report to a test center. It is your responsibility to ensure that your ID documents are up-to-date and available on the day of the test.

Your ID requirements depend on your country of citizenship and where you plan to test. Please read the specific section for acceptable primary and supplemental ID documents and allowed exceptions.

• As outlined in The Name You Use When Registering, you are responsible for ensuring that the name you used to register exactly matches (excluding hyphens, accents and spaces) the name on the ID document(s) you will present at the test center.
• If the test administrator questions the ID you present, you may be required to provide supplemental ID. If positive confirmation cannot be made, you may not be permitted to test or your test score may be withheld.
• All test takers are encouraged to bring at least two forms of acceptable ID each time they report to a test center. Prior admission to a test center based on a given ID document does not assure that that document will be considered acceptable. Test centers are not required to hold your seat if you leave the center to obtain acceptable identification.
• Admission to the test center does not assure that the ID you provided is valid or that your scores will be reported. All reported cases of questionable ID are subject to review and approval by the ETS Office of Testing Integrity either during or after the test administration. ETS reserves the right to withhold and/or cancel scores in the event that the ID requirements set forth herein are not met.
• You may be required to show your ID and/or to sign a test center log at various points throughout the test administration.
• Your test fees will not be refunded if you are not permitted to test or if your scores are withheld or canceled because of invalid or unacceptable ID.

ID Document Requirements 

With few exceptions, ID documents must meet all of the following requirements. Each ID document must:

• be an original document; photocopied documents are not acceptable
• be valid; expired documents (bearing expiration dates that have passed) are not acceptable
• bear the test taker's full name exactly (excluding hyphens, accents and spaces) as it appears on the admission ticket
• bear a recent photograph that clearly matches the test taker
• bear the test taker's signature (the name and signature on the ID document must match)

See Unacceptable ID Documents.

See Exceptions and Requirements if:

• you are testing in Mainland China, Hong Kong/Macau, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia or the Philippines
• you are testing outside your country of citizenship
• you are not a U.S. Citizen and you are testing within the U.S.
• you are a Citizen of European Union and Schengen Zone/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab Countries
• you have a two-part last name
• you are in the process of renewing your driver's license
• you are in the military and your Military ID does not contain your signature
• you are unable to meet the ID requirements
• you have any questions about the acceptability of your ID document(s)

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Primary ID Documents 

The following ID documents are acceptable for admission to a test center within your country of citizenship:

• Passport
• Government-issued driver's license
• State or Province ID card (including those issued by the motor vehicle agencies)
• National ID card
• Military ID card

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Supplemental ID Documents 

• You may be required to provide a supplemental ID if the test administrator questions your primary ID document and/or if your primary ID document is otherwise acceptable but does not bear your full name, photograph or signature.
• Supplemental ID documents may not be used to resolve name discrepancies. The last name on your primary ID must match (excluding hyphens, accents and spaces) the name you used when you registered for the test.

The following ID documents are generally acceptable as supplemental ID:

• Government-issued ID card (including, but not limited to, those listed under Primary ID Documents)
• Student ID card
• Confirmation of identity letter from your educational institution. This letter must be typed or printed on the original letterhead of the educational institution you attend(ed) and, in addition to meeting all of the ID Document Requirements, must include your date of birth and the date issued. Additionally, a school official's signature and the school seal must be present and both must overlap your photograph. Such letters are valid for only one year from the date issued.

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Unacceptable ID Documents 

The following documents are not acceptable as primary or supplemental ID under any circumstances:

• Any document that is photocopied or expired
• Any document that does not bear your last name exactly (excluding hyphens, accents and spaces) as it appears on the admission ticket
• International driver's license
• Draft classification card
• International student ID
• Credit/debit card of any kind
• Notary-prepared letter or document
• Birth certificate
• Social Security card
• Employee ID card
• Any temporary ID
• Diplomatic, consulate or embassy ID card

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Exceptions and Requirements 

Testing in Mainland China 

• Citizens in Mainland China must present a valid National Resident ID Card as their primary ID document. There are no exceptions to this policy. The Second Generation National Resident ID Card is preferred.
• Citizens of Taiwan must present their Travel Permit to Mainland China.
• Citizens of Hong Kong and Macau must present their Resident Identity Card.
• Citizens from all other countries and locations must present a valid passport.

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Testing in Hong Kong/Macau 

• Citizens of Mainland China must present a valid Hong Kong-Macau Travel Permit or passport.
• Citizens from all other countries must present a valid passport

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Testing in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nigeria 

• You MUST present a valid passport with your name, photograph and signature as your primary ID document. There are no exceptions to this policy.

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Testing in Saudi Arabia 

• If you are working in Saudi Arabia and are not a citizen, you may use your employer-sponsored Iqama Residence Identification along with a supplemental ID that includes your name, photograph and signature. You must present two forms of identification.

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Testing in the Philippines 

• In the Philippines you may present a Social Security System ID Card, issued by the Republic of the Philippines, that includes your name, photograph and signature along with a supplemental ID from the list of acceptable supplemental ID documents.

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Testing Outside Your Country of Citizenship 

• You must present a valid passport with your name, photograph and signature as your primary ID document. See Exceptions list.
• Non-U.S. citizens testing within the U.S. must present a passport that meets all of the ID document requirements.
• If your passport is not written in English-language letters, you must also present as supplemental ID at least one of the documents listed under Supplemental ID Documents. This document must also contain your name, a recent, recognizable photo and be in English.
• Diplomatic and embassy ID cards cannot be used as primary identification in place of a passport.
• The following documents may be acceptable for admission if presented along with at least one of the documents listed under Supplemental ID Documents.
  • Permanent Resident Card/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 or I-151)
  • Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
  • Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A, I-688B or I-766)
  • Mexican Border Crosser Card (This form of ID is only accepted at test centers within 25 miles of the Mexican border.)

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 Testing in European Union/Schengen Zone/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Arab Countries

• If you are testing in a European Union, Schengen Zone or Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) country other than the one where you reside, you can use your valid national or European identity card, if you have one. The card must contain your name; a recent, recognizable photograph; your date of birth; and your signature. If this identification does not contain all of these elements, you will be required to present a supplemental ID from the list of acceptable supplemental ID documents.
• If your ID is not written in English-language letters and the test administrator cannot read the language in which it is written, you may not be permitted to take the test.

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Two-part Last Name 

• If the ID document you will present on the day of the test contains a two-part last name, your admission ticket must exactly match (excluding hyphens, accents and spaces) your ID. See The Name You Use When Registering. You cannot use a supplemental ID to resolve name discrepancies.

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Driver's License Renewals (United States only) 

• If your driver's license has expired but you present it along with your original Department of Public Safety renewal certificate, these two documents together are acceptable if the names on both documents match exactly. If you are issued a temporary paper license in lieu of a renewal certificate, that is acceptable only if it is accompanied by a supplemental ID.
• If you are in the U.S. military, and the expiration of your driver's license has been extended or deferred by the issuing state, the license can be used as supplemental ID along with your U.S. Military ID. Depending on the state, the extension or deferral may consist of either a sticker affixed to the license, the designation "military" printed in place of an expiration date or a separate document carried with the license, usually with a notation that the driver's license is valid until a specific time period after discharge from service.

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Military ID Without Signature 

• If your Military ID does not contain your signature, you must present a supplemental ID.

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Unable to Meet ID Requirements 

If you have been granted political asylum, have refugee status or are otherwise unable to meet the identification requirements, you must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity (OTI) at least seven days before registering to test. You must receive approval from OTI before you may register. You should also be prepared to submit any requested documents to OTI for review prior to receiving approval. If you do not contact OTI before you register, and as a result you are not permitted to test or your test scores are withheld, your test fees will not be refunded.

ETS Office of Testing Integrity (OTI)

Phone:

1-609-406-5430

Fax:

1-609-406-9709

Email:

TSReturns@ets.org

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Questions About ID Documents 

For general questions about acceptable ID, call GRE® Customer Service at:

• 1-866-473-4373 (United States, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada)
• 1-609-771-7670 (all other locations)

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