Identification (ID) Requirements

ID Document Requirements
Primary ID Requirements
Supplemental ID Requirements
Unacceptable ID Requirements
Exceptions and Requirements

Testing in Mainland China
Testing in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nigeria
Testing Outside Your Country of Citizenship
Testing in European Union/Schengen Zone Countries
Two-part Last Name
Driver's License Renewals
Military ID Without Signature
Political Asylum or Refugee Status
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.

The name you use when you register must exactly match the name on the identification (ID) documents (without spaces or accents) that you will present on the day of the test. If it does not, you may be prohibited from taking the test or your test scores may be canceled after you take the test.
When you register, you must supply your entire last (family/surname) name. If you have a two-part last name, be sure to supply your complete last name as it appears on the ID documents (without spaces or accents) that you will present on the day of the test.
Be sure to provide your entire first (given) name (without spaces or accents). Do not register under a nickname and do not register with only an initial as your first name.
If you register by phone, please be sure you are registered under your entire first and last names as they appear on your ID.
If your online account has already been created, please confirm that the name on your ID documents still matches the name that appears in your account. If they do not match, contact GRE Services.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your ID documents match your admission ticket on the day of the test.
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 as it appears on the admission ticket
bear a recent photograph that clearly matches the test taker
bear the test taker's signature

See Unacceptable ID Documents.

See Exceptions and Requirements if:

you are testing in Mainland China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan or Nigeria
you are testing outside your country of citizenship
you are a U.S. Non-Citizen testing within the U.S.
you are a Citizen of European Union and Schengen Zone 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 have been granted political asylum or refugee status
you have any questions about the acceptability of your ID document(s)

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

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 last-name discrepancies. The last name on your primary ID must match the name on your admission ticket.

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.

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 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

Exceptions and Requirements

Testing in Mainland China

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

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.

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.
Diplomatic and embassy ID cards cannot be used as primary identification in place of a passport.
If your passport is not written in English-language letters, you must also present a supplemental ID that contains your name, a recent, recognizable photo and is in English.
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 may be accepted only at test centers within 25 miles of the Mexican border.)

Testing in European Union/Schengen Zone Countries

If you are testing in a European Union or Schengen Zone 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 photo; your date of birth; and your signature.
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.

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 your ID. When registering, be sure to supply your complete last name as it appears on the ID documents without spaces or accents. You cannot use a supplemental ID to resolve last name discrepancies.

Driver's License Renewals

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 a 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.

Military ID Without Signature

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

Political Asylum or Refugee Status

If you have been granted political asylum or refugee status, you must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity before you register to test. If you do not contact this office before you register and therefore are not permitted to test or your test scores are withheld, your test fees will not be refunded.

Phone:: 1-609-406-5430
Fax:: 1-609-406-9709
E-mail:: TSReturns@ets.org

Questions About ID Documents

For general questions about acceptable ID, call GRE Services at:

1-866-473-4373 (United States, U.S. Territories and Canada)
1-609-771-7670 (all other locations)