GRE

GRE ID requirements: what to bring on test day

For the GRE (General Test and Subject Tests), bring one original, valid ID with your name, photo and signature. A passport is the safest choice almost everywhere. In your own country, ETS usually also accepts a national ID card, driver license, state/province ID or military ID; outside it, you need a passport (citizens of EU, Schengen and GCC countries may use their national ID card instead in another of those countries). Your first and last names must match your ETS account exactly.

Check your own ID in 30 seconds →

The checker catches what this page can't: a name that doesn't match your registration, an expiry date, or a missing supplemental ID.

Rules that apply in every country

• Your first and last names must match your ETS account exactly, accents aside. A middle initial is optional.
• The ID must be valid on test day. We treat an ID that expires on the exam day itself as expired.
• Bring the physical original: no photocopies, scans or photos on your phone.
• The ID must show your name, a recent photo and your signature.

If your ID has no signature

Bring a supplemental ID as well: another government-issued photo ID, a student ID with your photo, or a confirmation-of-identity letter from your school issued within the last year. It must carry the same name as your registration.

Test centres only

This checker covers GRE tests taken at a test centre. Testing at home has its own ID verification steps; check ETS's GRE at-home page.

Country-specific rules

These places add their own rules. Everywhere else, the rules above apply.

• EU / Schengen / GCC
• Mercosur
• Mainland China
• Taiwan
• India, Bangladesh & Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Canada
• United States & territories
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• South Korea
• Philippines

Questions

Is a passport always accepted for the GRE?

A valid passport is accepted almost everywhere, and it's required whenever you test outside your country of citizenship. Exceptions: mainland China residents testing in mainland China must use their Resident Identity Card, and in Taiwan, mainland residents use their travel permit instead.

Can I use my military ID for the GRE?

In most countries, yes, for testing in your own country at a test centre, if it shows your name, photo and signature. It isn't accepted for testing outside your country of citizenship.

My name on the ID doesn't exactly match my ETS account. What should I do?

Contact ETS GRE Services before test day and ask them to correct your registration. It's quicker than cancelling and re-booking, and a mismatch means you won't be allowed to test.

Are the ID rules the same for the GRE General Test and the Subject Tests?

Yes. ETS uses the same country rules for both.

Sources

Last verified 2026-10-03 against:

• ETS — Identification (ID) Requirements for the GRE General Test (verified 2026-10-03)

Unofficial checklist, not exam or legal advice. ID rules can change and the test centre has the final say, so confirm with the official test owner before exam day.