[Photo via VCG]

Railway passengers in China traveling on or after October 1, 2025 will only receive electronic ticket receipts (fapiao) instead of paper reimbursement vouchers. Applications can be made within 180 days after a trip, or after ticket refunds or changes, via the Railway 12306 platform, ticket counters or self-service ticket machines.

To accommodate passengers who may have difficulty with online applications, such as senior citizens and people without Internet access, railway authorities have introduced offline receipt application channels and services. The same valid ID used for ticket purchase shall be presented at a ticket counter or a self-service ticket machine to request a QR-coded receipt application slip (扫码开票单). Then, either the passengers themselves or their agents can scan the QR code with the Railway 12306 (铁路12306) App, complete the required information, and receive the electronic receipt upon verification.

Ticket purchasers or agents may also apply for electronic receipts on behalf of passengers for purchased tickets, refunds, or rescheduling fees. For any ticket purchased, refunded, or changed via the Railway 12306 platform, an electronic receipt can be requested at a ticket counter by presenting the passenger's valid ID, or by providing the order number and the purchaser's (or agent's) valid ID. For any ticket bought at a counter, the receipt can be acquired immediately using the passenger's valid ID; if the passenger's ID is unavailable, the purchaser's ID can be used instead. Similarly, when an agent processes a refund or rescheduling at the counter, he/she can apply for an electronic receipt immediately for relevant fees using the passenger's ID. The ticket counter will provide a QR-coded slip for information collection and receipt issuance.

The electronic receipts may be available via the Railway 12306 platform, the Personal Income Tax (个人所得税) App, or email. In case of receipt information errors or changes in enterprise information, up to three re-issuance applications can be made within the original deadline. Electronic receipts for group tickets, including those for tourists, students, and study tour groups, cannot be applied for by specific passenger(s) —the purchasers shall instead make applications by following the prescribed procedures. The extant reimbursement vouchers will remain unaffected for non-real-name tickets, paper tickets for emergencies, and cross-border passenger transport tickets processed outside the railway ticket system.

Passengers traveling on or before September 30 may still obtain paper reimbursement vouchers. Once paper vouchers are phased out, railway authorities will send electronic travel information via the Railway 12306 App and SMS notifications. For passengers who need a printed copy of the travel details, a trip information slip (行程信息提示单) can be printed at railway stations' service counters and self-service machines.

Detailed procedures are available on the Railway 12306 website and its App, station notices, as well as the official Weibo and WeChat accounts of China Railway (中国铁路).

(Source: China Railway)