Can I book without verifying?

No. Verification is required before the first purchase on a new account.

Does the English site accept all foreign passports?

It accepts foreign passports; mainland ID cards are handled on the Chinese site. If your passport is rejected, the name format is the first thing to check.

Is there a workaround?

Station counters and the Alipay mini-program are the two reliable alternatives when the English site refuses a booking.

Why does 12306 verification fail for foreign passports?

Short answer

The three usual causes are: the name does not match the passport exactly, the account is new and needs one in-person check at a station ticket office, or the payment card is rejected. Fix the name first — it accounts for the large majority of cases.

Cause 1: the name does not match

12306 compares your entry against the passport's machine-readable zone. Copy the ordering exactly, including hyphens and any middle names, and do not swap given and family names to match local convention.

Cause 2: first-time accounts

Some new accounts must be verified once at a staffed ticket office before online booking unlocks. Bring the passport you registered with. This is a one-time step and takes about 20 minutes.

Cause 3: the card, not the account

Try booking inside the Alipay or WeChat mini-program instead, using a bound card
Switch from debit to credit if the debit card is declined
Buy at the station counter with cash or card as a guaranteed fallback

Related guides

Official sources

Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.