GRE ID Requirements 2026: Passport Rules and India Policy

The general GRE ID rules

ETS says your ID requirements depend on where you plan to test and your country of citizenship. Before you look at your country, though, every ID has to pass a common set of checks. With few exceptions, each ID document must:

• be an original document; photocopies are not acceptable
• be a physical ID; a digital ID on a phone or other device is not acceptable, except in the Republic of Korea, where some digital IDs are permitted
• be a government-issued national, state or province identity card recognised by the country where you are a citizen or permanent resident
• show your first and last name exactly (excluding accents) as you registered
• include a recent, recognisable photograph
• include your signature, and the name and signature must match
• be valid; expired documents are not acceptable

That list comes from ETS's ID requirements page, and the 2026–27 GRE Bulletin repeats it. The Bulletin also says your test fee won't be refunded if you aren't permitted to test, or if your scores are withheld or cancelled, because of invalid or unacceptable ID.

Name matching: the rule that costs people their fee

The first and last name you register with, and its spelling, must exactly match (excluding accents) the name printed on your ID. If they don't match, ETS says you won't be able to take the test and your fee won't be refunded. ETS's rules for entering your name:

• Give your entire first (given) name. Don't use a nickname or only an initial.
• Give your entire last (family) name. For a two-part name, type it as it appears on your ID, without accents; ETS's example is Fernandez de Córdova entered as Fernandez de Cordova.
• A middle initial is optional.
• If you already have an ETS account, check that the name on your ID still matches the account. If it doesn't, contact GRE Services.

The Bulletin adds that if your name is longer than the character limit, you should enter as much of your full legal name as possible rather than abbreviating, and leave the middle name field empty unless you have a middle name. If you're worried about a discrepancy, ETS says to contact the Office of Testing Integrity (OTI) before registering.

When you need a passport for the GRE

If you test outside your country of citizenship, every ETS country page we checked requires a valid passport. For example, ETS's page for India says you must present a valid passport with your name, photograph and signature as your primary ID, with no exceptions. For non-U.S. citizens testing in the United States, ETS says you need a passport and that diplomatic or embassy IDs can't be used in place of one.

If your passport isn't written in English-language letters, several ETS country pages, including those for the United States, Korea and China, say you must also bring at least one supplemental ID that shows your name and a recent photo and is in English. Check the page for the country where you're testing.

GRE ID requirements by country

To see the rules for your test location, select it on ETS's ID requirements page. Here is what ETS lists for some common locations when you test in your own country of citizenship:

Sources for each row: ETS's pages for India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Korea and the United States. For more on testing in China, see our GRE in China guide.

GRE ID requirements in India

If you're an Indian citizen testing in India, ETS lists exactly one acceptable primary ID: a passport with name, photograph and signature. Testing in India as a citizen of another country also requires a valid passport.

• Aadhaar is not accepted. ETS names the Aadhaar card on its list of documents that aren't acceptable as primary or supplemental ID under any circumstances.
• Your passport must be valid on test day. Expired documents aren't accepted, so if your passport is due to expire, renew it before you book.
• Register with the passport spelling. Use your full given name and surname exactly as printed in your passport.

For costs and paying from India, see our GRE fee in India guide.

Documents ETS never accepts

ETS lists these as not acceptable as primary or supplemental ID under any circumstances:

• photocopied or expired documents, and damaged IDs (for example hole-punched or with a corner cut off)
• any ID shown on a phone or other electronic device
• any document whose first and last name don't exactly match your registration
• international driver's licence, international student ID, employee ID, credit or debit cards
• birth certificate, Social Security card, draft classification card, notary-prepared letters
• temporary IDs (except some driver's licence, resident card and employment authorisation card renewals)
• diplomatic, consulate or embassy ID cards, and any document not recognised by a government agency
• Aadhaar card

Supplemental ID, at-home testing and what happens if your ID fails

Supplemental ID. You may be asked for one if the test administrator questions your primary ID, or if your primary ID lacks your name, photo or signature. ETS generally accepts a government-issued ID card, a student ID card, or a confirmation-of-identity letter from your school. That letter is valid for one year, must be on original letterhead, include your date of birth and issue date, and carry an official's signature and the school seal overlapping your photo.

At home. You must verify your ID in the IDVaaS app at least 72 hours before your test, by photographing your ID and taking a selfie; if you book within 72 hours, verify straight away. If you wait until test day and verification fails, you won't be able to test as scheduled. The full at-home setup is in our GRE at home guide, and the ETS at-home page has the latest requirements.

At a test centre. Staff take your photo and verify your ID during check-in, and you may be asked to show ID or sign a log at other points during the session.

If you can't meet the rules. If you have refugee status or political asylum, or otherwise can't meet the ID requirements, ETS says you must contact OTI at least 7 days before registering and get approval first. If you don't, and you're turned away or your scores are withheld, your fee won't be refunded.

Once your ID is sorted, the next thing to get right is the test itself. Start with a free GRE practice test to see where you stand.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Every source below was accessed on the listed date. Pages — especially department admissions pages — change without notice; the links go to the live versions.

1. Identification Requirements for the GRE General Test — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
2. India acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, India selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
3. China acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, China selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
4. Korea acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, Korea selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
5. Pakistan acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, Pakistan selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
6. Nigeria acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, Nigeria selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
7. United States acceptable primary ID documents (ETS ID page, United States selected) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
8. GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 (PDF) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
9. Test Center Testing — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
10. Your At Home Testing — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.

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