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China Passport Number validator
How the passport number format works
- Format
- Ordinary passport: "E" followed by 8 digits (issued 2012-2017), or "E" + 1 letter (excluding I and O) + 7 digits (issued since 2017)
- Example
- E12345678
Things to watch for
- Format-only check — does not confirm the passport was actually issued, is unexpired, or is currently valid
- Covers ordinary passports only — diplomatic ("DE") and service ("SE") passports use separate numbering series not covered by this check
- Validation runs entirely in your browser — the number you enter is never transmitted or stored
^(E[0-9]{8}|E[A-HJ-NP-Z][0-9]{7})$A Chinese ordinary passport number starts with the letter E: passports issued between 2012 and 2017 use E followed by 8 digits, while passports issued from 2017 onward insert a second letter — excluding the easily-confused I and O — before 7 digits, e.g. E12345678. Both eras are issued under China’s National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) and remain valid for the standard 10-year term, so both shapes are in active circulation.
What this checker verifies
This tool confirms the input matches one of the two E-prefixed ordinary-passport shapes, catching an obvious typo like a missing digit or an excluded letter typed by habit.
What a pass doesn’t confirm
This checker covers ordinary passports only — China’s diplomatic passports (prefixed DE) and service passports (prefixed SE) use entirely separate numbering series that aren’t modeled here, so a diplomatic or service number will correctly fail this check even if it’s genuine. Neither ordinary format carries a check digit this tool recomputes. A pass doesn’t confirm the passport was actually issued, is unexpired, or belongs to a real holder, and nothing you type is decoded or stored.
Scope: format-only validation, running entirely in your browser.
Content last reviewed 2026-08-09.
passport number FAQ
What does a Chinese passport number look like?
Ordinary Chinese passports start with the letter E: either E followed by 8 digits for passports issued 2012-2017, or E plus one more letter (excluding I and O) plus 7 digits for passports issued from 2017 onward, e.g. E12345678.
Does this cover diplomatic or service passports?
No. China's diplomatic (DE-prefixed) and service (SE-prefixed) passports use separate numbering series that aren't covered by this checker, which targets ordinary passports issued by the National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局).
Does a valid format mean the passport is real?
No. It only checks the shape. Confirming the passport was actually issued or is currently valid requires the National Immigration Administration's own records.