The GRE ID rules are strict and have no exceptions. Arrive at a test center with the wrong ID and you will be turned away. Attempt an at-home test with a name mismatch between your ID and your ETS account and the proctor will terminate your session. Get this right before test day.
The Core Rule
You need one government-issued ID. It must have both your photograph and your signature. Both must be present on the same document.
That is the standard. Everything below clarifies what counts, what does not, and what the variations are depending on where and how you test.
What Counts as a Valid ID
Government-issued means issued by a national, state, provincial, or local government authority. The document must include:
- Your photograph
- Your signature
- Your name (which must match your ETS account exactly)
Examples of documents that typically qualify within your home country:
- Passport (accepted everywhere, always)
- Driver's license with photo and signature
- National identity card with photo and signature
- Military ID with photo and signature
- Government-issued resident card with photo and signature
The key word is "typically." ETS determines which IDs are valid by country. If you are unsure whether your specific ID qualifies, check the ETS website for the accepted ID list for your country before test day.
Testing Outside Your Country of Citizenship
If you are testing in a country other than your country of citizenship, your passport is required. No other document qualifies in this situation.
This affects international students testing in their home country while studying abroad, and anyone testing during travel. If your passport is your only qualifying ID and it is expiring, renew it before your test date. ETS will not accept an expired document.
At-Home Testing: Name Match Requirement
For at-home testing, there is an additional layer: the name on your ID must exactly match the name on your ETS account. Exactly means exactly. Middle names, suffixes, hyphens, and spelling all matter.
Common failure points:
- Your legal name has a middle name that you did not include in your ETS account
- You recently got married or divorced and updated your government ID but not your ETS account (or vice versa)
- Your ID uses a suffix (Jr., III) that your ETS account omits, or your ETS account includes it but your ID does not
- Your name has an accent or special character that was entered differently between your ID and your account
- Your ID uses a shortened version of your name (e.g., Bill) while your ETS account uses your full legal name (William), or the reverse
Log in to your ETS account before test day and read your full name as it appears there. Then read your ID. If there is any discrepancy, update your ETS account through the ETS website, or contact ETS support. Do this weeks before your test, not the night before.
What Is Not Accepted
These are explicitly excluded:
- Photocopies of any ID. Even a photocopy of a valid passport is not accepted.
- Digital IDs. A photo of your ID on your phone does not count. A PDF of your passport does not count.
- Expired documents. Expiration date must be current on test day.
- Social Security cards. Not a photo ID.
- Student IDs. Not government-issued.
- Credit cards. Not government-issued.
- Birth certificates. No photo.
If your only form of ID is expired or does not include both a photo and signature, you will not be admitted. There are no exceptions and no alternatives once you are at the testing facility.
Name Changes
If you changed your name recently (due to marriage, divorce, legal name change, or any other reason), you need to ensure one of the following is true before your test date:
- Your government-issued ID reflects your new name, and your ETS account has been updated to match.
- Your government-issued ID still has your old name, and your ETS account still has your old name.
A mismatch in either direction creates a problem. The important thing is that the two match each other, and that your ID is government-issued with photo and signature.
At-home testing is more sensitive to this than test centers because the proctor checks both simultaneously during check-in. At a test center, staff compare the physical ID to your registration information. At home, the proctor is doing the same comparison remotely, in real time, with your face, your physical ID held up to camera, and your ETS account name all visible.
Preparing Your ID for Test Day
At-home testing: have your ID physically in your hand before you start the check-in process. The proctor will ask you to hold it up to your camera. It needs to be readable on camera, so hold it steady and make sure the lighting allows the photo and signature to be clearly visible.
Test center: bring your ID in its original form. Do not laminate documents that are not already laminated. Do not place IDs in protective sleeves that obscure signatures or photos. Staff will examine it directly.
If You Have Questions Before Your Test Date
ETS customer service can confirm whether your specific ID qualifies before test day. Use their contact form or phone line well in advance. Waiting until the day before leaves no room for resolution.
If your ID situation is straightforward (valid passport, or a domestic driver's license with photo and signature where your name matches your ETS account), you are ready. If there is any complexity, resolve it early.
Once your ID situation is confirmed and your registration is locked in, shift your energy entirely to preparation. Start with the GRE diagnostic to see where you stand, then follow the GRE study plan to close the gap before your test date.