Do you need a passport for a Chinese +86 number?

A Chinese +86 number is registered to a foreign passport: your first and last name in Latin letters as in the document, plus the passport number. No Chinese passport, no document photos and no selfie. What to do if you do not have a passport yet. (Philippines)

▸ Knowledge Base

Yes — to issue a +86 number we need a foreign passport: first and last name in Latin letters as in the document and the passport number. No Chinese passport, no residence permit, no tax numbers; no document photos and no selfie. Without a foreign passport the number cannot be issued, because it is registered to an identity document.

A Chinese +86 number is a real SIM card registered to a specific person. That is why an identity document with your name in Latin letters is required: a foreign passport. A Chinese passport, a Chinese bank card, Chinese residency and tax or social-security numbers are not required.

What we need from the passport

First and last name in Latin letters — exactly as in the document, taken from the machine-readable line, not a free-form transliteration.
The foreign passport number.
Nothing else: no photo of the data page, no photo of the cover, no selfie.

Why a foreign passport and not an internal ID

The number is registered in Latin script, so the document must spell your name in Latin letters. An internal ID, a driving licence or a tax number spells the name in Cyrillic or another national script, so they do not work. A foreign passport of any country is fine — Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan and others.

What to do if you do not have a foreign passport

Apply for a foreign passport through your national service (in Russia — Gosuslugi or an MFC). Issuing times depend on the region and the booklet type: from a few weeks to a few months.
While the document is being issued, place a request with us: we will check in advance that your car app is supported and tell you which details we will need.
Once you have the document, send us your name in Latin letters and the passport number. The +86 number is issued within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Common mistakes

Sending a free-form transliteration (for example "Serghei" instead of "Sergei"). Use the spelling from the passport, otherwise registration in the app will fail.
Sending photos of the documents when they are not needed: plain text is enough — name, surname and document number.
Assuming an internal ID will do. It will not: the name in it is not in Latin letters.

The number is then linked to your car app: registration, master account, digital key and remote functions. Confirmation codes arrive to your number, and you see the SMS in the app. Support is available in Russian and English.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Chinese +86 number without a foreign passport?

No. The number is registered to a document with your name in Latin letters — that is a foreign passport. Without it the number cannot be issued, because Chinese apps register users in Latin script.

Will an internal ID or a driving licence do?

No. In those documents the name is not in Latin letters. You need a document that spells your name in Latin script — a foreign passport.

Do I need to send a photo of my passport or a selfie?

No. Your first and last name in Latin letters and the foreign passport number are enough. No document photos and no selfie.

Do I need a Chinese passport, a Chinese bank card or Chinese residency?

No. A Chinese passport is not required: the number is registered to your foreign passport.

I have a passport from another country — is that fine?

Yes. A foreign passport from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan or any other country works: the name just has to be in Latin letters, as in the document.

What if I have no passport but need the number?

Apply for the passport first. You can place the request in advance: we will check compatibility with your car app and issue the number on the day the document is in your hands.