If you need to search for a birth, death or marriage record or obtain a certified copy of the related entry or certificate, you can use the Immigration Department’s quick-and-easy online service. This article will give you the details.

You can apply for a certified copy of an entry in the births or deaths register if you have the original or a photocopy of the certificate of registration, or the result of a previous search. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a search of the records first. There are two types of search:

• Particular Search: a search for any given birth or death entry over any period not exceeding 5 years.
  
• General Search: a search for information other than that concerning any given birth or death entry.

If you want to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you will need to apply for a search unless the copy is applied at the same time as the original is issued.

• Online Application for Search of Birth Records and Certified Copy of an entry in the Births Register
• Online Application for Search of Death Records and Certified Copy of an entry in the Deaths Register
• Online Application for Search of Marriage Records and Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate

No signature is required when you complete the application form online. However, you will need to sign on the printed copy of the relevant form when you collect the search result and/or certified copies.

The application fee that you need to pay will depend on the type of search or copy you require.

• Particular Search (birth/death records): HK$140
  
• General Search (birth/death records): HK$680
  
• Certified copy of an entry in births/deaths register: HK$140 per copy
  
• Search of marriage records: HK$140
  
• Certified copy of marriage certificate: HK$280 per copy

Search fees can be paid online by VISA, MasterCard or PPS, but the fees for certified copies can only be paid in cash, or by crossed cheque or cashier's order payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" at the time of collection of the certified copies.

The processing time of your application will depend on the particular record you wish to obtain:

• Search for birth or death record: 9 working days
  
• Issue of a certified copy of an entry in births or deaths registers (if search of record is not involved): 9 working days
  
• Search for birth or death record and issue of a certified copy of an entry in births or deaths registers : 14 working days
  
• Search of marriage record and/or issue of certified copy of marriage certificate: 9 working days

For a General Search of birth or death record, there is no pledged processing time. You will be notified separately when the result is ready.

As the search of records will take time, the results will not be immediately available online. You will be asked to select a Births, Deaths or Marriage Registry of the Immigration Department for collection of the results. If you do not collect the search result and/or certified copies from that registry within 6 months of the specified date, they will be cancelled.

When you collect your search result or certified copy from the selected registry of the Immigration Department, you will need to produce the following supporting documents:

• Hong Kong Identity Card or valid travel document
  
• Printout of online application acknowledgement
  
• Original or photocopy of the certificate of registration, or the result of a previous record search if an application for search of birth or death records is not submitted
  
• For organisation application, letter of authorisation from the organisation

If you need assistance in using the online service, you can call the Immigration e-Services Hotline at (852) 3128 8668 between 7 am and 11 pm daily.

Further information on the service is also available in a set of helpful frequently asked questions.

• FAQs about Applying Online for a Search of Birth, Death or Marriage Records or Certified Copy of an Entry in Births or Deaths Registers or a Marriage Certificate
  https://webapp.immd.gov.hk/content/bdm/html/english/bdm_submission_faq.html