In support of an application for a certified copy of a birth entry, you are required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of a birth entry previously issued to you or the result of previous search of birth records. If you cannot produce such kind of documents or the birth registration number on the documents cannot be read, you are required to apply for a search of birth records in the first instance. Here you can find details about how and where to apply for a search of birth records and a certified copy of a birth entry, the processing time and the fees.

You can submit your application for a search of birth records and a certified copy of a birth entry in person, by post or online.

In Person

If you apply in person, you can go to one of the following registries:

• The Births and Deaths General Register Office
  
• Kowloon Births Registry
  
• Sha Tin District Births Registry
  
• Tuen Mun District Births Registry

• Addresses and office hours of Births Registries
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/bdmreg/birth/address/index.htm

By Post

If you want to submit your application by post, you should send your application to :

The Births and Deaths General Register Office
3/F, Low Block
Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway
Hong Kong

• Application form for a search of birth record (Form BDR40)
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/bdr40.htm
• Application form for a certified copy of a birth entry (Form BDR87)
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/bdr87.htm

Online

You can choose to apply online on the following link:

• Applying online for a search of birth records and a certified copy of a birth entry
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/bdmreg/applybdm.htm

For applications made in person, you need to produce your Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document. If you apply for a certified copy of a birth entry, you will be required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of the birth entry or the result of a previous search of birth records. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a search of birth records in the first instance. For applications by post or online, you will need to produce the relevant documents at the time of collection.

• Particular Search - a search for any given entry in relation to an identified person for any period not exceeding 5 years (i.e. the person’s exact name and date of birth (if available) can be provided for the search. Unless otherwise specified by the applicant, the search will be conducted with 2 years preceding and 2 years following the person’s year of birth provided in case no matched record is found against the year of birth provided).
  
  
• General Search – a search for any entry other than particular search, for example, in relation to a person whose identity is not clearly specified (i.e. the person’s exact name and / or exact date of birth cannot be provided for the search).

Applying in Person

It takes about 10 minutes to process an in-person application at the counter. If the birth record that you request has been converted into a computer record, you will be issued a search result and/or a certified copy of the birth entry within 10 minutes. Otherwise, you will have to wait for the following durations (working days denote Monday to Friday excluding General Holidays):

• 9 working days for a search of birth records
  
• 9 working days for issue of a certified copy of a birth entry (if search of record is not involved)
  
• 14 working days for a search of birth records and issue of a certified copy of a birth entry

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

Online Applications

It takes 10 to 20 minutes to process an online application. You will be notified when to collect the search result and the certified copy of a birth entry at your selected registry.

Search of Birth Records

• HK$140 for Particular Search
  
• HK$680 for General Search

Certified Copy of a Birth Entry

• Local Applications : HK$140 per copy
  
• Overseas Applications : HK$275 per copy plus an additional amount equivalent to the airmail postage at the normal rate

In person

By cash, crossed cheque or cashier’s order in Hong Kong dollars payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

By post

By crossed cheque or cashier’s order (for local applications) or bank draft (for overseas applications) in Hong Kong dollars payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Please do not send in cash.

Online

For search of birth records, the fee will be collected online; for a certified copy of a birth entry, the application fee will be collected at the time of collection in your selected registry.