Hong Kong residents aged 11 years or over must register for an identity card. Here you can learn about registering for a Hong Kong identity card if you are aged under 18, including when, where and how to apply, how to collect your card and where to go for further information.

If you are a resident reaching the age of 11, you must register for an identity card within 30 days following your 11^th birthday.

If you are a new arrival aged 11 or over and have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days, you must register for an identity card within 30 days of arrival.

If you are under the age of 11, you do not need to register for an identity card unless you are a permanent resident and need to apply for a permanent identity card in connection with an application for a HKSAR passport.

If you hold a permanent identity card issued overseas in connection with a HKSAR passport issued abroad, you must apply for a new card within 30 days after returning to Hong Kong (except for persons under the age of 11).

Application forms by age group are available through the following links.

• Form ROP 2: Application by a person from the age of 11 to 17
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/rop2.htm
• Form ROP 3: Application by a person under the age of 11
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/rop3.htm

The Registration of Persons Offices have adopted a quota system to cope with the demand for identity card registrations. To save time and for your convenience, you are strongly advised to make an appointment via the online appointment booking system before attending a Registration of Persons Office to apply for an identity card.

Further information is available through the following link.

• Online appointment booking
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/bookregidcard.htm

Alternatively, you can make an appointment booking through the telephone booking hotline 2598 0888; OR subject to quota exhaustion, attend a Registration of Persons Office in person for the application.

You can apply to register for an identity card at any Registration of Persons Office, with the following exceptions:

• If you are a new arrival from the Mainland holding a One-way Permit, you must register at the Registration of Persons – Kowloon Office
• If you are under 11 and need to apply for a permanent identity card in connection with a HKSAR passport application, you do not need to attend a Registration of Persons Office as your identity card application will be arranged together with your HKSAR passport application.  

• Registration of Persons Offices
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/whereapply.htm

You must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when submitting your application. The accompanying parent should produce his or her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card. If you are accompanied by your legal guardian, that guardian must produce his or her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card and documentary proof of legal guardianship.

If you were born in Hong Kong, you should produce originals of your:

• Birth certificate
• Proof of identity such as a valid travel document, passport, recent school document with certified photograph (e.g. student handbook or school record card)
• Identity card issued previously (if any)

If you were born outside Hong Kong, you should produce originals of your:

• Birth certificate
• Valid travel document, passport, entry permit, One-way Permit or affidavit showing your residential status in Hong Kong
• Identity card issued previously (if any)

If you are aged under 11 applying to replace a lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced card, you should produce:

• Proof of identity such as a valid travel document, passport, recent school document with certified photograph (e.g. student handbook or school record card)
• One recent photograph (50 x 40 mm full-face photo) if you are not taller than 90 cm
• Your damaged or defaced identity card wherever applicable

• Form ROP138: Documentary Requirements of Registration for Hong Kong Identity Cards
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/rop138.htm

No fee is payable when you register for an identity card. However, you will need to pay for the replacement of an identity card due to loss, destruction, damage, defacement or alteration of personal particulars. Details are available through the following link.

• Fees payable
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/fees.htm

When you arrive at a Registration of Persons Office, you and your parent or legal guardian should approach the reception counter to obtain a number tag and an application form. If you have made an appointment, you should produce an acknowledgement of the booking or inform the reception officer of your identity document number and the time slot you have booked. You should complete the application form carefully while waiting for an interview with a registration officer.

When your tag number is displayed on the plasma panel in the waiting area, you should proceed to the designated registration booth and hand in your application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the registration officer. The registration officer will examine your eligibility for an identity card, scan your left and right thumbprints (not applicable if you are below the age of 11), and take your photo (not applicable if you are not taller than 90cm). You will then be asked to return to the waiting area to wait for an interview with an assessment officer.

When your tag number appears on the plasma panel again, you should proceed to the designated booth and hand in your application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the assessment officer. The assessment officer will countercheck the data on the application form, confirm your eligibility for an identity card and scan your left and right thumbprints again (not applicable if you are below the age of 11). Your old identity card (if any) will be collected and you will be issued with an Acknowledgement of Application for Identity Card.

If you apply for a replacement card, you will be issued with an Acknowledgement of Application for Identity Card upon payment of a prescribed fee.

The processing time for an identity card is usually 10 working days (excluding Saturdays and general holidays). Your parent or legal guardian can collect your identity card in person or authorise a representative to collect it on his or her behalf within the period specified on your Acknowledgement of Application for Identity Card.

Collection in Person

The parent or legal guardian who has applied on your behalf is expected to collect your new identity card in person on production of your Acknowledgement of Application for Identity Card. If you also attend in person, you will be asked to place your left and right thumbs on a scanner to confirm that the chip of the new card functions properly and the personal data stored therein are correct. This confirmation process is not applicable if you are under 11.

Collection by Authorised Representative

If your parent or legal guardian wants to authorise another person to collect your identity card, he or she should notify the registration officer at the time of application and complete an authorisation form (ID678), or give his or her authorisation in writing. Authorised representatives must have attained 18 and should produce the following documents upon collection:

• His or her identity card
• Your Acknowledgement of Application for Identity Card
• Your parent or legal guardian’s authorisation form, or written authorisation and proof of his or her signature

• Form ID678: Authorisation for Collection of Identity Card/Travel Document
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id678.htm

If you do not collect your identity card in person, you should, after obtaining your card from your parent, legal guardian or authorised representative, check the personal data stored in its chip using a smart identity card reader installed at an immigration self-service kiosk. You must complete the confirmation process on your own following the on-screen instructions. This process is not required for identity cards issued to children aged below 11.

Information on the locations of immigration self-service kiosks is available through the following links.

• Immigration Headquarters
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkid_hq.htm
• Registration of Persons Offices
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/whereapply.htm
• Immigration control points
  http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/controlpoints_add.htm

Further information on applying for an identity card is available through the following link.

• Frequently Asked Questions
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/faqs.htm