Verification of Eligibility for a Permanent Identity Card

Here you can learn about whether you can apply for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card or should apply for a Certificate of Entitlement instead, the application form and supporting documents you will need for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card, why that information is collected, how to submit an application, the fees involved and what happens after your eligibility has been verified. 

Before you can register for the issue of a permanent identity card, you will need to show that you are eligible to do so under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Cap 177, and  Registration of  Persons Regulations, Cap 177A. Hence, you should apply for verification of your eligibility for a permanent identity card. You must be staying in Hong Kong legally when you submit this application. Under the law, where a person claims that he has the right of abode in the HKSAR, the burden of proving the claim shall lie on that person.

You  should not submit the application to verify your eligibility if you are qualified to apply for a Certificate of Entitlement under section 2AB of the Immigration Ordinance (Chapter 115), have not been issued with such a Certificate, and are currently residing in Mainland China. If you were born outside Hong Kong to HKSAR permanent residents, are ordinarily residing in Mainland China, and your claim to be a permanent resident of the HKSAR is under paragraph 2(c) of Schedule 1 to the Immigration Ordinance, you should establish your claim to having the right of abode in the HKSAR with a valid Certificate of Entitlement affixed to a valid Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (commonly know as 'One-way Permit').

Application Forms

To apply for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card you will need to complete the application form available through the following link.

Supporting Documents

When completing your application, you will need to include copies of the following documents:

a. Hong Kong identity card (if any) and travel document showing your current condition of stay in Hong Kong; and

b. The appropriate documentary proof in support of your claim to the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR:

Claim by virtue of being a	Copies of documentary proof required
(i) Chinese citizen born in Hong Kong	Your Hong Kong birth certificate
(ii) Chinese citizen resident in Hong Kong for not less than 7 years	Proof of 7 years continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong, such as school documents, employment proof, official receipts, bank statements or income tax receipts. Travel document showing entry to Hong Kong and your current condition of stay in the HKSAR (such as One-way Permit and Document of Identity)
(iii) Chinese citizen born outside Hong Kong to a parent listed in (i) or (ii)	Your birth certificate (showing your name and those of your parents) Hong Kong permanent identity card of either parent Evidence showing the time when either parent acquired permanent resident status in Hong Kong, such as a travel document
(iv) Non-Chinese citizen resident in Hong Kong for not less than 7 years	Proof of 7 years continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong immediately before the date of the application for permanent resident status, such as school documents, employment proof, official receipts, bank statements or income tax receipts Travel document showing entry to Hong Kong and your current condition of stay in the HKSAR
(v) Person under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong of non-Chinese citizens listed in (iv)	Your Hong Kong birth certificate Hong Kong permanent identity card of either parent
(vi) Person with the right of abode in Hong Kong only before the establishment of the HKSAR	British passport showing the national status as a British Overseas citizen Documentary proof of having the right of abode in Hong Kong
(vii) Person who was a permanent residents of Hong Kong before 1 July 1997	Your identity documents, including travel document such as British Dependent Territories citizen passport or British National (Overseas) passport, birth certificate, registration certificate, naturalisation certificate Proof of 7 years continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong, such as school documents, employment proof, official receipts, bank statements or income tax receipts. Proof of permanent resident status by descent, such as mother’s birth certificate or naturalisation certificate if by maternal descent, parents’ marriage certificate and father’s birth certificate or naturalisation certificate if by paternal descent.

You will be notified in writing to give more information, if required.

c. If you are a Non-Chinese citizen resident in Hong Kong for not less than 7 years you are required to make a declaration that you have taken Hong Kong as your place of permanent residence. Your declaration should be made on Form ROP146, to be submitted with the application, which can be accessed through the following link.

d. If you are aged under 18, the parent or legal guardian's identity card or travel document and proof of relationship with the applicant are also required.

e. Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.

 

How to Submit

By Post

You can submit application form, duly completed and signed together with copies of supporting documents, by post to

Right of Abode Section
Immigration Department
25/F Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Drop-in
Alternatively, you can deposit your application form, duly completed and signed together with copies of supporting documents, into the drop-in boxes provided at Immigration Department.

Online

You can also use a convenient online service to submit your scanned copies of your application form and supporting documents. The following link will take you to further information on what to do when preparing to submit an application, the supporting documents you will need to include, the file formats for online submission, how to complete the online submission process and where to find out more information about the right of abode in the HKSAR.

Fee

Application for verification of eligibility and the first issue of permanent identity card are free of charge. The fee for an endorsement to a travel document is HK$165.

Points to Note

• After your eligibility for a permanent identity card has been verified, your condition of stay in Hong Kong, if any, will be cancelled.  If you are aged 11 or over, you can attend the Registration of Persons Office to apply for a Hong Kong permanent identity card.   Applicants aged under 11 holding valid foreign travel documents can apply for an endorsement to be made in their valid foreign travel documents stating that their eligibility for a permanent identity card verified.
• Children under the age of 11 with their Hong Kong permanent resident status established as indicated in their Hong Kong birth certificates normally need not apply for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card. They can apply for a permanent identity card directly when they reach the age of 11.
• Applicable children under the age of 11 holding valid foreign travel documents may apply for endorsements to be made in their travel documents stating their eligibility for a permanent identity card verified for travel convenience. Such applications can be made by submitting an application for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card by their parents or guardians.
• If you are subject to a limit of stay in the HKSAR, you should apply for an extension of stay at the relevant Immigration Office before the expiry of your current limit of stay if your application for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card is not yet finalised.
• If you are required to be registered for a Hong Kong identity card under the Registration of Persons Regulations (e.g., you are a new arrival or person who has attained 11 or 18 years of age), you should report to a registration officer at the relevant Registration of Persons Office even if you have applied for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card.

• Under the immigration policy on the entry of dependants for residence in Hong Kong, persons who have been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment or full-time studies in undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local degree-awarding institutions, or as entrants under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, their Mainland spouses and Mainland unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 can apply for entry for residence in Hong Kong as dependants of their sponsors.

  Mainland spouses and Mainland unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 of Hong Kong permanent residents who wish to enter Hong Kong for settlement can apply to the relevant Public Security Bureau office for a “Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao” (commonly known as a One-way Permit (OWP)). The administration of the OWP Scheme, including the queuing, allocation and the granting of the permit, is the responsibility of the relevant Mainland authorities.

Statement of Purpose for Data Collection

a. Purpose of Collection

The personal data that you provide will be used by Immigration Department for one or more of the following purposes:

The provision of personal data in the process of your application is voluntary. If you do not provide sufficient information, the Immigration Department may not be able to process your application.

b. Classes of Transferees

The personal data you provided may be disclosed to government bureaux, departments and other organisations for the purposes mentioned above.

c. Access to Personal Data

You have the right to request access to and correction of your personal data as provided for in sections 18 and 22 and Principle 6 of Schedule 1 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Cap 486. Your right of access includes the right to obtain a copy of your personal data provided in the application form subject to the payment of a fee.

d. Enquiries

Enquiries concerning the personal data collected by means of the application form, including making of  access and corrections,to it and making corrections should be addressed to:

Chief Immigration Officer (Right of Abode)
25th Floor, Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road,
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel : 2829 3983