The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Seaman's Identity Book is a seafarer’s identity document for providing the holder with identity papers in lieu of a national passport. It is without prejudice to and in no way affects the holder’s nationality status.

As long as the holder of the HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book is in sea-going employment, he can use it as an identity document and return to Hong Kong without a visa during the period of its validity and 12 months after its expiry.

You are eligible for an HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book if you are a bona fide seafarer and meet one of the following criteria:

• a Chinese citizen who either has the right of abode or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong; or
  
• an HKSAR resident not of Chinese nationality, who either has the right of abode or is on unconditional stay in Hong Kong, and is unable to obtain a national passport or travel document of any other country or territory.

The HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book is usually valid for 10 years upon issue. Local applicants and overseas applicants should follow different application procedures. To learn more about how to submit an application, supporting documents needed, processing time and application fees, you can refer to the following links:

• Local application
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/traveldoc/seaman/local.htm
• Overseas application
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/traveldoc/seaman/oversea.htm

For local application

Applications must be made in person at one of the Immigration Branch Offices. If all required supporting documents are provided upon submission of application, the HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book can normally be issued to the applicant on the same day.

For overseas application

The place to collect your HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book depends on where you submit your application. For more information, please refer to the following link:

• Collection for overseas application
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/traveldoc/seaman/collect.htm

For enquiries about the application and collection of your HKSAR Seaman's Identity Book, please call the Immigration Department hotline at (852) 2824 6111 or visit an Immigration Branch Office.

• List of Immigration Offices for travel document applications
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/traveldoc/immigrationoffices.htm