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Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, all Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over (including those who have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days) are required to register for an identity card, except those who are exempted or excluded. If a person falls into one of the following categories, he/she is NOT required to apply for an identity card.

• Genuine travellers in transit through Hong Kong or persons who have been permitted to stay for not more than 180 days.
• Children aged under 11 of consuls, consular staff and the Head and members of the Office of the Commission of the European Communities in Hong Kong.
• Children aged under 11 (except for Hong Kong permanent residents who need to apply for permanent identity cards in connection with their applications for HKSAR passports).
• The aged, the blind and the infirm who have been exempted from registering for an identity card by the Commissioner of Registration.

Information on applying for exemption is available through the following link:
Application for Certificate of Exemption

Before proceeding to register for the issue of a permanent identity card, applicants will need to show that they are eligible for registration under the Registration of Persons Ordinance. Information on verification of eligibility for permanent identity card is available through the following link:

Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity card

If a person is a Hong Kong resident reaching the age of 11, he/she must register for an identity card within 30 days following his/her 11^th birthday. If such person is outside Hong Kong during the period, he/she must apply for one within 30 days of his/her return to Hong Kong.

If a person is a new arrival aged 11 or over and has been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days, he/she must register for an identity card within 30 days of arrival.

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

If a person‘s identity card has been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, he/she should apply for a replacement card at any Registration of Persons Office within 14 days.

The processing time for an identity card application is usually 5 working days (working days denote Monday to Friday, excluding General Holidays). In general, applicants can collect the new identity card on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department.

New Smart ID: Registration / Replacement of Identity Card – Procedures

New Smart ID: Registration of Identity Card - Self Collection

Photo Taking Tips for Application of Hong Kong Identity Card

At present, our department only accepts application forms submitted by electronic means. Please visit www.immd.gov.hk/eng/hkid.html to make prior appointment and pre-fill the application form.

You could also make use of the self-service facilities at our office on the application day to fill in the e-application form in person. If required, our staff will provide necessary assistance.

The appointment booking period for application for a Hong Kong identity card at the Registration of Persons Offices is 96 working days.

Further information is available through the following link:

Online appointment booking

Mobile Application appointment booking

Alternatively, applicants can make appointment bookings through the 24-hour telephone appointment booking hotline 2598 0888.

Applicants should apply for an identity card in person at Registration of Persons Office. For the service hours and scope of services available at respective Registration of Persons Offices, please click here for details. Arrivals from the Mainland holding Permits for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (commonly known as 'One-way Permits') who are aged 11 or above must have his/her first registrations for Hong Kong identity card at the Registration of Persons – Kowloon Office. (Note: Arrivals who are children under the age of 11 must have his/her first registrations for Hong Kong identity card at any Registration of Persons Office (except Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office) within 30 days following their 11th birthday.)

The applicant must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when submitting the application. The accompanying parent should produce his/her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card. If the applicant is accompanied by a legal guardian, the guardian must produce his/her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card and documentary proof of legal guardianship.

If the applicant was born in Hong Kong, he/she should produce originals of his/her following documents for confirmation of identity:

• birth certificate;
• proof of identity (e.g. a valid travel document or passport) or the latest school document (bearing name, date of birth and photo authenticated by the school e.g. student handbook or school record card); and
• identity card issued previously (if any).

If the applicant was born outside Hong Kong, he/she should produce originals of his/her following documents for confirmation of identity:

• birth certificate;
• One-way Permit (only applicable to new arrivals from the Mainland holding One-way Permit);
• valid travel document, passport, entry permit or affidavit showing his/her residential status in Hong Kong; and
• identity card issued previously (if any).

For replacement of a damaged or defaced card, the applicant should produce his/her damaged or defaced identity card.

Form ROP138: Documentary Requirements of Registration for Hong Kong Identity Cards

When arriving at a Registration of Persons Office, the applicant and his/her parent or legal guardian should approach the reception counter to obtain a tag number. If the applicant has made an appointment, he/she should produce an appointment letter or inform the reception officer of his/her identity document number and the time slot he/she has booked. For applicants who have not prefilled the application form, they should make use of the Self-service Electronic Form-filling Desk or their own mobile devices to fill and submit the application form through the Immigration Department Mobile Application while waiting for an interview with a registration officer.

When the applicant’s tag number is displayed on the plasma panel in the waiting area, he/she should proceed to the designated registration booth and hand in his/her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the registration officer. The registration officer will examine the applicant's eligibility for an identity card, scan his/her left and right thumbprints, and take his/her photo. The applicant will then be asked to return to the waiting area to wait for an interview with an assessment officer.

When the applicant's tag number appears on the plasma panel again, he/she should proceed to the designated booth and hand in his/her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the assessment officer. The assessment officer will confirm the applicant's eligibility for an identity card and scan his/her left and right thumbprints again. The applicant's identity card issued previously (if any) will be collected and he/she will be issued with an acknowledgement of application for an identity card.

For replacement of an identity card, the applicant will be issued with an acknowledgement of application for an identity card upon payment of a prescribed fee.

Holders of an acknowledgement of application for an identity card who intend to travel are required under the law to produce a valid travel document, such as passport or Hong Kong Re-entry Permit, at Hong Kong immigration control points.

The processing time for an identity card application is usually 5 working days (working days denote Monday to Friday, excluding General Holidays). In general, applicants can collect the new identity card on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department.

Photo taking for the applicants has to conform to the specifications as set out in the photo requirements page which are available at the following link:

Photo Requirements of Hong Kong Identity Card

No fee is payable for the registration of an identity card. However, applicants will need to pay for the replacement of an identity card due to loss, destruction, damage, defacement or alteration of personal particulars. 

Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, all Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over (including those who have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days) are required to register for an identity card, except those who are exempted or excluded. If a person falls into one of the following categories, he/she is NOT required to apply for an identity card.

• Genuine travellers in transit through Hong Kong or persons who have been permitted to stay for not more than 180 days.
• Children aged under 11 of consuls, consular staff and the Head and members of the Office of the Commission of the European Communities in Hong Kong.
• Children aged under 11 (except for Hong Kong permanent residents who need to apply for permanent identity cards in connection with their applications for HKSAR passports).
• The aged, the blind and the infirm who have been exempted from registering for an identity card by the Commissioner of Registration.

Information on applying for exemption is available through the following link:
Application for Certificate of Exemption

Before proceeding to register for the issue of a permanent identity card, applicants will need to show that they are eligible for registration under the Registration of Persons Ordinance.  Information on verification of eligibility for permanent identity card is available through the following link:

Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity card

Hong Kong residents under the age of 11 are not required to register for an identity card unless they are permanent residents and need to apply for a permanent identity card in connection with their applications for a HKSAR passport. 

If a person‘s identity card has been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, he/she should apply for a replacement card at any Registration of Persons Office within 14 days.

If a person applies for a permanent identity card in connection with his/her application for a HKSAR passport, the application for a permanent identity card will be arranged together with his/her HKSAR passport application.  If such person has been issued with a permanent identity card but it is lost, destroyed, defaced or damaged, the processing time for replacement of an identity card is usually 5 working days (working days denote Monday to Friday, excluding General Holidays). In general, applicants can collect the new identity card on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department.

Hong Kong residents under the age of 11 are not required to register for an identity card unless they are  permanent residents who need to apply for a permanent identity card in connection with their applications for a HKSAR passport.

Applicants may pre-fill the application form online in order to enjoy a faster process of registration. More information is available through the following link:

Online Form Pre-fill

Application form is available through the following link:

Form ROP 3: Application by a person under the age of 11

Form ROP(E)149: Guidance Notes

If an applicant applies for a permanent identity card in connection with his/her application for a HKSAR passport, such application for a permanent identity card will be arranged together with the HKSAR passport application. The applicant does not need to attend a Registration of Persons Office separately for identity card application.

If the child has been issued with a permanent identity card which is lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, the parent or the guardian should accompany the child to apply for a replacement at the Registration of Persons Office.

The appointment booking period for application for replacement of a Hong Kong permanent identity card at the Registration of Persons Offices is 96 working days.

Further information is available through the following link.

Online appointment booking

Mobile Application appointment booking

Alternatively, applicants can make appointment bookings through the 24-hour telephone appointment booking hotline 2598 0888.

Applicants can apply for replacement of a Hong Kong permanent identity card at any Registration of Persons Office.

Registration of Persons Offices

The applicant must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when submitting the application. The accompanying parent should produce his/her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card. If the applicant is accompanied by a legal guardian, the guardian must produce his/her valid travel document, passport or Hong Kong identity card and documentary proof of legal guardianship.

If the applicant is aged under 11 applying to replace a lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced card, he/she should produce:

• original of his/her proof of identity (e.g. a valid travel document or passport) or the latest school document (bearing name, date of birth and photo authenticated by the school e.g. student handbook or school record card) for confirmation of identity;
• one recent photograph (50 x 40 mm full-face photo) if he/she is not taller than 90 cm; and
• his/her damaged or defaced identity card (for replacement of damaged or defaced identity card).

Form ROP138: Documentary Requirements of Registration for Hong Kong Identity Cards

When arriving at a Registration of Persons Office, the applicant and his/her parent or legal guardian should approach the reception counter to obtain a tag number. If the applicant has made an appointment, he/she should produce an appointment letter or inform the reception officer of his/her identity document number and the time slot he/she has booked. For applicants who have not prefilled the application form online, they should make use of the Self-service Electronic Form-filling Desk or their own mobile devices to fill and submit the application form through the Immigration Department Mobile Application, while waiting for an interview with a registration officer.

When the applicant's tag number is displayed on the plasma panel in the waiting area, he/she should proceed to the designated registration booth and hand in his/her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the registration officer. The registration officer will examine the applicant's eligibility for an identity card. The applicant will then be asked to return to the waiting area to wait for an interview with an assessment officer.

When the applicant's tag number appears on the plasma panel again, he/she should proceed to the designated booth and hand in his/her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the assessment officer. The assessment officer will confirm the applicant's eligibility for an identity card. The applicant's old identity card (if any) will be collected and he/she will be issued with an acknowledgement of application for an identity card upon payment of a prescribed fee.

Holders of an acknowledgement of application for an identity card who intend to travel are required under the law to produce a valid travel document, such as passport or Hong Kong Re-entry Permit, at Hong Kong immigration control points.

The processing time for an identity card application is usually 5 working days (working days denote Monday to Friday, excluding General Holidays). In general, applicants can collect the new identity card on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department.

Photo taking for the applicants has to conform to the specifications as set out in the photo requirements page which are available at the following link:

Photo Requirements of Hong Kong Identity Card

Applicants will need to pay for the replacement of an identity card due to loss, destruction, damage or defacement or alteration of personal particulars.