Hong Kong Identity Cards

All Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above are required to register for an identity card, except those who are exempted. You must keep your card in proper condition, and carry it with you at all times after you have attained the age of 15 years. Hong Kong residents aged 18 or over must register for an adult identity card. If you are a new arrival aged 18 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.

No fee is payable when you register for an identity card for the first time. However, if your card is lost, defaced or damaged then you have to pay HK$ 335 to make a new card. For the replacement of Identity card for the alteration of particulars the fee is HK$ 420.

If your identity card is lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, you should report to the Immigration Department and apply for a replacement within 14 days.  If you replace your Identity card, you must return your existing Identity card to the Immigration Department for cancellation because under the Registration of Persons Regulations, any person who possesses more than one identity card without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.

To protect your Identity card from being malfunctioned; you must never bend your card, or place near a magnet or scratch or remove the chip from your card.

To get your ID card, apply at the Registration of Persons Office of the Immigration Department as listed below. Remember to bring along your passport or other travel documents for application.

To save time, you are advised to use the 24-Hour Appointment Booking System to make an appointment in advance by calling 2598-0888 or via website at http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/idcard/hkic/bookregidcard.htm.