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Certificate of Exemption

Under Regulation 25(e) of the Registration of Persons ("ROP") Regulations, the aged, the blind and the infirm who satisfy a registration officer that their personal attendance for registration of Hong Kong identity cards will injure their health or the health of others shall not be required to register or apply for the issue of an identity card or for the renewal of an identity card. They may apply for a Certificate of Exemption to be issued to them. Certificates of Exemption are issued free of charge.

How to submit application

Application may be made in the form of a letter (sample) written by the applicant or his/her representative (e.g. family member, relative, social worker of the Social Welfare Department or registered medical doctor looking after the applicant's case). The letter should include the name, identity card number, contact address and telephone number of the applicant and the reason for the application. In addition, the following documents must be enclosed with the application:

	a certificate issued by a Hong Kong registered medical practitioner on the present health condition of the applicant (this certificate is not required if the applicant is of the age 70 or over);
	a copy of the applicant's identity card;
	one recent photograph of the applicant; and
	Arrangement for Collection of Certificate of Exemption.

Where to make application

Application together with the documents above should be sent by post to the ROP General & Statistics Unit at Room 1201, 12/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong or submitted to any one of the Registration of Persons Office.

Collection of Certificate of Exemption

If the application is approved, applicant/his representative will be informed to collect the Certificate of Exemption at a specified office. The old identity card kept by the applicant should be returned to the Immigration Department for disposal.

All Smart Identity Card Centres have been closed with effect from 19 May 2007. Applicant who has received the notification for collection but not yet collected his/her Certificate of Exemption at the chosen Smart Identity Card Centre should collect his/her Certificate of Exemption at a designated Registration of Persons Office. Please click here for details of the new collection location.

Note

	The Certificate of Exemption is not a travel document and cannot be used for immigration clearance.
	For details on the main differences between a Certificate of Exemption and a smart identity card, please click here.
	For enquiries, please call our Information and Liaison Section at 2824 6111.