HKSAR passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to over 130 countries/territories. The Immigration Department will continue to lobby more countries for maximum travel convenience for HKSAR passport holders.

[For details of countries/territories that have agreed to grant visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders, please click here.]

In general, Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong are required to have a valid "Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau" with a relevant endorsement and to meet the general entry requirements before they are permitted entry. For pregnant women who are at an advanced stage of pregnancy, they must also produce a booking confirmation certificate issued by a Hong Kong hospital (but not individual doctors) for admission to the hospital for delivery. If their aim of visit is not to give birth in Hong Kong, they must provide sufficient proof.

Whether a Mainland woman is at an advanced stage of pregnancy is judged by the relevant staff; but to minimize disputes, women who have been pregnant for seven months (or 28 weeks) or above will be deemed to be at such stage. Relevant visitors can bring documentary proof such as doctors' medical examination reports for relevant staff's reference.

At present, the first and foremost objectives of the Government are to ensure that local pregnant women can enjoy proper services to which they are entitled. The new medical care measures, including the booking requirement for obstetric services, apply to all Mainland pregnant women, regardless of whether their husbands are Hong Kong residents or not. Hence, the relevant immigration complementary measures are applicable to those women. For details, please refer to the press release entitled "New Measures on Obstetric Services and Immigration Control Announced" issued by the Hong Kong Government on 16 January 2007 (webpage: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200701/16/P200701160184.htm).

Under the laws of Hong Kong, only deaths that occur in Hong Kong shall be registered with the Registrar of Deaths. However, the Hong Kong identity card of a deceased shall cease to be valid upon his death and should be delivered to the Commissioner of Registration for cancellation by completing a "Notification of death and return of identity card of deceased persons" (Form ROP 35a).

For marriages that are valid under the law of the country where they were solemnized, it is not necessary to register such marriages with the Registrar of Marriages again.

On receipt by the district registrar of your baby's birth return from the hospital in which your baby was born, you should make an appointment booking for birth registration with the relevant district registrar through the internet: www.gov.hk/birthregistration/, or telephone (852) 2598 0888. Please first confirm with the hospital to ensure the birth return has been sent before making the appointment.

To apply for licensing a place of public worship ("the place") to be a place for celebration of marriages, the Minister-in-charge of the place should submit by post the completed application form (SF/MR/9) together with the following supporting documents :

(i)	Photographs of "the place" (showing the frontage and interior view, sign-board, facilities for safe custody of documents)
(ii)	A copy of the floor plan of "the place" (highlight the place applying for the license for celebration of marriages)
(iii)	A copy of letter of tax exemption issued by Inland Revenue Department or documents showing that "the place" is a non-profit making organization
(iv)	A copy of the occupation permit of the premises of "the place"
(v)	A copy of the Conditions of Grant or Government Lease
(vi)	A copy of the Register from Land Registry showing the title of the subject property or the original assignment
(vii)	A copy of the address proof of "the place" (e.g. electricity bill)
(viii)	A copy of the document showing the history and activities of "the place"
(ix)	A copy of identity document (e.g. Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document) of the Minister-in-charge
(x)	A copy of certification of ordination of the Minister-in-charge

Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration (Support) Section
Room 1501
Immigration Tower
7 Gloucestor Road, Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Please note that application will be processed after all documents listed above are received.