Home > Public Services > Hong Kong Identity Cards

Public Services

Hong Kong Identity Cards

	Smart Identity Card
	Types of identity card
	Who should apply
	Obligation after the identity card has been issued
	Application and appointment booking service
	Completion of the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise and subsequent arrangement

Smart Identity Card

	Introduction of Smart Identity Card
	Card Face Design of a Smart Identity Card
	Information on the Front of a Smart Identity Card
	Addresses & working hours of premises installed with immigration self-service kiosks and smart identity card readers
	Registration of Persons Offices Immigration Headquarters Immigration Control Points

Types of identity card

There are two types of identity cards :-

	the Hong Kong permanent identity card - which states that the holder has the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
	the Hong Kong identity card - which does not state that right

Who should apply

Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, all residents in Hong Kong who are aged 11 and above are required to register for an identity card, except those who are exempted or excluded.

Obligation after the identity card has been issued

	The holder is advised to keep the card in proper condition and to carry it with him at all times.
	If an identity card is lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced, one should report to the Registration of Persons Office within 14 days and apply for a new one.
	If the holder is outside Hong Kong at the time of such loss, he should report within 14 days of his return to Hong Kong and apply for a new one.
	If the lost card was subsequently recovered after the application for a replacement, it should be surrendered to any Registration of Persons Office or police station.

Application and appointment booking service

	Application by a person of the age of 18 or over			Application by a person under the age of 18
	Lost / destroyed / damaged / defaced identity card or amendment of registered information			Overseas application for a Hong Kong permanent identity card
	Application for Certificate of Registered Particulars			24-hour appointment booking service

Completion of the Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise and subsequent arrangement

	The territory-wide Hong Kong Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise ran from 18 August 2003 to 31 March 2007. During the period, holders of identity cards issued between 1 July 1987 and 22 June 2003 were called up through public announcement to apply in groups, in accordance with their year of birth and within the specified periods, to have their identity cards replaced.
	With the completion of the Smart Identity Card Replacement Exercise on 31 March 2007, Smart Identity Card Centres have ceased to accept applications for smart identity cards.
	From 2 April 2007 onwards, persons who have missed their specified call-up periods and have not replaced their old identity cards should make their applications at any of the Registration of Persons offices.
	The old identity cards will be declared invalid by batches, according to the "first apply, first invalidated" principle.
	Arrangement after completion of the Replacement Exercise
	Late Applications
	Outside HK during the specified period
	Invalidation of old identity cards