When to apply

	Every adult who enters and is permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must apply to register within 30 days of arrival.
	Holder of permanent identity card issued overseas in connection with application for a HKSAR passport should apply for a new permanent identity card within 30 days upon his return to Hong Kong in exchange for the one issued overseas.
	Juveniles holding identity cards issued to them between the ages of 11 and 17 are also required to apply in person for a new identity card within 30 days after their 18th birthday.

Application form

Application form ROP 1 and other relevant forms are available at the Information and Liaison Section at Immigration Headquarters and all Registration of Persons Offices.

Where to submit your application

Application can be made at any Registration of Persons Office except :-

	new arrivals from the Mainland holding One-way Exit Chinese Permits must register at the Kowloon Office.
	Workers arrived in Hong Kong under the Supplementary Labour Scheme should register their identity cards at Kwun Tong Office.

Appointment Booking Service

Registration of Persons Offices adopt a quota system.  Different quotas will be set for individual office to cope with the demand at different districts.

Subject to the availability of quotas on that day, applicant may also attend a Registration of Persons Office in person to get a quota tag before his/her application be processed.

Documents to be produced

Registration of new arrivals :-

valid travel document / passport / entry permit / One-way Chinese Exit Permit / affidavits (as appropriate), so as to confirm the applicant's residential status in Hong Kong.

Registration by residents :-

	juvenile identity card or previous identity card; or
	if the applicant has never registered for a juvenile identity card, his birth certificate and proof of identity such as valid travel document / passport / recent school documents with certified photograph (e.g. student handbook or school record card) must be produced.

Replacement of lost / destroyed / damaged / defaced card :-

identity card (if any).

Fees

	For identity cards issued to new arrivals and persons reaching the age of 18, there is no charge.
	For Consular Corps Identity Cards issued to the consul, consular staff, the Head and members of the Office of the Commission of the European Communities and their spouses and dependent children, there is no charge.
	For the replacement of a card which requires alteration; or has been lost or destroyed/damaged or defaced, fees are levied under the Registration of Persons Regulations.

Processing Time

The processing time normally takes about 10 working days.

Note: Working days denote Monday to Friday excluding General Holidays.

General Procedures for the Application / Replacement of Identity Card

When an applicant arrives at a Registration of Persons office, he/she should approach the reception counter to acquire a number tag and an application form.  In case the applicant has booked an appointment in advance, he/she should inform the reception officer his/her identity document number and the time slot he/she has booked ; or produce the acknowledgement of booking. While waiting for his/her turn, he/she should read and complete the application form carefully.

When the applicant's tag number is displayed on the plasma panel in the waiting hall, he / she should proceed to the specified registration booth. The applicant should hand in his / her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the registration officer. The registration officer will preliminarily examine the eligibility of the applicant for an identity card, scan the applicant's left and right thumbprints and take photo for the applicant. The applicant will then be invited to wait for his / her turn again in the waiting area.

When the applicant's tag number is displayed on the plasma panel in the waiting area, he / she should proceed to the designated booth. The applicant should hand in his / her application form, supporting documents and identity card (if any) to the assessment officer. The assessment officer will countercheck the data on the application form, confirm the eligibility of the applicant for an identity card, and scan the applicant's left and right thumbprints again to ensure the captured records are in order. The old identity card (if any) will be collected and the applicant will be issued with an "Acknowledgement of the Application for Identity Card".

For replacement of identity card which requires alteration of particulars; or has been lost / destroyed/ damaged / defaced, the applicant will be issued with the "Acknowledgement of the Application for Identity Card" after payment of fee at the shroff.

Note: The above mentioned is the general procedures for application/ replacement of identity card.  Application procedures may vary depending on the circumstances of individual case.

Collection

	The applicant may collect the identity card within the period specified on the "Acknowledgement of the Application for Identity Card".  Upon collection, the applicant must return the "Acknowledgement of the Application for Identity Card".
	The applicant is expected to collect his/ her identity card in person. He/ she will be asked to place his/ her left and right thumbprints on a scanner to confirm that the chip of the smart identity card is functioning properly and the personal data stored in the chip are correct.
	If he/she wish to authorise another person to collect his/her identity card, he/she may at the time of registration notify the registration officer and complete an authorisation form, or give his/her authorisation in writing.
	The authorised representative must be over 18 years of age.
	The authorised representative should produce : his/her identity card; the applicant's acknowledgement of application for identity card; and the applicant's written authorisation and proof of his/her signature or the authorisation form.
	When the applicant receives his/ her identity card from the representative, he/ she should confirm at the smart identity card reader installed at the immigration self-service kiosk that the chip of the smart identity card is functioning properly and the personal data stored in the chip are correct as soon as possible. To complete this confirmation process, he/ she must do it on his/ her own by following the on-screen instructions.
	To view the addresses and office hours of premises installed with immigration self-service kiosks and smart identity card readers, please press here.