Before Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
Hong Kong residents who are not eligible for the HKSAR Passport may apply for the HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (Doc/I), which can serve as their travel documents. The HKSAR Doc/I is valid for 7 years.
Make Travel Easier
The new HKSAR Electronic Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (e-Doc/I) is machine-readable to facilitate immigration clearance at foreign immigration control points that are equipped with machine-reading facilities. It is also embedded with a contactless chip that contains the holder’s personal data and photograph. It complies with the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
A person is eligible for a Doc/I if he/she meets one of the following requirements:
| (a) | he/she is on limit of stay in the HKSAR and is unable to obtain a national passport or a travel document of any other country or territory; |
| (b) | he/she is on unconditional stay but does not have the right of abode in the HKSAR, and is unable to obtain a national passport or a travel document of any other country or territory; or |
| (c) | he/she is not of Chinese nationality who has the right of abode in the HKSAR and holds a permanent identity card of the Region but is unable to obtain a national passport or a travel document of any other country or territory. |
The Immigration Department pledges to complete the processing of local applications for HKSAR Doc/I in 5 working days (i.e. Monday to Friday, excluding General Holidays) after receiving all necessary documents, a photograph and the application fee. In general, applicants can obtain the new HKSAR Doc/I on the next working day after the completion of the processing by the Immigration Department. For applications submitted by post or via drop-in box, an extra 2 to 3 working days may be required. Whether this pledge can be met will also depend on the circumstances of the application and the number of applications received at a particular time. If applicants have any travel plans, please apply early.
Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
By post or through drop-in boxes
Applicants can send their applications by post using a self-addressed envelope (ID972) to:
Travel Document and Nationality (Application) Section
2nd Floor, Administration Tower,
Immigration Headquarters,
61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O,
New Territories
Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. (Details)
During office hours, applicants can also deposit their applications into the drop-in boxes provided at any Immigration Branch Offices or the Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section.
If the applicant’s previous Doc/I has been lost, damaged or is not available, or he/she has to apply for an extension of stay at the same time, the application must be submitted in person at Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section or any one of the Immigration Branch Offices.
In person
If the applicant is aged 16 or above, he/she may submit his/her application in person at Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section or any one of the Immigration Branch Offices.
Children under the age of 16, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, may submit their applications in person at Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section or any one of the Immigration Branch Offices.
New Arrivals Holding Exit Permits for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao SAR (also known as One-way Permits)
Applicants can submit their applications at the Registration of Persons - Kowloon Office (3/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon) upon first registration for a Hong Kong identity card. They may also bring along children under the age of 11 to submit applications for Document of Identity for Visa Purposes together during the same visit.
Children aged 11 or above but below 16 who hold One-way Permits can submit their applications in person accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when they first register for a Hong Kong identity card at the Registration of Persons - Kowloon Office.
Other children under the age of 11 who have any travel plans can submit their applications in person accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section or any one of the Immigration Branch Offices.
Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section
An applicant should make an appointment booking through the Internet (www.gov.hk/tdbooking), Immigration Department Mobile Application or by phone (2598 0888) before submitting an application in person.
There are two types of forms for local applications. Applicants can download the forms and the guidance notes through the following links.
- Application form (Form ID 437) for persons aged 16 or above
- Application form (Form ID 437A) for children aged under 16
Applicants can also obtain the application forms at Travel Documents and Nationality (Application) Section or any one of the Immigration Branch Offices. Applicants should complete the application form in block letters in black or blue ink. Applications for children under 16 years of age must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Applicants must submit their applications with a recent colour photograph with white background that conforms to the specifications set out in the photograph requirements guidelines accessible below.
An application with insufficient supporting documents will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Additional documents or information may be required if necessary. Providing the correct supporting documents will facilitate the processing of the application.
When submitting the application in person, applicants should bring along the original supporting documents. In the case of postal or drop-in application, applicants should submit photocopies of supporting documents on A4-size paper (i.e. 210mm X 297mm) along with the application form, photograph and cheque. Please note that all photocopies will not be returned.
Application for Persons Aged 16 or Above
The applicant should provide the following documents together with the application:
(a) Hong Kong identity card;
(b) Documentary evidence of his/her legal residence in the HKSAR; and
(c) Existing Doc/I if he/she is applying for a replacement. If the applicant's previous Doc/I has been lost, damaged or is not available, he/she must complete Form ID 645 to explain the circumstances and apply in person for a replacement.
Additional Requirements for Applicants Aged 16 or 17
(d) Consenting parent or legal guardian to complete and sign section 6 of the application form (Form ID 437) to confirm his/her consent to the application;
(e) The Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) of the consenting parent or legal guardian;
(f) Birth certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) to prove his/her relationship with the consenting parent, or a court order, if appropriate, to prove that the consenting legal guardian has custodial rights in respect of him/her; and
(g) If the applicant is married, only his/her marriage certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) is required. Parental or legal guardian's consent and items (d) to (f) are not required.
Note: If an applicant submits the application by post or via the drop-in box, he/she is required to provide the original form(s) and photocopies of the documents listed above. The originals of such documents together with the applicant’s previous Doc/I (if appropriate) must be produced upon collection of the new Doc/I.
Application for Children Aged under 16
The consenting parent or legal guardian should provide the following documents together with the child's application:
(a) The child's Hong Kong identity card (if appropriate);
(b) The Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) of the consenting parent or legal guardian;
(c) Documentary evidence of the child's legal residence in the HKSAR;
(d) The child's birth certificate (not required if it is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) to prove the relationship between the consenting parent and the child, or a court order, if applicable, to prove that the legal guardian concerned has custodial rights in respect of the child; and
(e) The child’s existing Doc/I if he/she is applying for a replacement. If the previous Doc/I has been lost, damaged or is not available, the parent or legal guardian must write to explain the circumstances in Form ID 645 and apply in person for a replacement.
Additional Requirements for Children Aged under 11
(f) The latest school document bearing the child's photograph authenticated by the school (e.g. student handbook or school record card bearing the child’s name, date of birth and photograph) or other proofs of identity are required. If such school document or proof of identity is not available, a completed Form for Countersignature (ID641) together with a photocopy of the Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document(s) bearing the countersignatory’s signature will be required.
Form for Countersignature (Form ID 641)
Note: If the child's application is submitted by post or via drop-in box, the consenting parent or legal guardian is required to provide the original form(s) and photocopies of the documents listed above. The originals of such documents together with the child's previous Doc/I (if appropriate) must be produced upon collection of the new Doc/I.
For applications submitted in person, the application fee can be paid by EPS, Octopus, FPS, cash or crossed cheque payable to 'The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region'. For applications submitted by post or drop-in, a crossed cheque should be enclosed. Post-dated cheques will not be accepted.
After Applying
Place of Application: In Hong Kong
For persons aged 16 or above
Upon receiving a Doc/I application, the Immigration Department will mail the applicant a Collection Notice indicating the date and office for the collection of his/her Doc/I. The applicant must collect his/her Doc/I in person and bring along the originals of the supporting documents for verification.
For replacement application, the previous Doc/I should be produced for cancellation upon collection of the new one.
For children aged below 16
Upon receiving a Doc/I application from a child aged below 16, the Immigration Department will mail the consenting parent or legal guardian (i.e. the one who has signed on the application form) a Collection Notice indicating the date and office for collection of the child's Doc/I. The child, accompanied by the consenting parent or legal guardian, should collect the Doc/I in person and produce the originals of the supporting documents for verification. The consenting parent or legal guardian may authorise a person who is over 18 years of age as the representative to accompany the child to collect the Doc/I. Authorisation must be provided in writing on the authorisation form (ID678), clearly stating the representative’s full name and identity document number. The signature on the authorisation form (ID678) must be the same as that signed on the application form. The representative must produce his/her identity document, the original valid identity document(s) (e.g. Hong Kong identity card, passport or Re-entry Permit, etc.) of the consenting parent or legal guardian and originals of the supporting documents for verification. Should the Immigration Department consider it necessary, the consenting parent or legal guardian may still be required to attend in person for collection of the Doc/I.
For replacement application, the consenting parent or legal guardian/authorised representative should produce the child's previous Doc/I for cancellation upon collection of the new one.
After receipt of the Collection Notice issued by the Immigration Department notifying the period and office for collecting the Doc/I, unless receiving further notice from the Immigration Department, the applicant may proceed to the selected office direct according to the prescribed details on the Collection Notice, and should present the Collection Notice at the Reception Counter or obtain a tag using the Self-service Tag Issuing Kiosk and wait for service.
For persons aged 16 or above
When the applicant submits his/her application in person, he/she will be given a Collection Notice or receipt indicating the date and office for the collection of his/her Doc/I. The applicant may collect the Doc/I in person or authorise a person who is over 18 years of age as his/her representative to collect the new Doc/I. Authorisation must be provided in writing on the authorisation form (ID678) clearly stating the representative’s full name and identity document number. The signature on the authorisation form (ID678) must be the same as that signed on the application form. The representative must produce his/her identity document and any other supporting documents as stated in the Collection Notice for verification. Should the Immigration Department consider it necessary, the applicant may still be required to attend in person for collection of the Doc/I.
For replacement application, the previous Doc/I should be produced for cancellation upon collection of the new one.
For children aged below 16
If the consenting parent or legal guardian of the child submits the application in person, he/she will be given a Collection Notice or receipt indicating the date and office for the collection of the child’s Doc/I. The consenting parent or legal guardian (i.e. the one who has signed on the application form) should collect the child’s Doc/I in person or authorise a person who is over 18 years of age as the representative to collect the child’s Doc/I. Authorisation must be provided in writing on the authorisation form (ID678) clearly stating the representative’s full name and identity document number. The signature on the authorisation form (ID678) must be the same as that signed on the application form. The representative must produce his/her identity document and any other supporting documents as stated in the Collection Notice for verification. Should the Immigration Department consider it necessary, the consenting parent or legal guardian may still be required to attend in person for collection of the Doc/I. In case the child did not attend in person when submitting the application, he/she must attend in person upon collection of the Doc/I.
After receipt of the Collection Notice issued by the Immigration Department notifying the period and office for collecting the Doc/I, unless receiving further notice from the Immigration Department, the applicant may proceed to the selected office direct according to the prescribed details on the Collection Notice, and should present the Collection Notice at the Reception Counter or obtain a tag using the Self-service Tag Issuing Kiosk and wait for service.
