Frequently Asked Questions Expand All+

Registration of identity cards for Hong Kong residents aged 11 or 18, newly arrived immigrants and those immigrants who enter Hong Kong with a One Way Permit is processed by the ROP Offices. Besides, the ROP Offices also handle replacement of identity cards due to defacement or loss, or applications for amendment of registered particulars, etc.

Meanwhile, applications for replacement of identity cards under the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise (Replacement Exercise) are handled by the nine designated Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (SIDCCs). Under the Replacement Exercise, the location for collecting a new smart identity card need not be the same as that for the application of replacement. Members of the public are free to choose to collect their new smart identity cards at any one of the SIDCCs. Please note that, all SIDCCs were closed with effect from 4 March 2023. Eligible members of the public who have yet to replace for a new smart identity card on or before March 3, 2023 must apply for identity card replacement at a specified ROP Office. They may, starting from March 4, 2023, make appointment for identity card replacement at a specified ROP Office for the next 24 working days from March 6, 2023. For online appointment booking for application for a new smart identity card at a specified ROP Office from March 6, 2023, please click here on or after March 4, 2023. In order to ensure residents could apply for identity cards in a smooth and orderly manner, the ROP Offices do not handle applications without appointments. Besides, if applicants are unable to collect their new smart identity cards at the chosen SIDCC on or before 3 March 2023, they are required to collect their identity cards at a specified Registration of Persons Office as directed starting from 6 March 2023. Please click here for details.

If you are unable to collect your new identity card in person, you can authorise another person to collect it on your behalf. You should notify the registration officer at the time of replacing your identity card and complete an authorisation form (ID678) or a written authorisation. The authorisation form (ID678) is available through the following link:

The authorised representative must have attained 18 years of age. Upon collection of the new identity card, the authorised representative must return your old form of smart identity card for cancellation and produce your notice of collection as well as a completed authorisation form or your written authorisation together with proof of your signature. The authorised representative should also produce his or her valid proof of identity, e.g. Hong Kong identity card, passport or Hong Kong Re-entry Permit.

At present, the old form of smart identity cards are still valid. The ImmD will continue to closely monitor the progress of the replacement of new smart identity cards and has no plan to make arrangement for declaring any identity card invalid at this stage.

Applicants who are currently outside Hong Kong need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement. Even when they return to Hong Kong, the Replacement Exercise has ended, they can still have their identity cards replaced in person at specified Registration of Persons (ROP) Offices within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong. Eligible members of the public who have yet to replace for a new smart identity card on or before March 3, 2023 must apply for identity card replacement at a specified ROP Office. They may, starting from March 4, 2023, make appointment for identity card replacement at a specified ROP Office for the next 24 working days from March 6, 2023. For online appointment booking for application for a new smart identity card at a specified ROP Office from March 6, 2023, please click here on or after March 4, 2023. In order to ensure residents could apply for identity cards in a smooth and orderly manner, the Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres and ROP Offices do not handle applications without appointments.

Applicants must apply for a new smart identity card in person. However, if applicants are unable to collect their new identity cards in person, they can authorise another person to collect it on their behalf.

The Hong Kong Identity Card is mainly used for verification of identity within Hong Kong and is not a travel document. It is thus not imperative for residents outside Hong Kong to replace for the new smart identity card. Upon applicants' return to Hong Kong for identity card replacement, they can use their existing Hong Kong identity cards (if not yet invalidated) or other valid travel documents for immigration clearance.

In general, Hong Kong permanent residents of Chinese nationality living outside Hong Kong will not lose their permanent resident status if they have not returned Hong Kong for replacement of their identity cards. In accordance with the law, if they are outside Hong Kong during his/her specified call-up period, they need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement. They can have their identity cards replaced within 30 days upon their future return to Hong Kong.

Nonetheless, permanent residents not of Chinese nationality should note that if they have been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months since they ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong, their right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may be affected.

According to the law, if such relevant person loses his/her right of abode in the HKSAR, he/she will automatically acquire the right to land in the HKSAR. This means that he/she will be able to enter Hong Kong freely to live, study or work without any restriction.

If you wish to amend the personal particulars of your identity card, you should complete the application form (i.e. ROP73) and post it to the Registration of Persons General and Statistics Unit with copies of supporting documents.

Registration of Persons General and Statistics Unit

12/F, Immigration Tower

7 Gloucester Road

Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Besides, you may submit the application form at any Registration of Persons (ROP) Office or by email to eto_rop@immd.gov.hk. If the application is approved, arrangements will be made to replace your identity card at a fee of HK$460.  Such application will only be processed by ROP Offices.  The Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres will not process such applications.

New smart Hong Kong Identity Cards issued under the Replacement Exercise are free of charge.

For applicants who were unable to apply for a new smart identity card within the specified call-up period with reasonable excuse (e.g. sickness, the pandemic situation, absence from Hong Kong, etc.), he/she will be required to make a declaration on the reason upon registration. Flexible arrangement will be made according to the applicant's situation and assistance will be provided by our staff on the spot.

If you are outside Hong Kong during your specified call-up period and are not able to return to Hong Kong before 3 March 2023, you need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement by the end of the Replacement Exercise. You can still have your HKIC replaced at specified Registration of Persons Offices within 30 days upon your future return to Hong Kong. For relevant details, please see Q6.

In accordance with Section 7B(3) of the Registration of Persons Ordinance, any person who without reasonable excuse fails to apply for a new identity card within the specified call-up periods commits an offence and will be liable to a fine of $5,000 if prosecuted.

For applicants who are unable to apply for a new smart identity card within the specified call-up period with reasonable excuse (e.g. sickness, the pandemic situation, absence from Hong Kong, etc.), he/she will be required to make a declaration on the reason upon registration. Flexible arrangement will be made according to the applicant's situation and assistance will be provided by our staff on the spot.

In addition, Hong Kong residents who are unable to have their identity cards replaced on or before 3 March 2023 due to absence from Hong Kong can apply at specified Registration of Persons Offices within 30 days upon their future return to Hong Kong and need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement. If they return to Hong Kong and stay in Hong Kong for less than 30 days, they would not violate the relevant law for not having their identity cards replaced during that time.

Please click here for online appointment booking for application for a new smart identity card at a specified Registration of Persons Office.

Persons who have missed the call up period for their age group due to previous absence from Hong Kong or other special reasons may also make appointment.

For those Hong Kong residents having enrolled in the Macao Automated Immigration Clearance Service before, they may, during the process of replacement of identity card, give consent to the Immigration Department for transmitting the information of their new smart identity cards to the Macao Public Security Police Force Immigration Department for updating whereupon they can continue to use the service without the need of re-enrolment. The updating will take effect within three working days after the collection of new smart identity cards.

Furthermore, as a facilitation measure, those Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above holding a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card or a valid Hong Kong identity card containing ‘***’ or ‘R’ symbol, who have not enrolled in the Macao Automated Immigration Clearance Service before may also perform enrolment for such service via the Enrolment Kiosk for Macao Automated Immigration Clearance Service at any one of the Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres after collection of their new smart identity cards. Successful enrolled Hong Kong residents may normally use the Macao Automated Immigration Clearance Service within three working days after the completion of enrolment.