HKID, registration and settling in
This guide explains how to get a Hong Kong identity card, tell the Government your new address and sort out MPF, tax and driving after you arrive. Checked against official pages on 27 October 2026; where official pages disagree or say nothing, it says so plainly.
Sources checked ·
Who has to get a Hong Kong identity card, and by when?#
ImmD says all Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over must register for an identity card. A new arrival aged 11 or over who has been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must register within 30 days of arrival.
People in transit, and people permitted to stay for not more than 180 days, do not have to. Children under 11 do not have to, apart from permanent residents who need a permanent card to apply for an HKSAR passport. A child must register within 30 days after the 11th birthday.
Does the rule differ for workers, dependants, students and helpers?#
ImmD's registration page gives one rule: age 11 or over and permission to stay for more than 180 days. The employment, dependant and study visa pages we read do not state a separate identity card rule.
ImmD's extension checklists for General Employment Policy entrants, their dependants and students list the Hong Kong identity card among the documents. Stay and visas themselves are in Visiting and staying, Working in Hong Kong and Studying in Hong Kong. Helpers are covered in the domestic helpers guide.
How do I book, and where do I go?#
Book through the internet, the ImmD mobile application or by phone on 2598 0888. ImmD says the booking period is 96 working days. You then apply in person at a Registration of Persons Office. ImmD lists six: Hong Kong (Wan Chai), Kowloon, Tseung Kwan O, Fo Tan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Hours and services differ, so check the ImmD page.
ImmD accepts application forms only in electronic form, which you can pre-fill when you book. Mainland arrivals with a One-way Permit register at the Kowloon office. Only urgent replacements of lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced cards can be made without an appointment.
What do I bring, and what happens at the office?#
For an adult new arrival, ImmD asks for originals of a One-way Permit, if you hold one, or a valid travel document, passport, entry permit or affidavit showing your residential status in Hong Kong. Form ROP138 on the ImmD site has the full list.
For ages 11 to 17, ImmD says a parent or legal guardian must come too, with a birth certificate and proof of identity. At the office you give thumbprints, have a photograph taken and attend an interview. ImmD says processing is usually 5 working days. If you travel before collecting the card, show a valid travel document, such as a passport or Re-entry Permit.
Is the first card free, and what do replacements cost?#
ImmD says no fee is charged for identity cards issued to new arrivals and to people reaching the age of 11 or 18. Fees are payable for replacement.
ImmD's fee table (page dated 8 April 2026) lists HK$370 to replace a lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced card and HK$460 when personal particulars on the card change. A Certificate of Registered Particulars costs HK$425.
What is the smart ID card, and must I carry it?#
Hong Kong identity cards are smart cards with a chip. ImmD names two types: the permanent identity card, which states that the holder has the right of abode, and the Hong Kong identity card, which does not. The current form has been issued since 26 November 2018.
GovHK says the card is needed on many occasions to identify yourself as a Hong Kong resident, and that carrying it at all times is a statutory requirement for people aged 15 or over. ImmD kiosks at its offices and control points can show the chip data and update a condition of stay or limit of stay.
What do the symbols on the card mean?#
ImmD says the front of a card issued since 26 November 2018 carries symbols. Three stars (***) mean the holder is 18 or over and eligible for a Re-entry Permit. One star (*) means the holder is 11 to 17 and eligible.
The letters give residential status. A means right of abode. C means the holder's stay was limited by the Director of Immigration when the card was registered. R means the right to land. U means the stay was not limited at registration. These are ImmD's own descriptions.
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Is my old smart ID card still valid?#
Not if it was issued before 26 November 2018. ImmD says those old-form cards became invalid in two steps: on 12 May 2025 for holders born in 1970 or after, and on 12 October 2025 for holders born in 1969 or before.
ImmD says an invalid card is not accepted for immigration purposes, and holders must show a valid travel document at the border. It says to make an appointment at any Registration of Persons Office for a new card, within 30 days of returning if you were away. ImmD says this does not affect right of abode unless permanent resident status has been lost.
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What if my card is lost or damaged?#
ImmD says to apply for a replacement at any Registration of Persons Office within 14 days (14 days from your return, if you are away). For a lost card go in person; no appointment is needed, and ImmD says a police proof of loss is generally not required. The fee is HK$370.
A lost card stops being valid once you have reported it and applied. If it turns up, return it to a Registration of Persons Office or police station at once. ImmD says holding more than one card without reasonable excuse is an offence, liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.
What is iAM Smart, and who can register?#
The Digital Policy Office describes iAM Smart as a one-stop personalised digital services platform. You log in to online services on your phone and can fill forms from saved details. The iAM Smart+ version adds digital signing and extra identity checks.
All Hong Kong residents with a Hong Kong identity card, aged 11 or over, can register; at 11 to 17 a parent or guardian must consent. To register for iAM Smart+ by app you need the card, a phone with NFC and biometric authentication, and an email address; a phone without NFC can still register for iAM Smart. Kiosks, counters and mobile teams are other routes.
What counts as proof of address?#
The Transport Department accepts a bill, statement or letter issued within the last three months showing your name and address, such as a utility, phone or internet bill, a bank statement or a government tax demand note. It also accepts a valid stamped tenancy agreement, which need not be that recent but must cover the date of application. For a domestic helper living with the employer it takes the employer's proof plus a valid employment contract.
Hong Kong Public Libraries ask adults for proof of residential address issued within the last 3 months. ImmD issues a Certificate of Registered Particulars (HK$425); it does not say who accepts it.
How do I tell ImmD I have moved?#
ImmD says to notify the Commissioner of Registration of a new residential address by letter or on form ROP18 (form ROP18A if only the address changes). Hand it in at any Registration of Persons Office or send it by email, fax or post. The address is not printed on the card.
Changing a detail that is printed on the card, such as your name or date of birth, is a different application (form ROP73) and means a new card at HK$460.
Who else do I tell when I move?#
GovHK's Change of Address service updates your address with 22 government departments, including ImmD, the Inland Revenue Department, the Transport Department and the Labour Department, and 5 non-governmental organisations, in one go. GovHK says it processes notifications within 14 days. ImmD's entry needs a Digital Certificate or iAM Smart+.
Deadlines differ. The IRD says taxpayers must tell it within one month. The Transport Department says driving licence holders and vehicle owners must tell it within 72 hours, with proof of the new address.
How do I join the MPF?#
Your employer does it. The MPFA says the employer must enrol you in an MPF scheme within 60 days of employment.
You give your employer your name, HKID number, date of birth, contact details and a tax residency self-certification. The employer chooses the scheme. Who must join, the exemptions (including the overseas-scheme and employment-visa rules), contribution rates and withdrawal are in Working in Hong Kong.
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Do I register with the tax office, and what does my employer do?#
If the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) sends you a return, GovHK says you must complete it by the due date even with no chargeable income. If none arrives and you are liable, the IRD says to notify it in writing within 4 months after the tax year ends on 31 March, so by 31 July. GovHK says salaries tax is charged on income from employment arising in or derived from Hong Kong.
The IRD says an employer reports a new employee on Form IR56E within 3 months of the start of employment. Rates and allowances are in Working in Hong Kong.
Does the ID card change what I pay at hospitals, and do I need it for a library card?#
The Hospital Authority (HA) charges Eligible Person rates to Hong Kong identity card holders, except where the card was obtained through a permission to land or remain that has expired or ceased to be valid. The full definition, including who else qualifies, and the fees are in Health access and fees.
Hong Kong Public Libraries say a first library card is free. An adult applies in person with the original Hong Kong identity card and proof of address issued within the last 3 months. Octopus cards are covered on the Octopus page.
Can I drive in Hong Kong on my foreign licence?#
The Transport Department (TD) gives holders of a full licence issued outside Hong Kong three routes: direct issue of a Hong Kong full licence without a test, a temporary driving licence, or, for visitors, driving on the valid foreign licence or international driving permit.
A TD note citing Cap. 374B says a visitor may drive for the 12 months following the last entry. It defines a visitor as someone who arrives other than to take up residence for a period exceeding 12 months.
Can I swap my foreign licence for a Hong Kong one without a test?#
TD says yes if you hold a full licence (not an International Driving Permit, learner's or probationary licence) from a place on its Schedule 4 list, valid, or expired for not more than 3 years, for an equivalent class, and obtained by passing a test there. You also need one of: a licence first issued during at least 6 months' residence there, a licence held for at least 5 years before you apply, or a passport from that place.
The list includes Australia, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. As opened on 27 October 2026 it does not include the Philippines, Indonesia or Thailand.
How do I apply for direct issue, and what do I bring?#
From 16 March 2026 TD requires an online appointment for the "direct issue" counter first; there are no walk-ins, and post and drop-in boxes are not accepted. It covers private cars, light goods vehicles, motor cycles and motor tricycles.
Bring the signed TD63A form, your Hong Kong ID card (if any) or passport, the physical overseas licence, proof of address issued within the last 3 months, and the fee. TD asks for hard copies, and for an officially certified translation of any document not in Chinese or English. A medical certificate is needed at 70 or above.
What if my licence is not from a listed place?#
TD says a temporary driving licence is for holders of a valid full licence from a place not on the Schedule 4 list. You must have applied for a driving test within 3 months of arriving to take up residence, and meet the same 6-month, 5-year or passport test. It covers private cars and light goods vehicles only.
It lasts until your overseas licence expires or 12 months after arrival, whichever comes first. TD allows one extension of up to 6 months, only with a test booking. Failing any part of the tests cancels it at once.
Do I need certified translations or an apostille for my documents?#
ImmD says a document that is not in Chinese or English must come with a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator. The Transport Department lists its own acceptable translators for driving licences. The Help in your language guide also covers translation.
The Judiciary's Apostille Service certifies Hong Kong documents for use abroad, such as birth, death and marriage certificates, a Certificate of Registered Particulars, and documents signed by a notary public. It charges HK$125 per application and normally takes two working days.
What could we not confirm?#
Partly confirmed: ImmD says you "should" report a new address and states no deadline. TD says a temporary driving licence does not apply to people "ordinarily resident" in Hong Kong, without defining the term.
No official page we read says: what happens if you register late; which visa holders' cards the Hospital Authority treats as Eligible Person; what an employer, library or the IRD accepts before your card arrives; whether employees must register with the IRD before a first return; or whether a Hong Kong body requires an apostille on a foreign document. No Department of Justice apostille page was found, and the law texts could not be read.