Hong Kong ID Card for Foreigners 2027: How to Apply & Fees
Kenji Farre, Director · Oct 6, 2026 · 6 min read
If you are a foreigner aged 18 or over and have been allowed to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days (for example on a work, IANG, Top Talent or dependant visa), you must register for a Hong Kong identity card (HKID) within 30 days of arrival. First registration is free. You book an appointment online at gov.hk/icbooking or by phone on 2598 0888, attend a Registration of Persons Office with your passport and visa, give thumbprints and a photo, and collect the card about 5 working days later. You get a non-permanent HKID, which you can swap for a permanent one after seven years of continuous residence.
This guide covers who must apply, the documents to bring, step by step instructions, which office to choose, fees, collection, e-Channel and what to do if you lose your card. If you haven't got your visa yet, start with our Hong Kong work visa guide.
What Is a Hong Kong ID Card?
The Hong Kong identity card is the smart card every resident aged 11 or over must hold. For foreigners on a visa it is a non-permanent identity card: it proves your identity and residence, but your right to stay still depends on your visa and its expiry date.
You will need your HKID for almost everything in your first weeks:
- opening a bank account and getting paid
- signing a lease and setting up utilities
- your employer's MPF enrolment and payroll records
- a postpaid mobile contract
- using the residents' e-Channel at the airport and borders
- booking public hospital and clinic services at resident rates
So book your appointment as soon as you land, or even before. If you're still searching for the job that gets you here, browse English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard.com. We list thousands of roles that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.
Who Needs to Apply for a Hong Kong ID Card?
Under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, all Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over must register, including anyone permitted to stay for more than 180 days, according to the Immigration Department.
| Your situation | Do you need an HKID? |
|---|---|
| GEP work visa holder | Yes |
| Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) or QMAS holder | Yes |
| IANG visa holder | Yes (if you studied here, you may already have one) |
| Dependant visa holder aged 11 or over | Yes |
| Working holiday visa holder permitted to stay more than 180 days | Yes |
| Visitor or business traveller staying up to 180 days | No |
| Transit passenger | No |
Our guides to the GEP visa, Top Talent Pass, IANG, dependant visa and working holiday visa cover each route.
How Long Do You Have to Apply?
30 days from arrival. The Immigration Department says a new arrival aged 18 or over who has been permitted to stay for more than 180 days must register within 30 days of arrival.
Appointment slots at the busier offices can fill up, especially in late summer when students and new hires arrive together. Book as soon as your visa is approved.
What Documents Do You Need?
Bring the originals of:
- Your passport (valid travel document), which shows your identity
- Proof of your residential status in Hong Kong: your visa or entry permit, plus the landing slip or notification label you received on arrival
- Any Hong Kong identity card issued to you before (for example from a previous stay or student visa)
These are drawn from the Immigration Department's documentary requirements for people born outside Hong Kong (Form ROP 138). You don't need to bring a photo: it is taken at the office.
Practical tip: bring a printed copy of your e-Visa and keep the arrival slip that immigration gave you at the airport. Staff will check that your limit of stay is more than 180 days.
How to Apply for a Hong Kong ID Card: Step by Step
- Book an appointment. Use gov.hk/icbooking, the Immigration Department mobile app, or call 2598 0888. You can't just walk in for a first registration.
- Pre-fill the e-form. The Immigration Department only accepts application forms submitted electronically. You can fill it in when you book, or on the day using the kiosks at the office or your phone.
- Arrive at the Registration of Persons (ROP) Office with your documents. Get a tag number at the self-service kiosk or reception.
- Registration booth. Your left and right thumbprints are scanned, your photo is taken, and you check and sign the form.
- Interview with an assessment officer. The officer confirms your application and issues an acknowledgement of application for an identity card. Keep it safe: it is your proof of application until the card is ready.
- Collect your card after about 5 working days, at the office or a self-service collection kiosk, as instructed.
Source: Immigration Department, Registration/Replacement of Hong Kong Identity Card.
Allow one to two hours at the office for the whole process.
How Much Does a Hong Kong ID Card Cost?
First registration is free. Fees only apply if you lose, damage or need to change the details on your card.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First registration of an identity card | Free |
| Renewal of identity card | Free |
| Replacement (lost or destroyed) | HK$370 |
| Replacement (damaged or defaced) | HK$370 |
| Replacement (change of particulars) | HK$460 |
| Certificate of registered particulars | HK$425 |
Source: Immigration Department fee tables.
Your visa and extension fees are separate and are normally paid by your employer as sponsor.
Where Do You Apply? Registration of Persons Offices
All six ROP offices handle first registration for new arrivals. Pick the most convenient one when you book.
| Office | Address | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Office | 8/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai | MTR Wan Chai, Exit A5 |
| Kowloon Office | 3/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po | MTR Sham Shui Po, Exit C1 |
| Tseung Kwan O Office | 3/F, Administration Tower, Immigration Headquarters, 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O | MTR Tseung Kwan O, Exit B1 |
| Fo Tan Office | 4/F, Jubilee Square, 2-18 Lok King Street, Fo Tan | MTR Fo Tan, Exit C |
| Tuen Mun Office | 3/F, Tuen Mun Siu Lun Government Complex, 19 Siu Lun Street | Light Rail Sam Shing |
| Yuen Long Office | 1/F, Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square | MTR Long Ping, Exit E |
Source: Immigration Department, Registration of Persons Offices.
Offices generally open 9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday (Tseung Kwan O from 8:45am) and on Saturday mornings, and are closed on Sundays and public holidays. The Fo Tan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long offices close for lunch from 12:45pm to 2pm on weekdays.
The Wan Chai office is the most convenient for most people working in Central, Admiralty or Quarry Bay, which also makes it the busiest.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Hong Kong ID Card?
Processing usually takes 5 working days (Monday to Friday, excluding general holidays). You can generally collect the card on the next working day after processing is complete.
Until then, the acknowledgement slip and your passport prove your status. If you need to travel before the card is ready, you must show a valid travel document, such as your passport, at immigration control.
Can Foreigners Use the e-Channel?
Yes, once you have your smart HKID. The Immigration Department's e-Channel page says Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over who hold a smart identity card and a notification label can use the residents' e-Channel. People staying as students, imported workers or foreign domestic helpers, among other categories, must enrol first.
It is one of the best perks of living here: no queue at the airport, Lo Wu or the West Kowloon high-speed rail station.
Permanent vs Non-Permanent HKID
| Non-permanent HKID | Permanent HKID | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | Visa holders and other residents without the right of abode | Permanent residents |
| Right to live and work | Tied to your visa and limit of stay | Unrestricted right of abode |
| When foreigners can get it | On arrival | Usually after 7 years of continuous ordinary residence |
| Verification fee | Free | First issue of a permanent ID with verification of eligibility is free |
After seven years of continuous ordinary residence you can apply to verify your eligibility for permanent residence and get a permanent card. Our Hong Kong permanent residency guide explains the seven-year rule.
What If Your Visa Is Extended or You Change Jobs?
Your HKID card doesn't change when your visa is extended. You keep the same card and the same HKID number.
What changes is your limit of stay, which is recorded separately. You can view it, and update your condition or limit of stay, at the self-service kiosks at ROP offices and control points.
If you change employers, you'll need a new visa approval, but not a new HKID card.
What If You Lose Your Hong Kong ID Card?
- Report a theft to the police if it was stolen.
- Apply for a replacement within 14 days at any ROP office. Replacements for lost cards can be made without an appointment if it's urgent.
- Pay the HK$370 fee.
- If you hold a valid locally issued smart identity card and are 18 or over, some replacements can also be submitted at a Personal Documentation Submission Kiosk without an appointment.
Sources: Immigration Department, registration and replacement and fee tables.
Do You Need a New Card If You Had One Before?
If you lived in Hong Kong years ago, check the card's issue date. Old-form smart identity cards issued before 26 November 2018 became invalid in 2025: on 12 May 2025 for holders born in or after 1970, and on 12 October 2025 for those born in 1969 or before. If your old card is in that group, you need a replacement at an ROP office, according to the Immigration Department's FAQs.
Common Mistakes
- Leaving it until after you've found a flat. Banks and many landlords ask for your HKID, so get the appointment done early.
- Missing the 30-day deadline. Book from your hotel or serviced apartment in week one.
- Forgetting the arrival slip. It shows your limit of stay.
- Assuming the card gives you a right to work. Your right to work comes from your visa, and a non-permanent HKID doesn't replace it.
- Not updating your address. Tell your employer, bank and the IRD when you move.
FAQs: Hong Kong ID Card for Foreigners
Can a foreigner get a Hong Kong ID card?
Yes. Any foreigner aged 11 or over who has been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days, such as a work, dependant or IANG visa holder, must register for a non-permanent Hong Kong identity card.
How long does it take to get a Hong Kong ID card?
Usually 5 working days after your appointment. You can generally collect it on the next working day after processing finishes.
How much does a Hong Kong ID card cost?
First registration is free. A replacement for a lost or damaged card costs HK$370, and a replacement for a change of particulars costs HK$460.
When do I need to apply for my HKID after arriving?
Within 30 days of arrival if you are 18 or over and have been permitted to stay for more than 180 days.
What documents do I need for a Hong Kong ID card?
Your passport, your visa or entry permit showing your residential status, your arrival slip or notification label, and any Hong Kong ID card issued to you before. Bring originals.
Can I walk in to apply for a Hong Kong ID card?
Not for first registration. You need to book an appointment online at gov.hk/icbooking, through the Immigration Department app, or by phone on 2598 0888. Urgent replacements for lost cards can be made without an appointment.
Can I travel while waiting for my HKID card?
Yes, using your passport. Holders of an acknowledgement of application must show a valid travel document at immigration control.
Do I get a new HKID if my visa is renewed?
No. Your card stays the same. Only your limit of stay changes, and you can check or update it at self-service kiosks.
When can I get a permanent Hong Kong ID card?
Usually after seven years of continuous ordinary residence, when you can apply to verify your eligibility for permanent residence. Verification and the first permanent card are free.
Can I use the e-Channel with a non-permanent HKID?
Yes, if you hold a smart identity card and a notification label. Some categories, including students, imported workers and foreign domestic helpers, must enrol first.
Key Takeaways
- Foreigners aged 18 or over allowed to stay more than 180 days must register for an HKID within 30 days of arrival.
- First registration is free; replacements cost HK$370, or HK$460 for a change of particulars.
- Book at gov.hk/icbooking or on 2598 0888; walk-ins aren't accepted for first registration.
- Bring your passport, visa or entry permit, arrival slip or notification label, and any old HKID.
- Cards are usually ready in 5 working days at any of six ROP offices.
- Old-form smart ID cards issued before 26 November 2018 are no longer valid.
- After seven years of continuous residence you can apply for a permanent HKID.
Find Your Hong Kong Job First
An HKID comes with a visa, and for most people the visa comes with a job offer. Browse English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard.com and start the move.
