Loss of HKID card
Q1: I have lost my HKID card. What should I do?
A1: If you lose your Hong Kong identity card, you are required to notify the Immigration Department within 14 days and apply for a replacement card. For details please click here.
Smart ID card
Q1: Can I replace the smart ID card from overseas?
A1: Holders of the old form smart identity card who are outside Hong Kong during their specified call-up periods have to replace identity cards in accordance with the replacement schedule. Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres (SIDCCs) will not accept applications from persons whose respective age groups have not yet been called up. Nonetheless, persons mentioned above need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement. Even if the specified call-up periods for their age groups have expired when they return to Hong Kong, they can still have their identity cards replaced in person at any one of the SIDCCs within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong. Identity card is mainly used for verification of identity for certain persons 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 their return to Hong Kong for replacement for new smart identity cards, they can use their existing Hong Kong identity cards (if not yet invalidated) for immigration clearance. If they are unable to collect their new identity cards in person during the collection period, they may authorise another person to collect it on their behalf and to return their existing identity cards to the Immigration Department. For departure from Hong Kong, they can use other valid travel document for immigration clearance.
Q2: When will the old from of smart ID cards become invalid? Is it still possible to use the existing smart ID card for immigration clearance if I do not have the new smart ID card yet?
A2: The Secretary for Security will at opportune time issue invalidation orders to declare the old form of smart identity cards to be invalid. Before such order is issued, members of the public can still use their existing smart identity cards for immigration clearance as usual. However, if their identity cards are declared to be invalid, members of the public shall use their valid travel documents for entering Hong Kong.
Q3: What would happen if I have not replaced for a new smart ID card in accordance with the specified call-up period.
A3: If you are outside Hong Kong during your specified call-up period, you need not rush back to Hong Kong for identity card replacement before the expiry of your specified call-up period. You can still have your HKIC replaced at any one of the Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres within 30 days of your return to Hong Kong. However if you are in Hong Kong, 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 in accordance with Section 7B(3) of the Registration of Persons Ordinance.
Q4: Is there a charge to the replacement of smart ID card?
A4: New smart Hong Kong Identity Cards issued under the Replacement Exercise are free of charge.
Q5: Can I authorise others to collect my new smart ID card?
A5: 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 here.
The authorised representative must have attained 18 years of age. Upon collection of the new ID card, the authorised representative must return your old form of smart ID 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 authorized representative should also produce his or her valid proof of identity, e.g. Hong Kong ID card, passport or Hong Kong Re-entry Permit.
Q6: If I have the Smart ID renewed, do I still need to go back to Hong Kong every three years to re-confirm my HK permanent resident status?
As long as you remain as a Chinese citizen (e.g. you do not declare change of nationality), you will not lose your status as a permanent resident even if you are absent from Hong Kong for long periods.
For non-Chinese citizen, please watch out that if you have been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of more than 36 months since you ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong, you may lose your status as a permanent resident. For 'circumstances under which a permanent resident of the HKSAR will lose his permanent resident status', please click here.
