The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (April 16) that children born in 2005 to 2007 or 2012 to 2018 and holding the old form of smart identity cards should apply for new smart identity cards in the company of either one of their parents or legal guardians at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC) (see Annex I) from May 3 (Monday) to September 18, 2021 (Saturday). The SIDCCs are open Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).
 
     For details of the replacement arrangements for children holding the old form of smart identity cards, please refer to Annex II. Please note that children born between 2012 and 2018 who have never held a permanent identity card in connection with their applications for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport are not required to participate in the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise.

       The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at the SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong.
 
       Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the ImmD mobile application, the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234. To download the mobile application or to make an appointment booking via the Internet, please scan the QR codes (see Annex III). The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the mobile application or the Internet in order to enjoy faster service. Applicants need to bring along their old form of smart identity cards when they proceed to the SIDCCs.
 
     For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a caring arrangement under which each eligible applicant for identity card replacement may bring along up to two persons with disabilities, in addition to two family members or friends aged 65 or above, to replace their identity cards together during the same visit to an SIDCC.

       For Hong Kong residents born in 1970, 1971 or 1972, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on April 30, 2021 (Friday). Those who have not yet applied for a new smart identity card should do so as early as possible. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

      For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Ends/Friday, April 16, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:10

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