Hong Kong - Register a Birth

ProcedureEdit

Booking an appointment

Parents who would like to register their newborn babies should make an appointment first with the registry office. Appointments are booked online, or by calling 2598 0888. Both channels provide round-the-clock service and the service is free of charge.
Before setting a date for the appointment, parents should confirm with the hospital where the child was born that the birth return has been delivered to the registrar. Upon making the appointment, parents are required to provide information which matches those written on the babys birth return. The appointment is given on a first-come-first-served basis.
After making the appointment, parents may also change or cancel it before the appointment date.

Note: To make the process much easier and faster, you may submit in advance the required information for registration of birth online at least one day before the scheduled appointment. You may also download the Information Required for Registration of Birth Form (Form BDR93A), complete the form at home and simply submit it at the time of registration. Please bear in mind that the information sheet is not an application from.

Registration within the 42 days period:

Birth registration is free of charge within the 42 days period. Parents are advised to make an appointment within that period after the baby's birth return has been electronically transmitted from the hospital to the births registry.

Registration within 12 months after birth:

A birth will be registered upon receipt by the registrar of the relevant birth return (a document that records a baby's birth) from the hospital in which the baby was born.
Parents should make enquiry with the relevant hospital to confirm that the birth return has been delivered to the registrar before booking an appointment.
To register their child's birth, parents should make an appointment first with the registry office. Appointments are booked online, or by calling 2598 0888.
A registration fee will be charged if the birth is registered after the period of 42 days but within 1 year. After 1 year, a birth can be registered only with the consent of the Registrar of Births and Deaths and upon payment of a registration fee.
The presence of the child is not required during the registration process. In the case of a legitimate child, the attendance of either parent is sufficient.
If you would like to obtain a certified copy of the birth entry (commonly known as Certificate of Birth) after registration of the birth, you are required to pay a prescribed fee.

Registration 1 year after birth:

Registering a birth after one year from its occurence can only be done by obtaining the consent of the Registrar of Births and Deaths and upon payment of a registration fee.
For individuals who were born years ago but did not register their births, provided that there is sufficient proof of their birth in Hong Kong, they can register their births with the consent of the Registrar of Births and Deaths and upon payment of the prescribed registration fee. To obtain a certified copy of the birth entry (commonly known as Certificate of Birth) after registration of the birth, payment of a prescribed fee is required.
Submit a request to obtain consent to post-registration of birth in respect of any person who was born in Hong Kong to the Births & Deaths General Register Office, 3/F, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66, Queensway, Hong Kong. If the person whose birth is to be registered is under the age of 16, the application should be made by his/her parents or guardians.
Applicants are required to apply for a search of his/her birth record in the first instance to ensure that he/she has no registered birth record in Hong Kong.
Submit Application Form (BDR89) along with all other required documents.

Application Process

Parents of the applicant will be asked to make a statutory declarations regarding the applicants birth in Hong Kong.
Aside from information about the applicant, the declarations must also include full details of the parents periods of residence in Hong Kong, date of marriage, date and place of birth of all other children whether living or deceased. If the other children were also born in Hong Kong, it must be stated whether their births have been registered.
Two additional independent witnesses will normally be required to make a statutory declaration that they have personal knowledge of the birth in Hong Kong. Please note that in the absence of indicative evidence in support of the application, statutory declarations made by parents, relatives, friends or other witnesses alone will not amount to sufficient evidence as such. If both parents are deceased, two witnesses, of whom one should be a relative of the applicant and the other a personal friend of the parents, will be required to make declaration on the applicants birth in Hong Kong.
The manner of interviewing witnesses, administration of declaration and verification of documentary evidence, etc. will be made in the order the applications were received. During the interview, the parties concerned must produce their identity cards or other documents of identification. The applicant is also required to submit three recent photographs and all relevant documents for inspection.
The applicant will be informed whether or not the application is approved after the application form and other relevant supporting documents are verified. Please note that if the proof of the applicants birth in Hong Kong is insufficient, the application will not be approved even if all the said documents are submitted.

Note: Anyone who will give false information or make a false declaration may be prosecuted.

Illegitimate child
Ways on how you can include in the birth register the name of the child's father:

The child's parents may go to the registry office and submit a joint request.
The child's mother may go to the registry office to submit her Declaration and the father's Statutory Declaration, confirming the child's paternity
The child's father may go to the registry office to submit his Declaration and the mother's Statutory Declaration, confirming the child's paternity
Either of the child's parents may go to the registry office and submit a certified copy of relevant Court Order, a document that confirms the child's paternity and if the child has reached the age of 16, a written consent of the child to the registration of that person as his father.
For application for consent to post registration of birth (a birth that has not been registered within 1 year), applicant is required to apply for a search of his birth record in the first instance to ensure that he has no registered birth record in Hong Kong. The application should be supported with evidence indicative of the applicants date and place of birth as well as proof of relationship between the applicant and his parents. The parents and two additional witnesses will be required to make statutory declarations on the applicants birth in Hong Kong.

Required DocumentsEdit

To register your child's birth, submit the following documents (original copies):

Hong Kong identity cards or valid travel documents (e.g. passports, documents of identity etc.) of you and your spouse
Marriage certificate

Registration 1 year after birth:

Application form (BDR89)
Documents that states the date and place of birth as well as proof of relationship between the applicant and his/her parents such as hospital or midwifes record and vaccination certificate or post-natal clinic record. Documents such as baptismal certificate can also serve as evidence.

In case documents mentioned above are not available, the applicant should as far as practicable provide other documentary evidence to support his/her application. The following documents may also be presented as supporting documents:

Evidence indicative of place of birth and showing that the parents being in Hong Kong at the time of the birth:
- Landholders certificates, government rent receipts, rent receipts, government rates receipts, deeds of estate
- Water, gas and electricity bills
- Certificates of residence
- Certificates of employment in respect of the parents of the applicant
- Old letters or other evidence showing that the parents, particularly the mother, were in Hong Kong at the time of the birth
- Account books of the parents business
- Hong Kong birth certificate of sibling(s)
Evidence indicative of date of birth:
- Family record books or red cloths used by fishermen to record the birth of children
- Horoscopes
- School certificates
- Ration cards
- Certificates of marriage or marr

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Please list down the office locations that can be approached for applying. External links can also be used for specifying office locations.

EligibilityEdit

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

FeesEdit

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

InstructionsEdit

You must register the birth of a child within 42 days from the time the baby was born.

The birth of a child should be registered at the birth registry of the district in where the child was born. If the child was born before arrival at a hospital/clinic or the birth has not been registered within 1 year, the birth should be registered at the Births and Deaths General Register Office.

Required InformationEdit

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the DocumentEdit

A Birth Certificate states the name and sex of a person, it also indicate the time and place of birth, it is issued after you have registered the birth of a child.

Information which might helpEdit

Enter other informations which might help.

External LinksEdit

Place some external links which might help.

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.