Applying for an HKSAR passport from abroad in 2026: ID 843, 844, ID 853A

If you live outside Hong Kong and need an HKSAR passport, the Hong Kong Immigration Department's official forms pages (as of the October 2026 official pages) split the paperwork into two documents: the application form itself — ID 843 for applicants aged 16 or above, ID 844 for children under 16 — and a separate fee payment form. The fee form is not a single document. ID 853 covers applications made outside Hong Kong; ID 853A covers passports to be collected outside Hong Kong, and it does not apply to applications submitted through Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions (CDCM).

Which application form do you use if you are outside Hong Kong?

Age and the applicant's place of residence decide the form, not nationality or where the passport will later be used. The Immigration Department describes ID 843 as being for persons 16 years of age or above residing outside the HKSAR, and ID 844 as being for children under 16 residing outside the HKSAR.

Applicant	Where the applicant is	Form	Pages
Aged 16 or above	Outside Hong Kong	ID 843	2
Under 16	Outside Hong Kong	ID 844	3
Aged 16 or above	In Hong Kong	ID 841	3
Under 16	In Hong Kong	ID 842	3

Both ID 843 and ID 844 are issued as a single PDF containing Chinese and English versions. Neither can be sent by fax: both pages list fax as "Not Accepted". The enquiry phone number on both pages is (852) 2824 6111, and the enquiry email address is enquiry@immd.gov.hk.

What is ID 853 for?

ID 853 is the Fee Payment Form for HKSAR Passport (For applications made outside Hong Kong). It runs to 5 pages and, like the application forms, comes in a combined Chinese and English version.

The form page does not itself print a mailing address. Under "Submission of Completed Forms" it instructs applicants to refer to the contents of Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A or ID(E) 844A — the same guidance notes attached to the two overseas application forms. Fax is marked "Not Applicable" for this form, which is a different label from the "Not Accepted" shown on ID 843 and ID 844.

When does ID 853A apply instead?

ID 853A is the Fee Payment Form for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport to be collected outside Hong Kong. It is 4 pages long and is also published in a combined Chinese and English version.

The page carries one explicit exclusion: ID 853A is not applicable to applications submitted via Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions (CDCM). CDCM refers to Chinese embassies, consulates and similar diplomatic posts, which handle some Hong Kong passport applications for people abroad. If your application goes through one of those missions, the ID 853A exclusion on the official page applies to you.

How do "applying abroad" and "collecting abroad" differ?

The two fee forms answer two different questions. ID 853 is tied to where the application is made; ID 853A is tied to where the finished passport is collected. A reader planning a trip to Hong Kong, or arranging for a relative to pick up the passport, is not in the same situation as a reader who wants the passport delivered or issued at an overseas post.

	ID 853	ID 853A
Full purpose on the page	Fee payment for applications made outside Hong Kong	Fee payment for a passport to be collected outside Hong Kong
Pages	5	4
CDCM applications	Not stated on the page	Not applicable to applications submitted via CDCM
Where to submit	Refer to Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A or ID(E) 844A	Refer to Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A or ID(E) 844A
Fax	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

The form pages list submission addresses only by reference to the guidance notes, and they do not set out how the two fee forms interact if your case touches both situations. That detail sits in Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A and ID(E) 844A, which are the documents to read alongside whichever application form applies.

What if the applicant is still in Hong Kong?

The in-Hong Kong forms exist for a reason that matters to overseas families: a parent living abroad may still have a child who is physically in Hong Kong, or may be in Hong Kong themselves when the passport runs out. ID 841 covers persons 16 or above applying in Hong Kong, and ID 842 covers children under 16 applying in Hong Kong. Both are 3 pages and both direct applicants to their own guidance notes, ID(E) 841A and ID(E) 842A, for mailing and in-person submission.

So the practical test is the applicant's location at the time of application. A Hong Kong resident who has moved to London and is renewing there is on the ID 843 side. A Hong Kong resident renewing during a visit home is on the ID 841 side.

What should you check before you send anything?

Form versions change, and the official pages carry a date under "Supplementary Notes" that helps you confirm you are looking at the current text:

Form	Date shown under "Supplementary Notes"
ID 843	11 June 2024
ID 844	2 October 2024
ID 853	5 February 2026
ID 853A	21 September 2026
ID 841	16 March 2026
ID 842	2 October 2024

Download each form from the Immigration Department rather than reusing a saved copy, then read the matching guidance notes before filling in the fee form, since the submission address and in-person instructions are printed there and not on the form page.

This article is general information about which published form covers which situation. It is not advice on any individual case, and it does not predict how an application will be decided, so confirm the current form, fee arrangements and submission route against the Immigration Department's own pages or with a qualified professional before you send documents or money.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am over 16 and live outside Hong Kong. Which application form do I need?

Use ID 843, the form for persons 16 years of age or above residing outside the HKSAR. It is a 2-page form published in a combined Chinese and English version. Where to send it is set out in Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A rather than on the form page.

Our child is under 16 and lives abroad with us. Which form applies?

Use ID 844, the application form for children under 16 residing outside the HKSAR. It runs to 3 pages and comes in a combined Chinese and English version. Submission details are given in Guidance Notes ID(E) 844A.

What is the difference between ID 853 and ID 853A?

ID 853 is the fee payment form for HKSAR passport applications made outside Hong Kong, while ID 853A is the fee payment form for a passport to be collected outside Hong Kong. The first is keyed to where you apply; the second is keyed to where you receive the passport. Both are 5 and 4 pages respectively, and both refer to Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A or ID(E) 844A for submission.

Can I use ID 853A if I apply through a Chinese embassy or consulate?

No, not according to the official page. ID 853A states that it is not applicable to applications submitted via Chinese Diplomatic and Consular Missions (CDCM). If your application goes through one of those missions, follow the instructions given by that mission instead.

Can I fax my ID 843 or ID 844 application?

No. Both form pages list fax as "Not Accepted". The fee payment forms, ID 853 and ID 853A, mark fax as "Not Applicable" instead, and both direct applicants to Guidance Notes ID(E) 843A or ID(E) 844A for mailing and in-person submission.

I am abroad but my child is in Hong Kong. Do the overseas forms still apply?

No. The dividing line on the official pages is where the applicant is: ID 841 covers persons 16 or above applying in Hong Kong, and ID 842 covers children under 16 applying in Hong Kong. A child physically in Hong Kong falls on the ID 842 side, with submission details in Guidance Notes ID(E) 842A.

Where do I find the fee amount for an overseas application?

The fee forms themselves carry the payment details, and the figures are set by the Immigration Department. Check the current ID 853 or ID 853A PDF and the department's published fee information before paying, since fees are revised from time to time and this article does not quote an amount.