Old Hong Kong smart ID cards invalid: what to do in 2026?

Both invalidation phases have already taken effect, so there is no card left to "use up": an old-form smart identity card issued before 26 November 2018 is invalid. Under the Hong Kong Immigration Department's Identity Cards Frequently Asked Questions page, holders born in or after 1970 became invalid on 12 May 2025, and holders born in 1969 or before became invalid on 12 October 2025. What remains open in 2026 is the replacement route: book an appointment at a Registration of Persons Office, attend in person, and collect a new card. If you are outside Hong Kong, the replacement has to be done within 30 days of your return.

Which cards were invalidated, and on what dates?

The invalidation covers the old form of smart identity card issued before 26 November 2018, and it ran in two phases by birth year.

Card holders by birth year	Date the old card became invalid
Born in or after 1970 (Phase I)	12 May 2025
Born in 1969 or before (Phase II)	12 October 2025

Separately, non-smart identity cards issued before 23 June 2003 were declared invalid with effect from 30 November 2008, and holders of those also need to apply at a Registration of Persons Office.

Can I still enter or leave Hong Kong with the invalid card?

No. An invalid identity card is not accepted for immigration clearance, and you need a valid travel document to enter or leave Hong Kong.

If an invalid card is presented at arrival clearance, the card has to be surrendered and you will be ordered to apply for a new identity card within a specified period, with a replacement notice issued as the case may be. Holders of a replacement notice should apply at any Registration of Persons Office within the specified period; no prior appointment is required, though the official page notes waiting time may be quite long.

How do I book a replacement appointment in 2026?

The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise has ended, and all Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres closed with effect from 4 March 2023. The On-site Identity Card Replacement Service for residential care homes concluded in the first quarter of 2025. The remaining route is a Registration of Persons Office.

Confirm your birth year against the two invalidation dates above.
Open the online appointment booking service for identity card applications.
Pick a date at any Registration of Persons Office that handles your application type.
Attend in person with your existing card and supporting documents.
Collect the new card yourself, or authorise someone else in advance.

The official page lists as booking channels for Registration of Persons Office appointments the online booking system, the 24-hour telephone booking system (2598 0888), and the Immigration Department Mobile Application. The available booking period of the appointment booking system is 96 working days, so residents planning a trip back to Hong Kong are advised to book in advance. Note also that the Registration of Persons – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office ceased operation on 26 October 2025; applications go to the other six Registration of Persons Offices according to the type of service required.

Those who applied at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre on or before 3 March 2023 and never collected their card must collect it at a Registration of Persons Office under the published collection arrangement.

Does the self-service kiosk help if I am in a hurry?

It does not help an old-card holder. The Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O are appointment-free, but they serve persons aged 18 or above who hold a valid locally issued smart identity card, and the FAQ states plainly that invalid identity cards cannot be used to submit applications using these kiosks.

Two narrow exceptions may still matter for residents with a valid card: urgent replacement of a card that has been lost, destroyed, damaged or defaced may be made at any Registration of Persons Office without appointment, and kiosk users who also need to change registered particulars must book a Registration of Persons Office appointment instead.

Do I have to apply in person, and who can collect the card?

Applicants must apply for a new smart identity card in person. Collection is more flexible: if you cannot collect in person, you can authorise another person using Form ID678, and the authorised representative must be at least 18 and produce valid proof of identity, your acknowledgement of application, and the authorisation.

The acknowledgement of application is not a travel document. If you hold only that acknowledgement and intend to travel, you are required to produce a valid travel document such as a passport or Hong Kong Re-entry Permit at Hong Kong immigration control points.

Does invalidation affect permanent resident status or right of abode?

For Hong Kong permanent residents of Chinese nationality living outside Hong Kong, no: invalidation of the old card and not returning for replacement does not cause loss of permanent resident status, and they may replace the card within 30 days of return.

Permanent residents not of Chinese nationality face a different rule that runs independently of the card exercise. If they have been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months since ceasing to ordinarily reside in Hong Kong, their right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may be affected; if right of abode is lost, the person automatically acquires the right to land, which allows free entry to live, study or work without restriction. This summary is general reference only and not an assessment of any individual's status; your own record and the official position, or a professional adviser, govern the outcome.

What are the penalties for not replacing the card?

Two different liabilities appear in the FAQ. Failing to apply for a new identity card within the specified call-up period under the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, without reasonable excuse, is an offence under section 7B(3) of the Registration of Persons Ordinance and carries a fine of $5,000 if prosecuted; applicants with a reasonable excuse such as sickness, the pandemic situation or absence from Hong Kong are required to declare the reason upon registration and are considered on their situation.

Failing to comply with an order to replace a card within a specified period after surrender is separate and heavier: it is an offence under regulation 19(4) of the Registration of Persons Regulations, liable to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for 2 years. Possessing more than one identity card without reasonable excuse is also an offence, liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years, so the old card must be returned for cancellation rather than kept.

Is there a fee, and when do charges apply?

No fee is charged for an application for a new identity card made pursuant to the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise. Fees are payable for replacement due to loss, damage, destruction, defacement or alteration of personal particulars, and the card replacement following an approved amendment of registered particulars is listed at HK$460. A Certificate of Registered Particulars, which some residents use while records are being sorted, costs HK$425 and is non-refundable.

What if age or health makes attendance impossible?

Under the Registration of Persons Regulations, the aged, the blind and the infirm who satisfy a registration officer that personal attendance would injure their health or the health of others are not required to register or apply for the issue or renewal of an identity card, and residents in Hong Kong in those categories should apply for a Certificate of Exemption, including through the online application route. The Certificate of Exemption is not a travel document, and once health permits, the holder may apply for a smart identity card by returning the certificate to any Registration of Persons Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is any grace period left for old smart identity cards in 2026?

No. Both phases closed in 2025, on 12 May 2025 for holders born in or after 1970 and 12 October 2025 for holders born in 1969 or before. The remaining step is replacement at a Registration of Persons Office.

Can I use an invalid card to apply for an HKSAR passport or other documents?

An invalid card submitted with an application has to be surrendered and you will be ordered to apply for a new card within a specified period. Where the law requires a valid identity card — for example, an HKSAR passport applicant must hold a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card on application and collection — you must replace the identity card first.

Can I replace my card from outside Hong Kong?

No, applications must be made in person in Hong Kong. Residents who are away should apply within 30 days of returning, and are advised to book an appointment in advance when planning the trip, since the booking system offers 96 working days.

Will filling in a foreign nationality remove the "***" or "*" symbol from my new card?

No. The official FAQ states the symbol "**" or "" will not be removed from a new card only because a foreign nationality is filled in on the application form.

Do I need an appointment if I was told to replace my card at arrival clearance?

No prior appointment is needed for holders of a replacement notice, who should apply at any Registration of Persons Office within the specified period on the notice. Allow generous time, as the official page warns waiting time may be quite long.

What happened to cards applied for at a replacement centre before it closed?

Those who applied at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre on or before 3 March 2023 and have not collected their new card must collect it at a Registration of Persons Office. The Immigration Department published a dedicated collection arrangement for this group.

Does my old card become a souvenir I can keep?

No. The existing identity card must be returned to the Registration of Persons Office for cancellation, and possessing more than one identity card without reasonable excuse is an offence liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.