Birth
Birth in Hong Kong
If your child is born in Hong Kong, please register the birth of your baby within 42 days of birth. All parents applying for birth registration of their newborn babies should make prior appointment booking through the Internet or by telephone. Birth registration is free of charge within 42 days of birth. Parents can apply for birth registration through the appointment services after the newborn baby's birth return has been electronically transmitted from the hospital to the births registry.
The following website outlines the procedures for registering your child's birth and addition / alteration of your child's name as well as how to search for birth records or get a certified copy of them:
GovHK - Births Registration
Birth in the Mainland
If your child is born in the Mainland, the medical certificate of birth will be issued by the medical institution where the baby was delivered before the baby is discharged.
If your child claims to be a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region permanent resident under paragraph 2(c) of Schedule 1 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115), you can apply for the Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the child.
The following website provides information on how you can apply for a Certificate of Entitlement in the Mainland:
Immigration Department - Application for Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Nationality
The Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China (CNL) has been applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 1 July 1997 pursuant to Article 18 of and Annex III to the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, and interpreted in accordance with the "Explanations of Some Questions by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress concerning the implementation of the CNL in the HKSAR".
A "Chinese citizen" is a person of Chinese nationality under the CNL. Hong Kong residents who are of Chinese descent and were born in the Chinese territories 34
(including Hong Kong), or persons who satisfy the criteria laid down in the CNL as having Chinese nationality, are Chinese nationals.
The following website provides links to detailed information on the legal framework of Chinese nationality in Hong Kong, the types of changes you can make in relation to Chinese nationality, where to submit applications or obtain further information, and the fees for various applications.
Immigration Department - General information on Chinese nationality
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, for live births in the Mainland, the medical certificate of birth will be issued by the medical institution where the baby was delivered before the baby is discharged. For details, please contact the relevant medical institutions.
According to existing policies, children born in the Mainland who wish to enter Hong Kong for settlement have to apply for a Certificate of Entitlement from the Hong Kong Immigration Department via offices of the Public Security Bureau in the Mainland.
Eligible persons who live in the Mainland could obtain an application form from the office of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau where their household registration is kept. After filling out the form truthfully, the application should be submitted to the office of the Public Security Bureau. The office of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau will verify the relevant information and refer the case to the Hong Kong Immigration Department for verification. After reviewing the application, the Immigration Department will issue a Certificate of Entitlement if the person is eligible for the right of abode. The Certificate will be sent to the office of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau to be passed on to the applicant.
To ensure that children born to Hong Kong permanent residents in the Mainland who are of Chinese nationality and have the right of abode settle in Hong Kong in a lawful and orderly manner, the One-Way Permit issued by the office of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau and the Certificate of Entitlement issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department will be issued at the same time. In practice, the Certificate of Entitlement will be affixed to the One-Way Permit. When the permit holder leaves the Mainland, both documents will have to be produced for inspection by inspection officers at the immigration control points of the Mainland before the permit holder is allowed to cross the border.
For enquiries, please contact the Immigration Division of SHETO at (86 21) 6351 2233 Ext. 160 during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, except on Mainland public holidays).
At the time the child is born in the Mainland, if both of his parents are Hong Kong permanent residents and the child has not obtained any travel documents, the parents of the child can make an enquiry in writing via BJO, SHETO or directly to the Other Visas and Permits Section of the Hong Kong Immigration Department with regard to the application for documents for the child to come to Hong Kong.
After the enquiry is received, BJO, SHETO or the Hong Kong Immigration Department will contact the parents of the child to follow up the case.
For enquiries, please contact the Immigration Division of SHETO at (86 21) 6351 2233 Ext. 160 during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m Monday to Friday, except on Mainland public holidays).
