Hong Kong certificates and civic procedures: copies, authentication and updates
Find the right route for birth, marriage and death records, criminal-record certificates, apostilles, declarations, voter records and driving details.
Start with the task you are preparing for and work through the next steps.
Start with these three stages
Before obtaining a certificate, ask the receiving organisation which document, whose record and which version it needs. Registering an event, ordering a certified copy, translating, declaring and obtaining an apostille are separate procedures; the wrong sequence can leave you with a paid document that still does not meet the requirement. These chapters distinguish specific applications from record updates. Confirm the purpose, then choose an official route according to eligibility, the record holder and the receiving jurisdiction. Birth, marriage and death records contain personal information; knowing a person's name does not establish unrestricted access.
Write down the receiving party's requirements: the document name, issuer, original or certified status, language, any recency requirement and delivery method. Check whether the event was registered in Hong Kong and which route is available to the applicant, representative or third party. For overseas use, ask whether an apostille, consular authentication, translation or another step is required instead of paying for every form of authentication.
Use the responsible authority's official entry point to prepare the form, identity evidence and specified supporting documents. Check appointments, fees, payment and collection for the chosen route. Criminal-record certificates have requesting-body and purpose requirements. For a declaration, prepare the complete text beforehand and distinguish witnessing from verification of its contents. Keep the reference after submission or payment and check any further requirement.
On receipt, check names, record details, pages and the recipient's requirements, retaining separate evidence of dispatch and receipt. Voter and driving updates belong to their own authorities and require their own supporting evidence and confirmation; one update does not update every department. Use the official timetable for the relevant application or registration year, and ask the original issuer or record manager about a discrepancy.
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14 guides foundFrom 14 guides on this page
Voter registration and moving home: REO-GC, address evidence and completion notices
Check your existing record, use the correct residence and evidence, and distinguish an uploaded form from inclusion in the applicable final register.
Documents and applicationsObtain another Hong Kong birth certificate: record searches and certified copies
Distinguish first registration from obtaining another certified copy, and prepare the record number, identity and consent before choosing collection.
Documents and applicationsObtain a Hong Kong marriage certificate copy: MR10, record search and certification
Retrieve a certified copy for an existing Hong Kong marriage, distinguishing search results, certificates and absence-of-record documents.
Documents and applicationsObtain another Hong Kong death certificate: existing records, searches and certified copies
After registration, obtain another official copy for a bank, insurer or estate process, while recognising that death evidence does not grant estate authority.
Documents and applicationsApply for a Certificate of Registered Particulars: ROP122, historic records and collection
Request evidence of identity-card registered particulars for the recipient's purpose, using the correct local, overseas or deceased-person route.
Documents and applicationsApostille a Hong Kong document: destination, originals and the certification chain
Check the destination and document, prepare an accepted official or Hong Kong notarial document, and understand that an apostille certifies origin.
Everyday servicesHome Affairs free declarations and oaths: private use, designated forms and attendance
Confirm the declaration required, distinguish private from government use, and prepare the designated form, identity and language arrangements.
Documents and applicationsCertificate of No Criminal Conviction: purpose, 2026 fingerprint arrangements and direct delivery
CNCC is not a general employment certificate. Prepare the official request, check identity and fingerprint conditions, and track delivery to the requesting authority.
Documents and applicationsNotify Transport Department after moving: TD559, 72 hours and address evidence
Update licensing records within the required period after moving, and separately check portal email, other services and insurance records.
Documents and applicationsCertificate of Absence of Marriage Record: MR35, Hong Kong scope and overseas use
Confirm that the recipient needs absence of a Hong Kong record, then separate search and issue fees; an existing record can produce a marriage-record letter.
Documents and applicationsRegistering a baby's birth in Hong Kong
Understand the 42-day registration period, certificates, parental details, and online eligibility.
Documents and applicationsHong Kong marriage registration: notice to ceremony
Distinguish booking, giving notice, the display period, and the marriage ceremony.
Documents and applicationsReplacing a lost or damaged Hong Kong identity card
Identify the replacement category, arrange an appointment, and prepare your documents.
Documents and applicationsRegistering for iAM Smart before using online services
Prepare your identity card and phone and understand login versus digital-signing requirements.
Written for the next step
Compiled by HomeHK with context, practical steps, and official sources. Guides distinguish Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland arrangements. Dates describe the content's preparation, not daily official verification.
Check the official page before acting
Fees, eligibility, capacity, and timetables change. Each guide links to official information for a final check. Seek appropriate individual advice for legal, tax, or medical decisions.