How to Change Name
 in Hong Kong

This is a step-by-step guide to help you changing your name (or the name of your child) by way of a deed poll in Hong Kong.

The most common document accepted by the Registration of Persons Office for legally changing names in Hong Kong is a deed poll. A deed poll is a legal document binding a person to express an active intention, in this case, this intention is to use a new name. If you wish to know more on how to obtain a deed poll, please click here.

Other documents (e.g. marriage certificate, foreign passport) may be accepted by the Registration of Persons Office to support a name change application but whether such document will be accepted will vary case by case.

***It should be noted that only holders of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card are allowed to change their name in Hong Kong without being first required to change their name in their home country.

In order to change the registered name on your Hong Kong Identity Card, you have to fill-in and submit Form ROP73 (Application for Amendment of Registered Particulars of Hong Kong Identity Card).

You can download a PDF copy of Form ROP73 ("Application Form") directly from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (Download PDF).

There are three methods for submitting your Application Form. You may submit your Application Form and copies of your supporting documents (e.g. deed poll):

By Fax: You can fax the completed Application Form together with copies of your supporting document(s) using +852 2131 8876

By Post: You may send by post your Application Form and copies of your supporting document(s) to the Registration of Persons General and Statistics Unit using the following address:

Registration of Persons General and Statistics Unit

12/F, Immigration Tower

7 Gloucester Road

Wan Chai, Hong Kong

In Person: You may submit the Application Form and supporting documents in person at any Registration of Persons (ROP) Office. You may find all the addresses for the ROP Offices here.

The main advantage of submitting the Application Form in person is that you might be able to have your application processed on the same day.

If your Application Form and supporting documents are accepted, the Registration of Persons Office will contact you to schedule an in-person interview at one of the Registration of Persons Offices. You will be asked to bring the original copies of your supporting documents during your interview. Once your application is approved, you will be required to apply for a new identity card, and it will be replaced for a fee of HKD460.

A new picture will be taken for the newly amended identity card.

Once you have received your new identity card with your new name, you can apply to update the name on your Hong Kong Passport by fill-in and submit Form ID 854 (Application for Amending a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport) to the Immigration Department.

You can download a PDF copy of Form ID 854 directly from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (Download PDF).

Foreign nationals should keep in mind that foreign governments usually require that a deed poll evidencing a name change be executed before a notary public and apostilled.

The Hong Kong Judiciary offers at the High Court an Apostille service at a fee of HK$125 per document apostilled. It usually takes two working days for a document to be apostilled by the Apostille. Details of the application procedures can be found on its website.

If you have additional questions which are not addressed here or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us by telephone on +852 2176 4777, by WhatsApp (+852 9547 5353) or by email at [email protected]. You can also schedule an appointment by clicking the button below.