The Immigration Department today announced that the deadline for applying for new smart identity cards at the smart identity card replacement centres will be extended from February 11 to March 3 as a number of citizens have recently returned to Hong Kong for identity card replacement.

The identity card collection service will be maintained through to March 3, it noted.

Starting tomorrow, people may make appointments for identity card replacement for February 11 onwards.

As the centres will cease to operate from March 4, eligible people who have yet to apply for or collect a new smart identity card by March 3 should do so at a Registration of Persons Office. Relevant details and appointment arrangement will be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents who are unable to have their identity cards replaced on or before March 3 due to being absent from Hong Kong do not need to rush back to the city. They can apply for identity card replacement at a Registration of Persons Office within 30 days upon their arrival in Hong Kong.

If they return to Hong Kong and stay for less than 30 days, they will not violate the relevant law for not having their identity cards replaced during that period.

For Hong Kong residents reaching the age of 11 or 18, they should register for an identity card within 30 days following their 11th or 18th birthday at a Registration of Persons Office. Those who are absent from Hong Kong can also make an appointment at a Registration of Persons Office within 30 days of their future return to Hong Kong.

The department also said that the On-site Identity Card Replacement Service will not be affected by the cessation of the centres' operation.

Immigration officers will continue to visit eligible residential care homes to provide on-site identity card replacement services and deliver new smart identity cards to all eligible residents who have yet to replace their identity cards, it added.

Bookings for identity card replacement can be made online, via the department's mobile app or by calling the 24-hour hotline at 2121 1234.

Call 2824 6111 for enquiries.