Moving from UK and will be having a baby not long after arriving

Hi all, new here so bear with me.


I'm moving to Hong Kong from the UK with my wife and son. My wife is a PRC passport holder but has permanent residency in the UK. Our 19 month old has a British passport (as do I).


I've accepted a job offer in HK and my work visa application is underway and should be complete early June. My family will have dependant visas so we should all be eligible for Hong Kong IDs. We have our second baby due August 22nd so accepting the job means no longer having the baby in London. Given the timings are going to be quite tight I'd like to be as prepared as possible before our arrival.


As I understand it, making an appointment for obtaining a HKID is done 24 days in advance. Can I do that from the UK before our visas come through? Ideally we can then get our HKIDs sorted ASAP upon arrival. I think we get a paper copy that very same day and the official card arrives 10 days later. Am I right?


The family healthcare I'm being provided with doesn't cover maternity so we'll be using the public system, hopefully Queen Mary Hospital from what I've read. As I understand it we can only register our intent to have the baby there once we have our HKIDs to avoid paying private costs. Is the process to register with a local doctor and then get referred? Can I also get this step done before we leave the UK?


Many thanks in advance!

Don't worry about the HKID.

HK government services are very efficient.

You can get your IDs done in one day after you arrive.

You can book an appointment via the online booking system a few days before your arrival.

At first you will get a temp card. (just a piece of paper.)

the Smart ID card will be ready after about 3 weeks.

You can use the temp ID to book your hospital visits.

If your are going through the public hospital system. You book directly at the hospital. The process would be easier if you or your wife can speak Canto. The HK doctors speak good English, the nurses often do not, and they are embarrassed about it. So if you only speak English, they try to avoid talking to you. Which leads to missed information.

As above the HKID services are very efficient. You can download the forms and book the appointment on line at www.immd.gov.hk or send an email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk if you are not too sure what to do. They are always very helpful.


The booking procedures for births in Hong Kong can be found on ha.org.hk. I have copied the "Antenatal Checkup Booking Procedures":

Expectant mothers or their relatives are required to bring along their HK Identity Card (or a valid identity document), referral letter issued by a local registered medical practitioner / Chinese medicine practitioner / Maternal and Child Health Centre in the last three months and a proof of residential address dated within the last six months to a Specialist Out-patient Clinic (Obstetrics) for appointment booking.


If this is not done you risk having to pay 90,000 HKD for the birth.


We hope all goes well, Community Advice Bureau