Do babies need a passport to travel? HK SAR Passport application and photo requirements for babies

As Hong Kong has fully reopened for some time, many new parents are likely eager to travel abroad with their baby. Before preparing all the travel arrangements, the first thing to do is apply for an HKSAR passport for the baby. 10Life has compiled the following information for parents, setting out in detail the requirements for applying for a baby’s HKSAR passport as well as the photo requirements.

Applying for a baby HKSAR Passport involves the following steps:

Check eligibility: First, you need to determine whether your baby is eligible to apply for a HKSAR Passport. Generally, the baby must be a Chinese citizen; a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and in possession of a valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card in order to apply.

Complete the application form: Next, you need to complete the passport application form for the baby, including personal information such as name, date of birth, gender, address and other details. The two application forms are as follows:

ID842 Form (Application for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport for Children under 16 Years of Age)

ID641 Form (Particulars of Endorsement form, i.e. a form for a third-party witness aged 18 or above other than the parents) and a copy of their identity card 

The ID641 Form is applicable to children aged under 11 who do not hold any other personal identification document (such as a school document bearing the child’s name, date of birth and a photo certified by the school chop). Any person aged 18 or above who knows the child applying for the document (other than the child’s parents or guardian) may act as an endorser.

Prepare the required documents and fees: Applicants for the ID842 Form must submit 1 baby ID photo / applicants for the ID641 Form must submit 2 baby ID photos (one of which should be affixed to the ID641 Form for the endorser to sign across the photo and the form, and the other should be submitted to the Immigration Department for passport processing); a copy of the baby’s birth certificate; copies of the parents’ identity cards; passport application fee: $185 (32-page passport) / $230 (48-page passport).

Bring the documents to the Immigration Department to submit the application form: Once the documents are in order, you may make an online booking in advance for the application date and time, then arrive at the appointed time and collect a queue number. When your number is called, you may submit the prepared documents at the counter, and then wait to make payment.

Please note that, for either the in-person application or collection of the document, the baby must be brought along on one of the occasions.

Reference: https://www.immd.gov.hk/hkt/service/travel_document/apply_for_hksar_passport.html#aa&firstTab

The photo for an application for a BB Special Administrative Region Passport must meet the following requirements:

Size: The photo must comply with the prescribed standard. It must measure 40 mm wide by 50 mm high. The person in the photo should measure 32 mm to 36 mm from the chin to the crown of the head, with sufficient space left above the head.

Background: The background of the photo must be white and free from any decoration or objects.

Facial expression and posture: The photo should show BB facing directly forward in full, with facial features clearly visible.

Clothing: Please do not wear headwear when taking the photo, and do not wear clothing that is too dark or too light in colour.

Quality: The photo should be clear. Please do not fold the photo, attach it to the application form with a staple or paper clip, or write on the back of the photo; otherwise, it will not be suitable for passport production.

Additional notes: The photo should be taken recently and, in general, the date of the photograph should not be more than 6 months old. If the submitted photo does not meet the standard, the application will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Reference page: https://www.immd.gov.hk/hkt/residents/immigration/traveldoc/photorequirements.html 

Applying for a HKSAR passport for a baby is relatively straightforward. As long as the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and has prepared the necessary documents, together with a compliant HKSAR passport photo for the baby, the application should go smoothly. Although it normally takes around 10 days to process a baby’s HKSAR passport, to avoid unforeseen circumstances, applicants who plan to travel should apply early and allow an additional two to three working days for the relevant procedures. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct thorough research before applying and to leave sufficient time before your planned trip.

At the same time, if you are planning a family trip and would like to learn more about travel insurance products, you may refer immediately to 10Life’s comparison of more than 50 travel insurance plans available in the market, where the detailed coverage and premiums are presented at a glance, along with actuarial ratings. Parents may also wish to pay particular attention to the family travel insurance products listed in the table below, as some plans cover newborn babies, and selected products currently offer a 15% discount! 

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.