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Certified Hong Kong Identity Card Translation
eVerbary translates your Hong Kong identity card into English for $24.95 per page with no word cap, by a professional human translator, with a signed certification. Most orders are delivered within a few hours. Accepted by USCIS and by US universities, colleges and schools, or your money back.
$24.95/page
Flat rate per page, no word cap. No hidden fees.
Money-back guarantee
Accepted by USCIS and by US universities, colleges and schools, or your money back.
24-hour delivery
Most 1-3 page documents are delivered within 24 hours. Same-day available.
Number, symbols and card versions
The Hong Kong identity card is issued by the Registration of Persons Office of the Immigration Department, and residents must register from age 11. The card number is a letter prefix and six digits, followed by a character in brackets that, according to the Immigration Department, is not part of the number and is used for computer processing. The current smart card, issued since 26 November 2018, is polycarbonate with the chip on the back; the earlier smart card issued from 23 June 2003 to 25 November 2018 has ceased to be valid.
Under the date of birth the card prints symbols. Three asterisks mean the holder is 18 or over and eligible for a re-entry permit, and one asterisk the same for ages 11 to 17. A means right of abode, C a stay limited at registration, R right to land and U a stay not limited. Z, X, W and O give the reported place of birth: Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Macao or elsewhere. B and N mean the date or place of birth, or the name, changed since first registration.
Translating the card and related records
We translate both sides of the card, the symbols included, and explain each symbol in a translator's note so that an officer does not read "***AZ" as a code we left untranslated. The name is given as printed in English on the card; if the card also shows the name in Chinese characters, we translate that field and keep the English spelling as the reference. If your card carries no Chinese text, USCIS needs no translation of it.
The card is not a substitute for a birth certificate, but the Registration of Persons Office also issues the Certificate of Registered Particulars, which the State Department accepts as secondary evidence when a birth record cannot be found. Your HKSAR passport must show the same particulars as your permanent identity card. See also the name change page and our Chinese page.
What USCIS requires
Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), a foreign-language document must be accompanied by a complete English translation and the translator's certification that it is accurate. Every seal, stamp and marginal note is part of the document, so every one is translated.
State agencies set their own rules — see government agencies — and what our certification states is on this page.
How it works
Upload a photo or a scan of your document, pick the language pair and check out online. You never have to mail originals: a legible copy is all we need.
A professional human translator, never machine translation, translates the document word for word and mirrors the layout of the original. Every certified translation ships with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy that meets the requirements of USCIS, courts and universities.
Your translation is delivered digitally, usually within 24 hours for documents of one to three pages, and same-day delivery is available. If anything needs adjusting, we revise it.
Certified vs. standard translation
A certified translation is a word-for-word translation accompanied by a signed statement attesting to its accuracy and completeness. It is what official bodies require: USCIS, courts, universities and government agencies. Certified translations are $24.95 per page, where one sheet of your document is one page, with no word cap.
A standard translation is the same professional human translation without the certificate, for when you only need to understand the content or for internal or informal use. It is billed at the same $24.95 per page with no word cap.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'AZ' on my card mean?
A is right of abode in Hong Kong and Z is a reported place of birth in Hong Kong. We explain every symbol in a note.
Is the number in brackets part of my ID number?
The Immigration Department says it is not; it is used for computer processing. We copy it exactly as printed.
My card has an N under the date of birth.
N means your name was changed after you first registered. A deed poll or other name-change record may also be useful.
Ready to get started?
Upload your documents and receive your certified translation, typically within 24 hours.