HK ID card appointments not available

[CeeJayee]

No luck for me either. I had 4 browser windows on 2 computers on the last part of Step 1 - waited till midnight to hit continue and all quota immediately full on all 4 browser sessions. I'm beginning to think the system is rigged or someone is cheating the system... I got close by changing to lost ID type and got a date for 14th April but I'll be gone by then - clicked it anyway and it said quota full - so you can imagine how gutted I was. I think will give up and wait for the rush to calm down. Why is it so impossible? Is there some reason?...

Good luck everyone.

[Newhkexpat]

Did anyone have any luck getting an appointment yet? I'm moving to Hong Kong soon and every time I check it's still saying quota full. Some advice would be great!

[timonoj]

Sorry I'm a bit out of the loop, still holding the traditional HKID...why is everyone in a rush to renew it? Will it expire?

[gunsnroses]

Sorry I'm a bit out of the loop, still holding the traditional HKID...why is everyone in a rush to renew it? Will it expire?

oh dear! You need to urgently find a way to replace your old card else there'll be trouble.

[timonoj]

oh dear! You need to urgently find a way to replace your old card else there'll be trouble.

...could you elaborate? I just used my "old card" to enter through immigration automated check as usual with no problem.

[gunsnroses]

...could you elaborate? I just used my "old card" to enter through immigration automated check as usual with no problem.

From what I remember if you didn't change to the shiny new smart card by end of February, there will be some penalty. Though I think they have extended that deadline by few more weeks. Let me search for that info on gov website and share in a bit.https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/faq_...%20%245%2C000.
Read question no 13.
If you can get an appointment for changing the ID card, you'll be asked to fill another form to provide explanation as to why you didn't do it in time. The reasonably accepted answer is - I didn't see any english advertisement. This excuse has worked for few people I know.

[Flapster]

Sorry I'm a bit out of the loop, still holding the traditional HKID...why is everyone in a rush to renew it? Will it expire?

No rush.

https://www.smartid.gov.hk/en/Replac...eas/index.html

If you're staying for less than 30 days, you'll be fine.

[bdw]

...could you elaborate? I just used my "old card" to enter through immigration automated check as usual with no problem.

I also have the old style card same as you, which is better because the IC chip is the right way up! Everyone else with the new card has to insert it into the machine upside down

[timonoj]

Are the ones with an IC chip considered old? The FAQ seems to mention HKIDs from 2003 expiring in 2008. Mine was done...in 2017 I think?

[timonoj]

According to this website...
https://www.humanresourcesonline.net...m-4-march-2023

The old form of smart identity cards is still valid at present. The ImmD will continue to closely monitor the progress of the replacement of new smart identity cards and has no plan to make arrangements for declaring any identity card invalid at this stage.

Is there any official website confirming this? The gov one is absolute trash regarding details about validity/expiry of the more recent smart identity card (the one with a B/W picture and chip). I can confirm that I entered HK using the older smart card yesterday, out of those deadlines, and I went through like normal.

EDIT: Seems that line was taken literally from here instead:
https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2023/02/...04232_032.html

So...yeah? Old card still valid with no plans to make it invalid anytime soon? What's the rush?