Step 1: Appointment Registration
You must first submit an appointment registration form on the website, filling it out as required. Click here to enter the appointment website. When submitting, you must specify which Marriage Registry you wish to use. Generally, Tsim Sha Tsui or Admiralty are everyone's first choices, which are often seen in TV dramas. You must also specify the date you wish to register, because each registry can only process a limited number of newcomers per day; therefore, it is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you submit too late, you will have to choose a different location.
Next, you need to confirm the appointment. There are two methods:
One: Fax the required photocopies of documents the next day, but ensure that the daytime contact number provided is reachable.
Two: Go to the designated office in person the next day to present the original documents for verification, and that will suffice.
Step 2: Confirmation of Registration Date
This is done exactly three months before the registration date. For example, in my case, it was October 6th. This can be done by one person or both parties. You must submit the original or photocopies of both persons' identification documents. If photocopies are submitted, you must bring the originals at least three days before the official registration date for verification.
Step 3: Marriage Registration
The final step is the most crucial. Simply arrive at the scheduled location on the agreed-upon date and time to register. It is recommended to have at least two friends or parents present to make the occasion more formal. According to Hong Kong customs, weddings are often registered in the morning or afternoon, followed by a wedding banquet in the evening, so everything is taken care of in one day. Therefore, most brides wear wedding dresses to register, and both parties exchange wedding rings!
Now, let's talk about the costs!
There is no fee for the initial appointment.
When you go to confirm in the second step, you must pay HKD 325.
Finally, when you go to register, if it is a non-holiday, it costs about HKD 750. If it falls on a public holiday, the fee will increase to HKD 1,925.
In summary, if you want to register in Hong Kong, you need to visit the office twice: once for the appointment and confirmation (completing the first two steps at once), and finally, both parties can go together to register!
