Real-name Registration for SIM Cards has been fully implemented!
| • | You shall complete the registration of your SIM cards with your own original identity document. |
| • | You should not purchase a "registered" pre-paid SIM ("PPS") card from unknown sources in the market. |
| • | OFCA and telecommunications service providers would arrange sample checks on the registered information from time to time. In case of irregularity, the users concerned should cooperate with telecommunications service providers in confirming the registered information or else the relevant PPS card will be deregistered and cannot be used afterwards. For easy identification by users, telecommunications service providers will use the Registered SMS Sender ID "#SIMREG" to send the relevant SMS notifications. |
The Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation (the "Regulation") has taken effect on 1 September 2021 to implement the Real-name Registration Programme for Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards ("Real-name Registration Programme"). The Regulation requires that, users should complete real-name registration for their SIM cards with their telecommunications service providers from 1 March 2022. Existing SIM cards which have not been registered by the deadline of 23 February 2023 can no longer be used afterwards.
 Individual User |
 Corporate User |
|---|---|
| ✔ Name in English and Chinese | ✔ Name of the business, corporation or branch in English and Chinese |
| ✔ Date of birth* | ✔ Personal information of an individual aged 18 or above named as the responsible person^ |
| ✔ HKID card number# | ✔ Number of the valid business/branch registration certificate~ |
| ✔ HKID card copy# | ✔ Copy of the business/branch registration certificate |
| * Registration of user aged below 16 requires endorsement of an adult aged 18 or above and information of that adult will be registered. # Please present original identification document for verification. For an applicant not holding a HKID card, information of a valid identification document will be used for registration, but need to provide statements to the effect that he/she (i) does not hold a HKID card; and (ii) has not used other identification documents for registration. |
^ Please provide the information as mentioned under "Individual User". ~ Organisation user not holding valid business/branch registration certificate can only register SSP  |
| PPS Cards | SSP Cards |
|---|---|
 Individual user - up to 10 cards |
No limit |
 Corporate user - up to 25 cards |
No limit |
Different telecommunications service providers will provide different registration channels, for example –
Please refer to the weblinks and contact information for real-name registration of pre-paid SIM cards by telecommunications service providers.
| DOs | DON'Ts |
|---|---|
| ✔ Complete the registration of your SIM cards with your own original identity document | × Do not provide false information and/or false documents in completing registration which could constitute a criminal offence* |
| ✔ Deregister your PPS cards when they are no longer in use or are transferred to another party | × Do not buy and use PPS cards that claim to have completed real-name registration from unknown sources in the market and risk defying the law* |
| ✔ Beware of anyone selling pre-registered SIM cards or others’ identity information for registering PPS cards on one’s behalf. Report to the Police if criminal offences are suspected | × Do not use your personal information to register SIM cards for unknown third parties who may use the SIM cards for illicit purpose |
| × Do not provide another party with a SIM card registered in the name of others to facilitate the commission of an offence; otherwise, you may be charged with aiding and abetting the commission of the related offence | |
| * Depending on the facts of the case, nature of the act and proof of evidence, the applicable criminal offences include obtaining services by deception under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and using false instrument under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). |
| General Steps for Registration by Individual Users | ||
|---|---|---|
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Insert pre-paid SIM ("PPS") card, activate mobile data service and disconnect from Wi-Fi Check the notification SMS sent by telecom service provider to start the registration procedures The notification SMS should contain the mobile number of the PPS card, name of telecom service provider, registration link etc. |
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Input or confirm the mobile no. or ICCID of the SIM card which requires real-name registration Telecom service providers may send one-time password to user, and require the user to input the password for verification |
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Select the type of ID document, take photo of the original ID document and upload the image concerned If a user possesses HKID card, he/she must use his/her HKID card to complete real-name registration 1. Registration of user aged below 16 requires endorsement of an adult aged 18 or above, registration of personal information of the adult and an indication of the relationship with the adult concerned. 2. Corporate user needs to provide valid business/branch registration certificate and its number, and name of the business, corporation or branch in Chinese and in English (if applicable) as well as personal information of an individual aged 18 or above named as the responsible person. |
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Check and confirm the required information extracted from the ID document, or input the required information (as the case may be) Make amendments if necessary |
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Acknowledge the disclaimers relating to Real-name Registration & collection of personal data |
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Complete registration / activation of service Users who have successfully completed real-name registration will receive a confirmation SMS from telecom service providers |
| General Steps for Registration by "iAM Smart" Users | ||
|---|---|---|
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Insert pre-paid SIM ("PPS") card, activate mobile data service and disconnect from Wi-Fi Check the notification SMS sent by telecom service provider to start the registration procedures The notification SMS should contain the name of telecom service provider, registration link etc. |
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Follow the instructions to confirm the ICCID of the SIM card which requires real-name registration The system will automatically fill in the ICCID |
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Individual user who has registered for "iAM Smart" account can choose to login his / her "iAM Smart" account and authorise "iAM Smart" to provide the required personal information to complete real-name registration |
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Confirm the provision of personal information from "iAM Smart" to the telecom service provider to complete real-name registration |
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Acknowledge the disclaimers relating to real-name registration and collection of personal data Take a photo of the original HKID card and upload the image |
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Complete registration / activation of service Users who have successfully completed real-name registration will receive a confirmation SMS from telecom service providers |
All SIM cards issued by telecommunications service providers in Hong Kong for person-to-person communications in Hong Kong will need to complete real-name registration.
Upon the full implementation of real-name registration for SIM cards, all SIM cards (including SSP and PPS cards) require real-name registration before activation.
For those existing PPS cards that are not activated and not yet expired, members of the public may activate the service by completing real-name registration when activating the cards.
Telecommunications service providers will introduce "iAM Smart" to their online registration platforms progressively for completing the real-name registration of SIM cards by the users. For the brands of the PPS cards which support real-name registration using "iAM Smart", their user guides are available on OFCA's website as follows:
https://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/consumer_focus/guide/hot_topics/sim_registration/reference_guide/index.html. For enquiry, you may also contact the respective telecommunications service provider.
If you encounter problems when using "iAM Smart" in completing real-name registration, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct.
In addition, frequently asked questions on "iAM Smart" are available on the website of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer ("OGCIO") at
https://www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/faq.html. If you have further enquiries on "iAM Smart", you may also contact OGCIO
(https://www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/contact.html)
SSP that took effect before 1 March 2022 is not required to re-register unless the user concerned changes to another service provider or subscribe to a new phone number.
SSP subscribed on or after 1 March 2022 onwards requires real-name registration before activation.
All PPS cards require real-name registration before activation. PPS card users can register their PPS cards based on their own need before service activation.
Please refer to the instructions and information provided on the packaging of the PPS cards to complete the real-name registration.
Hong Kong residents must use HKID cards for real-name registration.
If an individual user does not have a HKID card, he/she can use other valid identification document (such as valid travel document or passport*) as specified in the Regulation for completing real-name registration.
* HKSAR passport and British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport will not be recognised as a valid proof of identity for completing real-name registration.
You may take a picture of your original identification document by using a tablet/ smartphone equipped with camera. Some telecommunications service providers also accept uploading image of your identification document to the registration platform. Please follow the instructions of the online registration platform of your telecommunications service provider for completing the registration.
Telecommunications service providers will issue an SMS message to PPS card users for notifying the successful completion of real-name registration. If you are unable to receive any SMS notification, please contact your telecommunications service providers direct for further inquiries.
NO, users are not required to pay to complete real-name registration.
Please contact your telecommunications service provider for further inquiries.
No. Your organisation may arrange its employees/members to register the PPS cards as individual users (each individual user may register no more than 10 PPS cards with each telecommunications service provider), or register SSP which does not have any limit on the registration maximum quota.
Users should complete real-name registration of their PPS cards under their own identity documents. Users must not purchase a “registered” PPS card of any unknown third party in the market to protect themselves.
The provision of false information and/or false document under the registration programme could constitute a criminal offence. Depending on the nature of the act and the availability of evidence, the applicable offences may include obtaining services by deception under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and/or using false instrument under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). The offence under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and the offence under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance has a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. In addition, depending on the nature of the case and the availability of evidence, a person who knowingly provides a SIM card registered under his/her name to another party to facilitate the commission of an offence may be liable for, among others, aiding and abetting the commission of the relevant offence.
OFCA and telecommunications service providers would arrange routine sample checks on the registered information from time to time.
When you receive the SMS from your telecommunications service provider using the Registered SMS Sender ID "#SIMREG", you must provide your own identity document to verify the registered information of the PPS card by following the instructions provided in the SMS. Please be reminded that telecommunications service provider will never ask you to transfer money for completing or verifying the registration.
If you are unable to provide relevant information to confirm your registration or do not respond to the verification request before the stipulated deadline, your PPS card will be deregistered and cannot be used afterwards, so as to protect your interest and avoid the PPS card being used by unknown third party. If you have any questions regarding the verification request, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct.
Under the Real-name Registration Programme, the personal information of SIM card users are kept and stored by respective telecommunications service providers. If a registered PPS card is no longer in use, the user may make a request to the respective telecommunications service provider for deregistration of the PPS card. For details on the checking of the number of registered PPS card or deregistration arrangement, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct for enquiry.