Frequently Asked Questions

"iAM Smart" is a free account that can be enjoyed by all Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID Card) holders aged 11 or above. It allows users to perform authentication through personal mobile phones and log in as well as use the online services of different government departments and commercial organisations.

"iAM Smart" account is available in two versions, namely "iAM Smart" and "iAM Smart+". The "iAM Smart" version has authentication, form-filling and personalised notifications functions, while the "iAM Smart+" version has the digital signing function in addition:

(1) Authentication
Users will have a single digital identity that enables simple and secure login to various government and commercial online services. It brings convenience to daily life without having to manage different user names and passwords.

(2) Form-Filling with "e-ME"
Users can use the "e-ME" function to store their personalised data (such as name, gender, HKID Card number, date of birth, residential address, contact phone number, and billing address), and enjoy the convenience brought by auto form-filling and avoid filling in the same data for different applications. The billing address can also serve as address proof when submitting online applications.

(3) Personalised Notifications
Users can choose to receive personalised notifications from various government online services to keep up with service updates, expiry alerts and latest information.

(4) Digital Signing
Users can use "iAM Smart+" to sign digitally in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Chapter 553 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to process legal documents and procedures online.

"iAM Smart" account is available in two versions, namely "iAM Smart" and "iAM Smart+". The "iAM Smart" version has authentication, form-filling and personalized notifications functions, while the "iAM Smart+" version has the digital signing function in addition.

For more information about "iAM Smart" and "iAM Smart+", please click here.

"iAM Smart" is not an electronic version of the smart identity card. It will not replace the smart identity card, nor will it be stored in the smart identity card.

"iAM Smart" is a digital infrastructure that provides citizens with a single digital identity to log in to online services and conduct online transactions.

To apply for an "iAM Smart" account, you may download and install "iAM Smart" mobile app and process the online registration remotely. For application via the self-registration kiosk, registration service counter or mobile registration team, you will get an upgraded account "iAM Smart+" directly.

No, the "iAM Smart" account registration must be completed by the Hong Kong Identity Card (HKIC) holders himself.

A range of commonly used government, public and private online services are now accessible through the "iAM Smart" platform. For details, please click here.

"iAM Smart" is free of charge for Hong Kong residents. All Hong Kong residents aged 11 or over are eligible to register for "iAM Smart" with a valid Hong Kong Identity Card. Residents aged between 11 and 17 must be accompanied and consented by their parents or guardians to perform registration.

To download and use "iAM Smart" Mobile App, the mobile phone must be equipped with biometric authentication. For iOS mobile phone, it should support Face ID or Touch ID. For Android mobile phone, it should run with Android 8.0 or above and supports Fingerprint authentication.

For the best experience using "iAM Smart", it is recommended to use devices with more recent mobile phone system versions such as iOS 13.0 or above or Android 10.0 or above.

Please note that each mobile phone can only be used to bind with one "iAM Smart" account.

No, "iAM Smart" can only be used on mobile phone with biometric authentication function. Government will base on the usage of the public and consider whether to support more different types of devices.

No, you can find "iAM Smart" Application from Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery. Downloading and using the "iAM Smart" Mobile App is free of charge.

If you are using a mobile data network to download the "iAM Smart" Mobile App, please note that your mobile network provider may charge additional fees based on your mobile data usage.

You will not be able to use "iAM Smart" Mobile App when:
(1) the network connection is bad;
(2) the version of your "iAM Smart" Mobile App is not up-to-date;
(3) your mobile phone is jailbroken or rooted or has security risks;
(4) your mobile phone does not support biometric authentication;
(5) the biometric authentication of your mobile phone has not been set up;
(6) the biometric authentication of your mobile phone has been changed since last use;
(7) your "iAM Smart" account is invalid;
(8) your "iAM Smart" account is suspended.

To enable the personalised notifications for government online services, users are required to use "iAM Smart" to log in government online service providing personalised notifications. After successful login and receipt of a confirmation message, the personalised notification for that particular online service will be enabled. The online service will be automatically displayed in the "Personalised notification setting" under the "Online services" of "My notifications" page for user to disable or re-enable the corresponding personalised notification service. User can also select the "Change notification setting" in a received message to alter the setting.

No, users can select "Personalised notification setting" under the "Online services" of "My notifications" page and click the "Search" button to list all the government online services that provide personalised notifications. User can also enter "personalised notification" in the search bar of the homepage to search for government online services that provide personalised notifications.

The personalised notification messages will be kept in "My notifications" page for 2 years. Messages older than 2 years will be deleted from "iAM Smart" system.

There are two versions of "iAM Smart", namely "iAM Smart" and "iAM Smart +". "iAM Smart" will provide general identity authentication and majority of the functions (such as "e-ME" and personalised notifications), while "iAM Smart +" will provide the additional function of digital signing. Residents may download the mobile app and register for "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" according to their needs.

Registration of "iAM Smart"

• Remote registration of "iAM Smart" are required to use personal mobile phone for taking photo of the HKID card (HKIC) and a selfie. The whole process can be completed online using mobile phone;

Registration of "iAM Smart+"

• In-person registration at "iAM Smart" self-registration kiosk in specified government premises and public locations. The system will retrieve the data stored in the HKIC and a selfie is required;
• In-person registration via "iAM Smart" registration service counters or "iAM Smart" mobile registration teams. Staff will check and verify the HKIC of the applicant. There is no photo-taking of the HKIC or selfie would be required during the registration process.

For more information, please click here.

Please prepare the required items for smooth registration:

1. Hong Kong Identity Card (HKIC)
2. Personal mobile phone (Enabled biometric authentication functions and downloaded "iAM Smart" App)
3. Email address

Accompanying and consent of parent or guardian is required for Hong Kong residents aged from 11 to 17 to register for "iAM Smart". If residents register via "iAM Smart" Mobile App or self-registration kiosk, the consenting parent or guardian must be "iAM Smart" User.

No, the registration and use of "iAM Smart" are on a voluntary basis.

The self-registration kiosks and registration service counters are located in various districts all over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

Please click here for detailed location information.

"iAM Smart" users are required to bring along with their smart identity cards in person to the self-registration kiosks, registration service counters or mobile registration teams to perform the upgrade procedures. Please note that residents aged 11-17 must be accompanied and consented by their parents or guardians to perform upgrade.

No, residents can approach self-registration kiosks, registration service counters or mobile registration teams to register "iAM Smart+" service directly.

When the registrant submits the registration, the system will process the identity verification based on the records of the identity card. It takes around 5-10 seconds. However, the specific time may depend on the network or system conditions.

For registration via "iAM Smart" Mobile App or self-registration kiosk, manual handling is not involved. HKIC authenticity check and facial identification are automatically handled by the system.

For registration service counter or mobile registration team, one to two staff will carry out face-to-face identity verification and assist the applicant to complete the registration process.

Yes, "iAM Smart" supports both new and old Smart Identity Cards for registration.

No, "iAM Smart" has monitoring mechanism to ensure each Hong Kong Identity Card can only be registered with one account and each mobile phone can only be bound to one "iAM Smart" account.

No, "iAM Smart" is registered on an individual basis and can be used for that registered person only.

Yes, you can continue using "iAM Smart" but you will not receive email notifications until you verified your email address.

If you fail to receive the verification email in your mailbox, you may request a new verification email via "iAM Smart" mobile app or edit your email address as required.

Detailed steps are as follows:

1. Login "iAM Smart" mobile app
2. Select "Menu" icon on the top right corner
3. Select "Account management" > "Account information"
4. Check if the "Contact email address" is correct.
   If it is correct, your email client may have classified "iAM Smart" verification emails as junk mails. Please check the "junk mailbox" of your email client and configure your email client to accept all emails from "iAM Smart". If verification email still cannot be found, please go back to "iAM Smart" mobile app and select "Send Verification Email" under "Contact email address" to re-send the verification email.
   If the "Contact email address" is incorrect, please select "Edit" button to revise it. Verification email will be sent out to the new email address automatically. Please follow the instructions to complete the email verification.

No, you do not need to provide your mobile phone number to "iAM Smart". We will contact you via your registered email address and mobile push notifications.

Scanning the HKIC from three different angles during "iAM Smart" registration is to check the HKIC's security features, thus verifying its authenticity. The purpose of performing actions specified by the system when taking selfies is to ensure the selfie is not just a mere capture of a photo. These steps are to ensure the identity verification process during user registration is accurate, which in turn increase the confidence of users and online service providers for online identity verification in future.

When scanning the HKIC, please keep moderate lighting and avoid shadows or glare so that the system can verify its authenticity. If you encounter lighting problems, try holding the HKIC and adjusting the angles of HKIC or mobile phone.

For details, you may click here for browsing "Tips for Registration" and refer to the following demonstration videos.

Demonstration Video (1): Scanning HKIC on a flat surface

Demonstration video (2): Adjusting the angle of HKIC

Demonstration video (3): Adjusting the angle of mobile phone

Please contact "iAM Smart" Hotline for any enquiries.

No, "iAM Smart" users have to be authenticated through biometric authentication. If your personal mobile phone does not support built-in biometric authentication, you will not be able to use "iAM Smart".

"iAM Smart" mobile app supports facial or fingerprint authentication on the mobile phones.

After using "iAM Smart", you can still use the original method to log in those government online services.

No, there is a monitoring mechanism in the "iAM Smart" system to ensure each Hong Kong Identity Card can only be registered with one account and each mobile phone can only be bound to one "iAM Smart" account.

Users can change the email address by editing the "Contact email address" under "Account information" in the "iAM Smart" mobile app.

Yes, "iAM Smart" can be used as long as the user's mobile can connect to the Internet.

Users are required to set up a six-digit password when registering "iAM Smart", which will be used to authenticate the user when the built-in biometric authentication function of the mobile phone is failed. If users want to reset password, they can use the "Reset password" function in the "iAM Smart" mobile app.

Moreover, users will receive emails from "iAM Smart" whenever they use password to log in to "iAM Smart". For example, if you entered password three times during login, regardless of the outcome, you would receive three notification emails from "iAM Smart".

Users are not required to update the password on a regular basis. Nevertheless, we recommend that users should change the password at a regular interval (for example, 90 days) or according to personal needs, for better protection.

Under normal circumstances, user can use "iAM Smart" after passing the biometric authentication on the mobile phone via the "iAM Smart" mobile app. If a user fails to pass the biometric authentication, he/she will be required to enter the six-digit password for authentication or authorisation. If he/she forgets password, the "iAM Smart" account will become invalid after ten consecutive login failures and the user will be required to register again in order to use "iAM Smart".

Users can call the "iAM Smart" service hotline (182 123) to request account suspension or use the account suspension function provided by the self-registration kiosks or registration service counters to suspend the account if they lose the mobile phones bounded with their "iAM Smart" accounts. To reactivate the users accounts, users can make use of another mobile phone to re-register their "iAM Smart" accounts. After the "iAM Smart" account has been re-registered successfully, the "iAM Smart" account on the old personal mobile phone will be deleted.

No, you can still use your "iAM Smart" account after losing your Hong Kong Identity Card.

"iAM Smart" is NOT a digital version of Hong Kong Identity Card. New Smart Identity Card replacement will not cause any impact on using "iAM Smart" and re-registration is not necessary upon replacement of new Smart Identity Card.

You can select the "transfer account to another mobile" function in the "iAM Smart" mobile app of the exiting phone to transfer the "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" account to another phone. Upon successful transfer, the "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" account where it was originally installed will be deleted.

For details, please refer to the following introduction video.

【"iAM Smart" function introduction (Transfer account to another mobile) 】

If you lost your phone, the phone is not working or the "transfer account to another mobile" function was unable to transfer the account to another mobile phone, you can register "iAM Smart" again in your new mobile phone. Upon successful re-registration, the "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+" account where it was originally installed will be deleted.

Before using the "transfer account to another mobile" function or re-registering "iAM Smart", it is recommended to install and upgrade to the "iAM Smart" mobile app to the latest version. On the other hand, "iAM Smart+" users are required to visit kiosks or registration service counters in person to register again to reactivate your "iAM Smart+" account.

For enquiries, please call "iAM Smart" Hotline for any enquiries.

Yes, "iAM Smart" user can use the account de-registration function in the "iAM Smart" mobile app to deregister the account. Account de-registration will clear all the information of the "iAM Smart" account.

The user can call the "iAM Smart" service hotline (182 123) for account suspension or use the "Suspend account" function provided by the self-registration kiosks or registration service counters to suspend the account. If the "iAM Smart" account is no longer needed, the user can can select "Account management" > "De-register" function in the "iAM Smart" mobile app to de-register the account, and a biometric authentication is required for identification during the process. If the biometric authentication fails, users will be required to provide the six-digit password entered during "iAM Smart" registration instead. Please be aware that all the related account information will be deleted from the "iAM Smart" system after account de-registration.

When a user suspends his/her "iAM Smart" account, he/she can reactivate the accounts at any time and all his/her user information and usage log can be preserved. However, when a user de-registers his/her "iAM Smart" account, all his/her user information and usage log will be deleted and he/she can use "iAM Smart" again only after re-registration.

You will be required to register "iAM Smart" again in order to use "iAM Smart". While the registration of "iAM Smart" account can be performed using your mobile phone, you have to visit self-registration kiosks or registration service counters in person to perform "iAM Smart+" registration if you want to use the digital signature function.

To reactivate a suspended "iAM Smart" account, you can perform a facial identification on your mobile phone bound with your "iAM Smart" account via the "iAM Smart" mobile app. If you are holding "iAM Smart" account, you can also register "iAM Smart" again in another mobile phone to reactivate your account. However, "iAM Smart+" user has to visit self-registration kiosks or registration service counters in person to perform registrations again to reactivate account.

If you are eligible to register for "iAM Smart", please re-register a new "iAM Smart" via the "iAM Smart" Mobile App, or re-register a new "iAM Smart +" via a self-registration kiosk / registration service counter / mobile registration team.

The information you inputted in "e-ME" will be kept for 12 months after account suspension. You will be able to use the information you saved in "e-ME" if you re-activate your account within 12 months.

The public only have to login "iAM Smart" account, select "COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System" service on the "iAM Smart" mobile app, and then follow the instructions to authenticate their identity to download their electronic vaccination records, the latest testing record, "COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificate", and "COVID-19 Recovery Record". For the download workflow of records, please visit the webpage at https://www.evt.gov.hk/portal/en/workflow2.

The public can download electronic vaccination records, electronic testing records, "COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificates", and "COVID-19 Recovery Records" through "iAM Smart" mobile app. "iAM Smart" system itself will not store such records of the public.

After authenticating the identity through "iAM Smart", resident can check and download their electronic vaccination records, the latest testing records within 31 days, "COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificate", and "COVID-19 Recovery Record" (if applicable) via "COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System". For more details about "COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System", please refer to the website www.evt.gov.hk.

Address Data Function allows users to use the electronic bill (or related data) stored in the "e-ME" profile as address proof when submitting online applications. After logging in their online accounts of electronic bill providers (e.g. electricity and gas companies or Water Supplies Department) through "iAM Smart", users can authorise "iAM Smart" to retrieve and store their latest electronic bill for this purpose.

Please note that a user must be an owner of both "iAM Smart" account and online account of the electronic bill provider, while the electronic bill must be under the name of the user.

Users can edit the "Billing address" of the "e-ME" profile, select one of the electronic bill providers, then login the online account with "iAM Smart" and follow the instructions to complete the activation procedures.

No, the electronic bill obtained can only be under the same user of the "iAM Smart" account owner.

"iAM Smart" account will delete the electronic bill stored in "e-ME" 180 days after the bill date. To continue using the Address Data Function, users are required to click "Update" under the "Billing address" to obtain the latest electronic bill.

"iAM Smart" e-Certs are issued by Hongkong Post and designated for the "iAM Smart +" account users to provide digital signing function in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553) to process legal documents and procedures online. "iAM Smart" e-Certs are stored in the "iAM Smart" System, and are only applicable to online services and e-forms that support "iAM Smart".

"iAM Smart +" account users can use the "iAM Smart" e-Certs for free. Each "iAM Smart" e-Cert is valid for one year. Users are required to re-apply for a new digital certificate every year to continue using the digital signing function after the validity period. "iAM Smart" will send a mobile push notification and an email reminder to the relevant user in around one month before the expiry of an "iAM Smart" e-Cert to remind him/her to re-apply for a new digital certificate.

For more details, please visit the Hongkong Post website:
https://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/product/ecert/type/iamsmart/index.html

"iAM Smart" will send the relevant user a mobile push notification and an email reminder in around one month before the expiry of an "iAM Smart" e-Cert, to remind him/her to re-apply for a new e-Cert.

Relevant users can re-apply for their e-Certs via one of the following ways:

1. After logging in to the "iAM Smart" mobile app, if you see a one-time reminder titled "To ensure you can continue to use digital signing, please re-apply for e-Cert now", you can click "Verify Touch ID/Face ID/Fingerprint" on the reminder to perform identity verification with biometric authentication to re-apply for e-Certs; or
2. If you see a to-do list item titled "Verify identity: To re-apply for e-Cert and continue to use digital signing" (see Fig. 1) in the homepage of the "iAM Smart" mobile app. Click "Verify Touch ID/Face ID/Fingerprint" on the To-do item to perform identity verification with biometric authentication to re-apply for e-Certs.

After the e-Cert re-application is completed, a "Digital signing function is available now" message will be displayed.

For details, please refer to the following online video:
Introduction to "iAM Smart"
(Re-applying for digital certificate to continue using the digital signing function of "iAM Smart+" )

No. If you do not re-apply for a new e-Cert after expiration, you cannot use "iAM Smart" until you complete the re-application.

"iAM Smart" users can confirm that the e-Cert re-application is completed and can continue using the "Digital Signing" function in the following ways:

1. You should be able to find an entry titled "Application for e-Cert Renewal" under the "Log records" of the "iAM Smart" mobile app（see Fig. 2）.
   
   

   

   
   

   （Fig. 2）
2. The to-do list item titled "Verify identity: To re-apply for e-Cert and continue to use digital signing" in the homepage of the mobile app will disappear, and a green bar titled "With digital signing function" will be shown under the background image of the homepage of the mobile app （see Fig. 3）.
   
   
   （Fig. 3）

In order to promote the adoption of "iAM Smart" by private organisations, OGCIO has uploaded relevant application programming interface (API) technical information to the website.

OGCIO in collaboration with Cyberport introduced a "iAM Smart" sandbox programme in March 2020 for private organisations to conduct mock-up tests and integration tests on the API functions in order to better prepared for the adoption of "iAM Smart". The sandbox programme is currently open for companies in the financial, information and communications technology, telecommunications as well as healthcare sectors. OGCIO will conduct regular review and, subject to the results of the review and the progress of the "iAM Smart" adoption by online services, determine how and when the Sandbox will be extended further to other industry sectors.

Private organisations need to register with the OGCIO in advance and confirm their services and information security requirements can comply with the terms of use of the service.

The smart identity card photos and selfies taken by the users during registration will be used for identity verification only. These photos will be deleted immediately after verifying user's identity and not be stored in "iAM Smart" system.

Users can then use the biometric functions (such as facial, fingerprint identification, etc.) provided by their personal mobile phones to authenticate their identity and log in to online services using "iAM Smart" in a safe and convenient way. Such biometric data will only be stored in the users' personal mobile phones, and will not be stored in the "iAM Smart" system.

The smart identity card photos and selfies taken by residents during registration for "iAM Smart" will be deleted immediately after user identity verification and will not be stored in "iAM Smart" system. Other personal information provided during registration will only be used for "iAM Smart" account management. Users' data would be encrypted and stored in government data centre facilities to protect the data security.

The "iAM Smart" system will only keep minimal user usage records of the platform, such as login time or the time to perform digital signing, and will not access transaction data from the online services adopting "iAM Smart". Users could make enquiries on their "iAM Smart" records in the past 90 days via the "Log records" function in the "iAM Smart" mobile app.

"iAM Smart" system will store the users' Hong Kong Identity Card Number, English Name, Chinese Name, Gender and Date of Birth. All these data will only be used for user management purposes and be encrypted for storage.