Move to Hungary · Documents · Document #2 — Start This Week

Hong Kong Birth Certificate

Apostille via Hong Kong High Court. Only needed for the citizenship application.

At a Glance

Used forCitizenship only
Document typeHong Kong birth certificate (original)
Apostille issuerHong Kong High Court
CostHK$125 (~C$22) + postage
Total timeline5–7 weeks by mail
Notarization needed?No

Why Hong Kong

BC Authentication only handles BC-issued documents. Global Affairs Canada only handles Canadian documents. A Hong Kong birth certificate is neither — it must be apostilled through Hong Kong's own system.

Hong Kong is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so their apostille is recognized by Hungary.

Step-by-Step

1

Get the original from your parents

You said the original is at your parents' place in Canada. Get it in hand before proceeding — have them mail it to you or pick it up.

Timeline: A few days to ~1 week depending on where they are.
2

Prepare your mail package to Hong Kong

Include all of the following:

  1. The original birth certificate
  2. A covering letter stating:
    • Purpose: apostille for use in Hungary
    • Country where the document will be used: Hungary
    • Your return mailing address in Canada
    • Your email address
    • Your phone number
  3. Payment: A bank draft for HK$125 in Hong Kong dollars. Get this from your bank — ask for an international bank draft payable in HKD. (Do NOT send cash.)
  4. Return postage: If you want registered airmail return, add HK$15.50 to the bank draft (total HK$140.50). Otherwise they return via standard airmail.
Bank draft fees: Your Canadian bank will likely charge $15–30 for issuing an international bank draft. Budget for this.
3

Mail to the Hong Kong High Court

Apostille Service Office
High Court Registry (Counter no. 5), LG1/F
High Court Building
38 Queensway
Hong Kong

Use tracked international mail or courier (FedEx, DHL) for peace of mind. You're sending an original document internationally.

Mail time Canada → HK: ~1–2 weeks by regular post, ~3–5 days by courier.
4

Wait for processing

Overseas applications take approximately 2 weeks from when they receive the document.

5

Receive the apostilled certificate

They mail it back to your Canadian address. Return mail HK → Canada is another 1–2 weeks.

6

Get it translated into Hungarian

Same as the other documents: OFFI in Hungary, or a sworn Hungarian translator.

Faster Alternative: In-Person via Representative

If you have family or a friend in Hong Kong, they can handle this much faster:

  1. You courier the birth certificate to them
  2. They walk into the Apostille Service Office (High Court Registry, Counter no. 5, LG1/F, High Court Building, 38 Queensway)
  3. They pay in person (cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS, or cheque accepted)
  4. Processing: 2 working days
  5. They collect and courier it back to you

Total time with courier both ways: ~2 weeks instead of 5–7.

Worth considering if you have someone reliable in HK who can do this for you.

Open Question

Confirm with the Hungarian citizenship authorities whether they need the original birth certificate apostilled, or if they'd accept an alternative form of proof. This could save you the international mail round-trip if there's another option.

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