Having a baby in Hong Kong: every admin step, in English
Every official step of having a baby in Hong Kong, in plain English, each one checked against an official source and dated. 16 steps, from book your first antenatal visit with the hospital authority to claim the child allowance on your tax return.
- Book your first antenatal visit with the Hospital Authority usually between week 8 and week 10 of the pregnancy
- Decide public or private, and find out what your cover pays usually between week 9 and week 12 of the pregnancy
- The scans and screening usually between week 11 and week 21 of the pregnancy
- Tell your employer in writing, with the medical certificate usually between week 12 and week 14 of the pregnancy
- Decide on a helper, and start the paperwork usually between week 20 and week 24 of the pregnancy
- Put your name down at nurseries and playgroups usually between week 22 and week 26 of the pregnancy
- Confirm the hospital booking and pay the deposit usually between week 22 and week 24 of the pregnancy
- Paternity leave: five days, and three months' notice to take it freely usually between week 24 and week 26 of the pregnancy
- Book antenatal classes usually between week 26 and week 28 of the pregnancy
- A car seat if you will ever be in a private car usually between week 32 and week 34 of the pregnancy
- Register the birth within 42 days, by appointment within 3 weeks of the birth
- Claim the Newborn Baby Bonus if either of you is a permanent resident within 6 months of the birth
- Get the baby a passport, then a dependant visa between 7 days and 8 weeks after the birth
- Register the baby at the Maternal and Child Health Centre between 7 days and 4 weeks after the birth
- Confirm the helper's start, or the nursery place between 6 weeks and 3 months after the birth
- Claim the child allowance on your tax return between 6 months and 12 months after the birth
Start from where you are
- What to do, week by week every step in the order it happens, by trimester and after the birth
- Pregnant in Hong Kong as an expat: the first things to do 4 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Maternity and paternity leave in Hong Kong: the notice rules 3 steps, each with its own verified answer
- The 42 days after a birth in Hong Kong: register, passport, visa 4 steps, each with its own verified answer
- Childcare in Hong Kong for expats: helpers and nurseries 3 steps, each with its own verified answer
- The last trimester in Hong Kong: hospital, classes and the car seat question 3 steps, each with its own verified answer
Before any of it
- Hong Kong baby admin, in plain words 16 words you will meet, explained
- The deadlines that actually matter the 6 with a real consequence for missing them
- What it costs to have a baby in Hong Kong what the whole list comes to, new and second-hand
- What to buy for a baby in Hong Kong all 23 things, priced, and which are fine second-hand
- Childcare costs in Hong Kong what each route costs, and who pays for it