Pregnant in Hong Kong as an expat: the first things to do
Two things decide the shape of the whole pregnancy and both happen in the first weeks: whether you hold a Hong Kong ID card yet, which sets what the public system charges you, and what your employer's medical plan pays. Book the first antenatal visit with the Hospital Authority, read the policy, and then choose public or private. Checked 22 September 2026.
Book your first antenatal visit with the Hospital Authority
Since 6 July 2026 the first antenatal visit in the public system is booked with a Hospital Authority obstetrics department rather than at a Maternal and Child Health Centre: use the BookHA function in the HA Go app, or apply in person at the hospital. Go with a positive test and, if you have one, a private doctor's letter confirming the pregnancy. Checked against info.gov.hk on 21 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 8 and week 10 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · info.gov.hk
Decide public or private, and find out what your cover pays
For an eligible person a public birth is close to free; the fees are set per day in the ward. For a non-eligible person the public obstetric package is a flat HK$74,000 if you booked and had your antenatal checks with the hospital, and HK$130,000 if you turn up unbooked. Checked against ha.org.hk on 21 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 9 and week 12 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · ha.org.hk
The scans and screening
Since the antenatal service moved to the Hospital Authority on 6 July 2026, the scans and screening are arranged by the hospital obstetrics department that took your booking, not by a Maternal and Child Health Centre. The pattern is the same either way: a dating scan at the first visit, Down syndrome screening between 11 and 13 weeks (a nuchal translucency scan with a blood test, with the NIPT blood test available privately as a more accurate paid option), and a structural scan of the baby's organs at 18 to 22 weeks. Checked against info.gov.hk on 22 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 11 and week 21 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · info.gov.hk
Confirm the hospital booking and pay the deposit
Private hospitals want the booking confirmed and a deposit paid months ahead, and the popular obstetricians deliver at only one or two of them. In the public system, having done your antenatal checks with the hospital is what makes you a 'booked' case, which for a non-eligible person is the difference between HK$74,000 and HK$130,000. Checked against ha.org.hk on 21 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 22 and week 24 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · ha.org.hk
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