Replace a lost ID card immediately; get a temporary one if you need it urgently
Grade ASmall benefitMoneyLow costLittle timeNo willpower
For standard replacements, the new ID card is issued within 60 days of submitting the application. If you need it right away, you can also request a temporary ID card on the spot; it is issued within 3 days and is valid for 3 months. Without an ID card, you cannot apply for jobs, rent accommodation, open bank accounts, or claim benefits — it is a prerequisite for all such procedures.
- Cost
- There is a fee for issuing the ID card. This is a legally mandated charge set by the state; the exact amount is posted locally. You must apply at the police station in your area of permanent residence — just one visit is required.
- Benefit
- Once you submit the application form for a resident ID card, authorities must issue the card within 60 days. During this period, if you urgently need identification, you may apply for a temporary resident ID card, which is issued within 3 days and remains valid for 3 months nationwide.
- Notes
- Without an ID card, it is impossible to secure employment, rent housing, open bank accounts, or receive benefits — it is a mandatory prerequisite for all such actions. The ID Card Law was amended in 2011; the text cited here is the version published in 2003, and current provisions apply. Whether applications can be submitted outside your home region depends on local police regulations.
Sources · 2
- 全国人大常委会 (2003). 居民身份证法（主席令第四号，第十二、二十条）. gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62254.htm
- 公安部 (2005). 临时居民身份证管理办法（公安部令第 78 号，第二、七、九、十二、十七条）. gov.cn/zhengce/2021-12/25/content_5712922.htm