UK announces details of new path to citizenship for Hong Kong residents
British National (Overseas) visa

        
  Overview

      
    
        If you’re from Hong Kong and are a British national (overseas) you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa.

If you’re the child of a British national (overseas) aged 18 or older and born on or after 1 July 1997, you can apply separately from your parent. Your family members can also apply with you.

You can apply for the BNO visa from overseas, but you should wait for a decision on your application before you travel to the UK.

Who can apply

You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re 18 or older and either:


  a British national (overseas)
  the child of a British national (overseas) born on or after 1 July 1997


Your permanent home must be:


  in Hong Kong, if you’re applying from outside the UK
  in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong if you’re applying in the UK


Your family members

Your family members can apply for a BNO visa if they’re eligible. They must usually apply at the same time as you, unless they’re one of the following:


  your partner
  your child under the age of 18
  an adult dependent relative


Check if your family members can apply.

How long you can stay

You can apply to stay for either:


  2 years and 6 months
  5 years


You will be able to extend your visa once you’re in the UK if you want to stay longer. You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you want.

After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.

What you can and cannot do

You can:


  work (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach)
  study (including at school, college or university)


You cannot usually get most benefits (public funds).

Once you have a BNO visa, you might be able to get access to benefits. You’ll be eligible for this in certain financial circumstances, for example if you:


  do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
  have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
  are at risk of losing your place to live or being unable to afford essential living costs
  have a very low income, and not having access to benefits would harm your child’s wellbeing


If you do get access to benefits, you can still apply to live in the UK permanently after 5 years.




          


        
  