Information for arrivals from Hong Kong on the British National…
BNO Visa Launched
British National (Overseas) visa
Contents
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. This is known as a BNO visa. It allows you to live, work and study in the UK.
Who can apply
You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re:
- a British national (overseas)
- 18 or older
Your permanent home must be:
- in Hong Kong, if you’re applying from outside the UK
- in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or Hong Kong, if you’re applying in the UK
Your family members
A dependant can include your:
- husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- child or grandchild under 18
- child 18 or older, born on or after 1 July 1997 (and their partner or child under 18)
- parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they live with you and are very dependent on you for their care
Your family members must apply at the same time as you. They cannot apply after you get a decision about your visa application.
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 if you want to stay longer. You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you want.
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 apply for most benefits (public funds).
Living permanently in the UK
You can apply to settle in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years on a BNO visa. This means you can stay in the UK without any time limits.
If you’ve already spent time in the UK on a different visa this may count towards the 5 years. Time spent on a Student visa (previously called a Tier 4 (General) student visa) or a Youth Mobility Scheme visa (T5) will not count.
To apply to settle in the UK, you’ll need to:
- meet the knowledge of English requirements
- pass the Life in the UK Test
- have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months in the last 5 years
- pay an application fee
Becoming a British citizen
One year after you settle in the UK (have ‘indefinite leave to remain’), you’ll usually be able to apply for British Citizenship.