We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. With 12 months ILR status, you may then become eligible to register as a British citizen under s4 of the British Nationality Act 1981. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Visa holders will not need to seek additional permission to work or study in the UK. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. Updated guide in English and Cantonese to reflect launch of online passport service from Hong Kong. The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985 from which this new class of British nationality was created. You can download this guide in English or Cantonese. This means having absences from the country of no more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the 5 years. However, when announcing the new visa in July 2020, the Home Secretary pledged discretion would be used when considering “compelling and compassionate” circumstances of children born in Hong Kong after 1997 who are dependants of a British National (Overseas) registered parent applying to come to the UK. You will not need to have a valid BNO passport to make your application, as the Home Office should be able to check your status from records. The UK said it will expand the visa-free access of Hong Kong's BNO passport holders from six months to five years and give them the right to work and study in Britain during that period. Applications can be made for an initial period of 30 months, extendable by a further 30 months, or as a single application for the full 5 years. Under current rules, BNO passport holders can visit the UK for up to six months without a visa. 6183275 You can change your cookie settings at any time. You will have to pass criminal checks, meet the ‘good character’ requirements and also show a commitment to learning English. Fee waiver. Do I Need to Take the Life in the UK Test? The UK’s new Hong Kong BNO visa route is set to open from 31 January 2021. The answer is yes and now and there is a law which came into effect in 2010 which cleared the issue well enough. At $970, a 32-page 10-year BNO passport costs the same as a British passport. “Where a [BNO] passport has been lost, eligibility checks can be made using historical records held by Her Majesty’s Passport Office.” It is said that applications for the BNO scheme can be made from Hong Kong, United Kingdom, or elsewhere. There will be no cap on the number of Hong Kong BNO visas issued. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. Visa holders will be able to access the NHS, having paid the Immigration Health Surcharge. Note that applicants will have the choice to apply and pay for a 30-month visa, and to renew this, and paying the relevant fee, for a further 30 months. How to apply for a BNO passport . These have been used to prevent both Chinese dissidents and foreigners … Visa holders will have access to the job market at any skill level and without salary threshold, and can be self-employed. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. China could bring in exit bans on BNO passport holders leaving Hong Kong. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. You must also not have held any other non-British nationality. Use this guide to help you apply for a British National Overseas (BNO) passport from Hong Kong. Applications can be made from within the UK or outside. Return to footnote * referrer. British Connections can help you renew your BNO passport or offer consultations to check your entitlement status to obtain British Citizenship. Likewise, those born after 1997 are not eligible for BNO status, nor is it not possible to apply for BNO status or for BNO citizens to pass their status on to their children. Read more about our accessible documents policy. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. version of this document in a more accessible format, please email, How to apply for a BNO passport from Hong Kong (Cantonese), How to apply for a BNO passport from Hong Kong (English), Applying for a passport from outside the UK: application form, Applying for a passport from outside the UK: how to fill in the application form, British National (Overseas) citizens in Hong Kong, Applying for a passport from outside the UK - payment instruction form, Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases. BNO visa holders will not be able to access public funds such as housing benefits when in the UK. For support with your UK visa application, contact us. British National (Overseas), abbreviated BN(O), is a class of British nationality that was granted by voluntary registration to Hong Kong residents who had been British Dependent Territories citizens before the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. Tier 1 Investor Visa (Application Guidance). Should you be absent fro the UK for more than 2 years, your ILR status will likely expire. Applicants will need to prove their identity using any applicable nationality passport. A larger 48-page BNO passport costs $1,150. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. DavidsonMorris Ltd t/a DavidsonMorris Solicitors is a company Registered in England & Wales No. Visa holders’ dependent children can attend state school. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Telegraph - The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK A survey has found that 93 per cent of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders in Hong Kong intend to emigrate to the UK within three years, as Britain begins a passport visa scheme next month. Holders of BN(O) passports are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Dependent Territories citizensuntil 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s. From 31 January 2021, BN(O) passport holders can a… Applicants can bring their immediate dependants, including non-BNO citizens. Children over the age of 18 are ordinarily not classed as dependants under the UK immigration rules. 542691 Immediate dependants can include a spouse who doesn’t hold a BNO passport or children under the age of 18. Get the DM Business Newsletter & Invitations to our Events. Non-BNO family members, however, are expected to have to naturalise as a British citizen, a different process to registration which is also more expensive at £1,349.20. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. Supporting documents will need to be digitally uploaded, including proof of identity (such as a valid passport), proof of Hong Kong residence, evidence that you can financially support yourself and any dependants applying with you, and proof of passing the TB test. The UK’s special visa for BNO passport holders. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You’ve accepted all cookies. The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985, from which this new class of British nationality was created. There is no application requirement to be sponsored, have certain skills or to have a job. By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Visa holders will pay national insurance and income tax. Applicants must also pay all relevant visa and immigration fees including the Immigration Health Surcharge. We are aware this publication may have accessibility issues. Indefinite Leave To Remain | How To Apply, Indefinite Leave to Remain Premium Service FAQs, UK Visa Processing Times (Latest from UKVI). For a 5-year visa, this will equate to £3,120 per adult and £2,350 for applicants under 18 years of age. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. To be eligible for the Hong Kong BNO visa, applicants must hold ordinarily be resident in Hong Kong and hold BNO status. With ILR, you are no longer subject to immigration control and can remain in the UK indefinitely. An estimated 2.9 million people are eligible for a BNO passport, said the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. The move would allow 350,000 BNO holders 12 months of visa-free access to the UK and extend the eligibility for a BNO passport to around 2.5 million people in Hong Kong. Those with BNO status can apply for and hold a British passport but are not entitled to full UK citizenship rights. Published 25 August 2015 Last updated 15 July 2020 — see all updates No – apart from as BNO household dependants. After 5 years in the UK under the Hong Kong BNO visa, holders can become eligible for UK indefinite leave to remain. You will not need to have a valid BNO passport to make your application, as the Home Office should be able to check your status from records. After 12 months with ILR, they can become eligible for British citizenship. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Together, this means such children born after 1997 would not qualify under the new route. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. These give discretionary powers to UK border officials to allow entry at the UK border to BNO citizens who are otherwise ineligible under the UK immigration rules, and their accompanying dependants, for a period of 6 months. Hong Kong residents renewed or applied for British National (Overseas) passports in record numbers last year as anti-government protests erupted in … The UK Government has also advised that Hong Kong BNO citizens wishing to come to the UK prior to the route opening will be able to do so, either under existing visa routes (for example, as a visitor for up to six months) or under special ‘Leave Outside the Rules‘ provisions. You could register for a BN (O) passport right up until June 30, 1997. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Those who are not given a discretionary visa under these requirements may instead consider alternative routes under the UK immigration rules, such as: Specific details of the application process, processing times and processing fees are yet to be published, but we do know most Hong Kong BNO visa applications are to be made online, and that they can be submitted from within the UK or overseas. These cookies do not store any personal information. The ILR application requires applicants to show continuous residence in the UK during the qualifying 5-year period. Hongkongers could register for a BN (O) passport until June 30, 1997. On eligibility: QUESTION: Is there any update on the eligibility for non-BNOs who were born in Hong Kong before 1997? Use this guide to help you apply for a British National Overseas (BNO) passport from Hong Kong. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Currently there are 350,000 BNO passport holders, but about three million Hong Kong residents are eligible for BNO passports - and that doesn't appear to include dependants born after 1997. The passports are run on a full cost-recovery basis, according to the British consulate. Aimed at British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) citizens ordinarily resident in Hong Kong and their immediate family members, holders will be allowed to move to the UK to live, work and study, and in time become eligible to register as British citizens. To be eligible for the Hong Kong BNO visa, applicants must hold ordinarily be resident in Hong Kong and hold BNO status. If granted Leave Outside the Rules at the border, you should switch to the Hong Kong BNO visa from within the UK once the route opens. There will be no skills or minimum income requirements applicable to this route. Each applicant will also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the time of making the application, to cover the relevant visa period (30 months or 5 years). The BNO identity document … Collection of Passport for Application Submitted by Post or via Drop-In Box For persons aged 16 or above Upon receiving a passport application, the Immigration Department will mail the applicant a Collection Notice indicating the date and office for collection of the passport. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. Or applicants may opt to apply and pay for a single 5-year visa, which the Home Office states will be a cheaper option overall that applying for two, 30-month visas. The Hong Kong government’s Information Services Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Cost will always be an issue but this once off cost will last you for 10 years. DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. the United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas), as a person born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong. Currently, BNO passport holders must apply for a work visa from Hong Kong. This being the Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981. The guide gives you information on: Read this guidance and then apply for a BNO passport from Hong Kong. BNO holders in Hong Kong were granted special status in the 1980s but currently have restricted rights. After the handover on July 1, 1997, permanent Hong Kong residents who were also Chinese nationals became eligible for … Hong Kong is not a Commonwealth country but "former residents of Hong Kong who hold a British Dependent Territories, British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas passport qualify for … A 32-page five-year child’s passport costs $630. After 5 years in the UK under the Hong Kong BNO visa, holders become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Biometrics will need to be submitted by non-BNO visa and non-visa national dependants. The UK government recently announced that it would provide a ‘pathway to citizenship’ for BNO passport holders in Hong Kong if China goes ahead with its plans to implement a controversial new security law in the territory.. BNO Passport. Applicants do not need to have a BNO passport to be eligible for the Hong Kong BNO visa. In conjunction with an "in-country" switch provision, BNO passport holders wishing to apply for a work visa will benefit from the relaxed requirements under the new Points-based System to be introduced from 1 January 2021. 22 June 2020. The Immigration Health Surcharge has increased to £624 per visa holder per year, with a reduced rate for children. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You will also have to pass a TB test from a Home Office approved clinic. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. British National Overseas Under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997, there are provisions for people to make an application to register as a British Citizen. Applications should be submitted together as a family unit. This requires you to complete Form B(OTA) and pay the registration fee of £1,225.20. Tracey Brown September 9, 2014 BNO Renewal The question has been asked many times if the holder of a BNO can obtain British citizenship. A survey has found that 93 per cent of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders in Hong Kong intend to emigrate to the UK within three years, as Britain begins a passport … BNO citizens will need to support themselves in the UK financially for at least six months, and also provide their own accommodation. Registered Office: Level 30, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4AB, Branding, Digital & Website by Rokman Laing. Under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997, as a BNO you may be able to register as a British citizen if you held British nationality either on or after 3 February 1997, you meet the Hong Kong residency requirement and satisfy the good character test. Hong Kong has over 300,000 BNO passport holders who already have the right to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa. In this guide, we look at what the new route is and who is eligible. However, for example, if the BNO passport was confiscated because it is fake or obtained by deception, then the wife would also NOT be eligible unless she had her own BNO. The group … However, expired passports should be kept and submitted as part of the application process. Our experienced lawyers are on hand to advise on your UK visa options and to guide you through the Home Office application process. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Hong Kong residents born after the 1997 handover are not eligible for the BNO passport - and those who did not apply for one before the handover are not allowed to do so now. But in response to the new National Security Law in Hong Kong, the UK Government has confirmed the new route is being created to extend the existing rights of BNO citizens to settle in the UK through visa eligibility criteria that are notably more lenient than those of other UK immigration routes. BNO status is a type of British nationality which was created specifically for citizens of Hong Kong in anticipation of the return of sovereignty to China, to allow them to retain a level of connection the UK after 1 July 1997. More than 350,000 people have BNO passports, says the British government, which also estimates that there are 2.9 million who are eligible for BNO status in Hong Kong. There are currently around 300,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong and a further 2.5 to 2.7 million people are eligible to apply for one. Besides, over 2.9 million people are eligible for a BNO passport, as per the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. Applicants will not need to have found a job to be eligible – they can look for work once in the UK. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these. Individuals with this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British citizens. Around 300,000 people currently hold a BNO passport, while an estimated 2.9 million people are eligible for it, according to the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. Announcing preliminary details to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Raab said that BNO passport holders and their dependents in Hong Kong … It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. We have substantial experience helping clients from Hong Kong secure UK visas. As of January 2021, the UK will allow individuals living in Hong Kong with rights to a BNO passport and their immediate dependants to apply for a special UK visa. 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