BNO Visa for Hong Kong British Nationals- Eligibility, Documents & Application 

The BN(O) route for Hong Kong British Nationals allows BN(O) status holders and certain family members (dependent partner, dependent child, and other adult dependent relative) to live, work, and study in the UK. The BNO visa allows people to apply for settlement after 5 years, and after a further year, British citizenship. 

The BN(O) Status Holder and the BN(O) Household Member are the 2 routes under the Hong Kong BN(O) route in the rules. Applicants can apply for permission for either 30 months or 5 years. Those granted entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here can work in almost any job and study in the UK. They will not generally be able to access public funds.

Who can apply?

One can apply for a BNO visa if they are one of the following:

A BN (O) or the child of a BN (O) aged 18 or over (and born after 30 June 1997), and their dependents. 

A dependent can include:

• husband, wife, civil/unmarried partner

• child or grandchild aged under 18

• partner’s child aged under 18

• parent, grandparent, other adult dependent relatives (brother, sister, son, or daughter) 

Children aged over 18 can still apply if:

• They are the BN (O)'s own child - they must apply for a BNO visa on their own, separately from their parent's BN (O) visa application  

• They’re the child of the BN (O)'s partner – they can apply as the BN (O)'s dependant if they were born after 30 June 1997 (their partner or child is also eligible)

Those applying from outside the UK must have their permanent home in Hong Kong, while those applying in the UK must have their permanent home in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Hong Kong.

Financial requirements

When a person applies to obtain entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here, and they have been, on the date of application, living in the UK for less than 12 months, they will have to show they have enough money to support and accommodate themselves and their family in the UK without recourse to public funds for 6 months or more.

This can include:

• Income and savings of the applicant as well as their family member

• The money the applicant will earn in their current job in the UK

• The money the applicant will earn if they are transferring to a job in the UK with their current employer

• A credible promise of future third party, for example, family or friends

In order to meet the housing cost, the applicant will need at least the same amount as a person would get on Income Support in the UK.

How much money would be required for it depends on how many family members are applying with the main applicant. For example, the applicant will need about:

• £2,000 for a single adult

• £3,100 for a couple plus 1 child

• £4,600 for a couple plus 3 children

• £9,200 for a couple plus 2 parents and 2 adult (aged 18 or over) children

Applying for the first time BNO visa from inside the UK

Applying for a Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route from inside the UK

Those who are in the UK on a UK visitor visa or are on a different UK visa, and want to switch to a BNO visa, or who have made an asylum application, can apply for a BNO visa from within the UK.

They will need to apply online.

Those with an outstanding asylum application should only withdraw it after they have submitted their BNO visa application.

Those having already withdrawn their asylum application must submit their BNO application as soon as possible. Their application for a BNO visa may be refused if they submit it more than one month after they withdraw their asylum application.

The applicant is, as part of the BNO visa application process, required to provide proof of their identity. Depending on the type of their passport, they will either use an official UK government smartphone application ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app to scan their BNO, EEA, or HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) passport, or enrol their biometrics (fingerprints and facial photo) at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) service point in the UK.

Each applicant applying for a British National (Overseas) visa, or to apply to switch to this visa will need to pay a visa application fee which is:

• £193 if the applicant is applying for 30 months

• £268 if the applicant is applying for 5 years

Similarly, each applicant applying for a British National (Overseas) visa, or to apply to switch to this visa will need to pay the healthcare surcharge which is;

£1,035 per year per applicant aged 18 or over

£776 per year per applicant under 18

Applying for a Hong Kong BN (O) route from outside the UK

The applicant must apply online. 

The applicant is, as part of the BNO visa application process, required to provide proof of their identity. Depending on the type of their passport, they will either use an official UK government smartphone application ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ to scan their BNO, EEA, or HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) passport, or enrol their biometrics (fingerprints and facial photo) at a VAC (Visa and Application) centre.

Applying with family

Each family member will need to make their own application as a dependent of the lead applicant.

The lead applicant will have to submit their application first to get a GWF (Global Web Form) or a UAN (Unique Application Number).

The family members, at the time of their application, will need to use the lead applicant’s application number.

Those applying as the first person in their family can also get a ‘family linking code’ to connect their application and their family member (s)’ applications. The family members can enter the same code when they apply.

Partners (spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner), children aged under 18, and adult dependent relatives

Partners, children aged under 1,8 and adult dependent relatives do not have to apply for a BNO visa at the same time as the lead applicant. However, the lead applicant’s BNO visa must still be valid when they apply.

Other family members

Other family members must apply for their BNO visa within 2 days of the lead applicant’s application.

Documents required

The applicant applying for their BNO visa will have to submit a valid passport or other travel document, for example, a Home Office travel document showing their identity and nationality.

BN (O)s can use a current or expired BNO passport (or its photocopy) to prove their BNO status.

The UKVI will check the BN (O) status of those who no longer hold a BN (O) passport. 

However, in order to travel to the UK, the applicant does not need to hold a BN (O) passport. They can instead use any valid passport or valid travel document.

The applicant will also have to provide documentary evidence showing:

• they live in Hong Kong, the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands  

• They have enough funds to house and support themselves and their family, for example, bank or savings account statements payslips

• their relationship with family members, for example, a copy of a marriage/civil partnership certificate

• their TB (Tuberculosis) test certificate (no older than 6 months) - where required

Applying for a BNO visa as the adult child of a British national (overseas)

If a person is applying as the child of a British national (overseas) aged 18 or older (and born after 30 June 1997), they will also have to prove that one of their parents has BNO status.

They will need to submit:

• Their parent’s current or expired passport (or its photocopy)

• A birth/adoption certificate that proves their relationship

If the applicant’s parent does not have a BNO passport or the applicant is unable to get the details, they should provide their parent’s full name and date of birth in their BNO visa application. The UKVI will then check their parent’s BNO status.

Proof of home address

The applicant will have to provide up to 3 documents showing their home address. This can include:

• household or utility (such as Electricity or Gas) bills

• a valid visa, residence permit, or other official immigration document (or a colour copy of it)

• recent payslips or most recent P60 (an official UK tax document)

• bank statements

• an official letter written by an employer confirming their employment

• records of rent payment (such as rent receipts from the landlord or agent) or mortgage payments (such as bank statements showing mortgage payments)

• an appointment letter from their GP (General Practitioner) or other healthcare professional

• an official letter issued by the local council or a government

The lead applicant’s family members (‘dependants’) will have to submit evidence that their home address is the same as the lead applicant's, unless:

• They are the lead applicant’s partner, child aged under 18, or adult dependent relative; and

• They are applying after the lead applicant has already moved to the UK

Waiting for a decision

The applicant will usually get a decision within 12 weeks of their application date.

Those who applied using the online app ‘UK Immigration: ID check’, the 12 weeks start from the date they submitted their online application.

On the other hand, those who went to a VAC or a UKVCAS service point, the 12 weeks start from the date they attended their appointment and enrolled their fingerprints.

A BNO visa application may take longer to process if:

• The UKVI needs to verify the applicant’s supporting documents, or if the UKVI needs the applicant to provide more evidence

• The applicant needs to attend an interview

• The applicant does not have a valid TB certificate

• The applicant has a criminal conviction for an offence recognised in the UK

Those applying with a family member

The applicant and their family members might get their decisions at different times.

Getting a decision

The applicant who has applied for a BNO visa will get a letter or an email containing the decision on their application. 

Successful applicants (including family members) can stay for either 30 months or 5 years, depending on which of these two visa periods they applied for. 

Those who applied from outside the UK and got their application approved must travel to the UK before their visa expires.

Children aged under 18 must travel with their parent (s), unless they are joining their parents who are already in the UK.

If the lead applicant’s application is unsuccessful, their family members’ applications will also be refused. 

In case the lead applicant’s application (made from outside the UK) is approved but their family member’s is not, the lead applicant can still come to the UK.

Those who applied from within the UK may be able to stay in the UK for up to 12 months if they were not able to prove that they:

• have enough funds to maintain themselves and their family in the UK

• have a permanent home in the UK, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands

Such a person’s decision letter will say if they are allowed to do this. They will be able to apply for a BNO visa again.

How can Visa and Migration help?

We are specialists in UK immigration matters. We provide you with expert application support services for the BNO visa for yourself and your dependent family members, including complete guidance on how to meet the eligibility criteria, coordinate multiple BNO visa applications for different family members, and extend BNO status or apply for settlement or ILR.

For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com