The Hong Kong - British National (Overseas) visa
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This page has been created to give guidance for The Hong Kong - British National (Overseas) visa
Please ensure you have carefully read the guidance provided for your situation BEFORE you contact Student Immigration.
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.
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.
You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re:
- a British national (overseas) and are 18 or older
- 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
Family members who normally live with a BN(O) status holder may also be able to apply.
This includes:
- a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
- children (under the age of 18)
- adult children born on or after 1 July 1997 (and their spouse, or child under the age of 18)
- other family members (parents, grandparents, brother, sister, son or daughter) in exceptional circumstances where there is a high level of dependency
Children under 18 must intend to live with their parents during their stay in the UK, unless there is a good reason why they cannot.
(If you’re not eligible to enter the UK under an existing immigration route - See details below "leave outside rules" )
You can:
- work (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach)
- study (including at school, college or university)
You cannot usually apply for most benefits (public funds).
Once you have a BNO visa, you might be able to apply for 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
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.
After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.
Applying from outside the UK
You must apply online for a British National (Overseas) visa.
Your permanent home must be in Hong Kong.
Before you apply, you can check:
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.
Apply online
As part of your online application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on what type of passport you have.
You’ll either:
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your BNO, HKSAR or EEA passport - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
- go to an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and a photo - this is to get a biometric residence permit
You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.
If you need to go to an appointment:
- the centre may have to keep your passport and documents while they process your application
- you may need to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)
If you use a valid BNO or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport to prove your identity, you do not need to travel to the UK using the same passport.
Use this Link to start the applicationLink opens in a new window
Applying in the UK
You must apply online for a British National (Overseas) visa.
Your permanent home must be in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong.
Before you apply, you can check:
Switch to a BNO visa
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to switch to a BNO visa if you’re already in the UK on a different UK visa.
Your family members will usually need to apply at the same time as you. Check how to apply with your family.
Apply online
As part of your online application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on what type of passport you have.
You’ll either:
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your BNO, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) or EEA passport - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
- go to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to give your fingerprints and a photo - this is to get a biometric residence permit
You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.
Use this Link to start the applicationLink opens in a new window
Please click on the following links for more information
UK Government:
Other contacts: