The British Nationals (Overseas) status is a type of British nationality that is intended for those who are originally from Hong Kong who want to retain their British citizenship and ties to the United Kingdom. China was granted sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 as a result of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
 
You can apply for a BN(O) Visa if you are a British National (overseas) and are 18 years of age or older at the date of application. Your permanent home must be:

• in Hong Kong, if you’re applying from outside the UK. You’ll need to provide up to 3 documents that show your permanent home address, such as:
  • records of rent or mortgage payments
  • household or utility bills
  • a visa, residence permit, or other immigration documents (or a colour photocopy)
  • payslips
  • a letter from an employer confirming your employment

Your family members (‘dependants’) will need to provide evidence that their permanent home address is the same as yours.

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

You can:

• work in the UK as an employed or self-employed person
• study (including at school, college, or university)
• 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.
• bring certain dependant family members with you. A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
  • your partner or spouse
  • your child or grandchild under 18
  • child 18 or older, if they were born on or after 1 July 1997 (and their partner or child under 18), however they must normally live with you, unless they’re living away from home to study.
  • parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they live with you and are very dependent on you for their care

You cannot:

• work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
• get public funds

Eligibility

When you apply, you’ll need to provide a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality.

In the event that you hold British national (overseas) (BNO) status, presenting a valid or expired BNO passport (or a duplicate) suffices to indicate your status during the application process. However, even if you no longer possess a BNO passport, you can still proceed with the application. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that the Home Office will conduct a verification process to validate your status, potentially resulting in increased processing time for a decision on your application.

You’ll also need to provide evidence:

• that you have a permanent home in Hong Kong, the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
• that you have enough money to support yourself and your family
• of your relationship with family members

Maintenance Funds

How much you need depends on how many family members are applying with you. For example, you’ll need about:

• £2,000 for a single adult
• £3,100 for a couple with a child
• £4,600 for a couple with 3 children
• £9,200 for a couple, 2 parents and 2 adult children

You must also:

• Provide your tuberculosis test results if you reside in a country where you have to take the test before applying for a UK visa.

How long you can stay

You can apply for either a 30-month visa, or a 5-year visa. After 5 years of lawful residency in the UK on this route, you can apply to settle permanently in the UK. You cannot have had more than 180 days’ absence from the United Kingdom during any consecutive 12 months of the qualifying period prior to making an application for indefinite leave to remain. You must have indefinite leave to remain for at least 12 months before making an application for British Citizenship unless you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen, in which case you can apply as soon as you are granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The breakdown of fees for the visa is as follows:

• Visa Application Fee – £180 if you are applying for a 30-month visa, or £250 if you are applying for a 5-year visa.
• Immigration Health Surcharge – £624 per annum for adults, and £470 per annum for children under 18 for the duration of the visa. The IHS fee must be paid in full when you submit an application.