UK Hong Kong BNO route visa

Note: As of 30th November 2022 the adult children of HK BNO status holders are now eligible to apply for the BN(O) visa independently of their parent/s.  

The HK BN(O) route is a UK immigration route that was launched on 30th January 2021. There are two pathways under the route: the HK BN(O) status holder route and the HK BN(O) Household member route. If you are granted a visa under either of these routes you can live, study and work in almost any capacity in the UK but you cannot claim public funds.

Eligibility requirements can be found on the UK Government's HK BN(O) visa website where you will also find details about eligibility for family members.  

You can apply to stay for either 2 years and 6 months or 5 years. You can extend the visa as many times as you like.  After you have lived in the UK for 5 years, it may be possible for you to apply to live in the UK permanently.

Healthcare
The visa application is made online and includes mandatory payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS gives the holder standard access to the UK National Health Service although you may still have to pay for some services e.g. prescriptions, cosmetic surgery, dental services and eye tests.

Fees and funding
Having HK BN(O) immigration status, does not automatically enable access to home fees and student funding options. Holders will have to meet standard eligibility requirements - as per the information held on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website here.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
In order to study some postgraduate courses (particularly around Engineering, Science and Technology) you will need to be granted an ATAS certificate before you can start your studies. The application is free and is made online but it can take 4-8 weeks to receive the certificate so please plan ahead. We have comprehensive guidance to help you with your ATAS application.  

The HK BN(O) application is completed online. To start the application process visit the UK Government's HK BN(O) visa pages. 

Wherever possible, your identify will be verified using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ App which you will need to download to your ‘phone or electronic device. This App ‘reads’ the biometric chip embedded inside your BN(O), HKSAR or EU passport. You will be asked to take a selfie photo as part of the process. At the start of the application process you will be prompted to download the App and further information about how to use the App will be given to you on screen as you move through the application process.

Please note: applications made using the App will not be issued with a Biometric Residence Card (BRP). Instead you will be given a digital immigration status that can be viewed and proved online - see the section 'Proving your digital immigration status' below for further information.

If you are not able to verify your ID using the App, you will need to attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). During the appointment your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) will be taken. You book your appointment during the online visa application process and should be aware that it could incur an additional cost. This cost varies, it will be clear how much it is during the process and, if payment is necessary, you will need a debit or credit card in order to book the appointment.

Please note: applications made via a VAC will result in you being issued with a Biometric Residence Card (BRP) which you will collect once you arrive in the UK.

Please see the Fees and Documents section below for further information around evidence required. 

Can I switch into the HK BN(O) route?

Yes, if you meet the HK BN(O) eligibility requirements, you can switch into the HK BN(O) route from within the UK. Any family members will need to apply at the same time.

You can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa from inside the UK if:

• you’re in the UK as a visitor
• you’re in the UK on a different visa and want to switch to a BNO visa
• you’ve made an asylum claim

Application process

The HK BN(O) application is completed online. To start the application process visit the UK Government's HK BN(O) visa pages. 

Wherever possible, your identify will be verified using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ App which you will need to download to your ‘phone or electronic device. This App ‘reads’ the biometric chip embedded inside your BN(O), HKSAR or EU passport. You will be asked to take a selfie photo as part of the process. At the start of the application process you will be prompted to download the App and further information about how to use the App will be given to you on screen as you move through the application process.

Please note: applications made using the App will not be issued with a Biometric Residence Card (BRP). Instead you will be given a digital immigration status that can be viewed and proved online - see the section 'Proving your digital immigration status' below for further information.

If you are not able to verify your ID using the App, you will need to attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) point. During the appointment your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) will be taken. You book your appointment at the end of the online application process and should be aware that it could incur an additional cost. This cost varies, it will be clear how much it is during the process and, if payment is necessary, you will need a debit or credit card in order to book the appointment.

Please note: applications made via a VAC will result in you being issued with a Biometric Residence Card (BRP).

Please see the Fees and Documents section below for further information around evidence required.

Everyone must pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the application process are. Some applications may also need to pay an appointment booking fee if attendance at a visa centre is required. All fees will need to be paid by credit or debit card as part of the online application process. Your application will be classed as ‘submitted’ as soon as you have paid both the visa application and the IHS fees - so only pay those once you are happy your application is correct.

The visa application fee for making an HK BN(O) application is the same for both overseas and in UK applications. Costs will vary depending on whether you are applying for a 2.5 or 5 year visa. You can find the most up-to-date application fees and IHS charges on the HK BN(O) visa website. 

You and your family members will each need to pay the healthcare surcharge.

This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. You’ll still need to pay for some NHS care such as prescriptions, dental care and eye tests.

You pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online visa application. You can find the most up-to-date IHS charges here:-  British National (Overseas) visa: How much it costs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Appointment booking fee. If you are unable to use the ‘UK Immigration@ ID Check’ App to verify your identity, you may have to pay to book an appointment to submit your biometrics. Sometimes free appointments are available (in the UK) but you may have to pay £60+ per appointment. The cost will be displayed as part of the application process. You might be able to pay more for a quicker appointment. If this is an option it will be offered as part of the online application process.

Documents

You will need to prepare supporting documents to submit along with your visa application.  The documents you need will depend on your circumstances but might include :

• evidence of your identity e.g. passport
• evidence of your status as a BN(O) status holder or your relationship to a BN(O) family member/s
• evidence of where you live
• proof you have enough money to support yourself and any family members
• TB test certificate (if applicable)

For the most up-to-date guidance on which documents you will need to submit please read the information on the Gov.UK HK BN(O) documents website.  

How long will the application take to process?

UKVI state that you should get a decision within 12 weeks - though you may have to wait longer at peaks times of the year. If you attended an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) as part of the process and are expecting a Biometric Residence permit, these normally take an additional 4-8 weeks after decision to be produced for collection. 

'Dependant' family members

Our family members can apply as your ‘dependant’ if you’re either:

• a British national (overseas)
• aged 18 or older (and born on or after 1 July 1997) and the child of a British national (overseas)

A dependant can include your:

• husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• child or grandchild under 18
• partner’s child under 18
• parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they’re highly dependent on you because of illness, disability or their age

Children over 18 can still apply if you’re a British national (overseas) and:

• they’re your own child - they must make their own application for a BNO visa separately from you
• they’re your partner’s child - they’re eligible to apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997 (their partner or child is also eligible)

Partners

They’ll need to prove one of the following:

• they’re in a civil partnership or marriage with you that’s recognised in the UK
• they’ve been in a relationship with you and you’ve been living together for at least 2 years when they apply
• they’ve been in a relationship with you for at least 2 years when they apply and you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

If you’re not living together, they’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other
• support each other financially
• care for any children you have together
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Children under 18

In most cases, children under 18 need to apply with both parents, unless:

• one parent has sole responsibility for them
• one parent already has a BNO visa
• one parent has the right to live in the UK permanently, for example if they are a British citizen

The child must normally live with you, unless they’re either:

• living away from home to study
• applying after you’ve already moved to the UK

Children 18 or older

If you’re a British national (overseas), your partner’s children aged 18 or older can apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997. They must apply at the same time as you and normally live with you unless they’re living away from home to study.

Adult dependants

Other adult family members (18 or older) can only apply if they’re highly dependent on you. This means they need long-term personal care to do everyday tasks because of illness, disability or their age.

An adult dependent relative includes your or your partner’s:

• parent or grandparent
• brother or sister
• son or daughter

Adult dependent relatives can apply if they can show both of the following:

• they need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or their age, and medical records show this
• they cannot get or afford the care they need in Hong Kong without you - even with your or your partner’s support

If eligible, they can apply as an ‘adult dependent relative’.

How long family members can stay

When you apply for the first time, your family member will need to apply for the same BNO visa as you, for either:

• 2 years and 6 months
• 5 years

When you apply for the second time, you and your family members will be able to extend your visas.

After they’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, your family members can apply to live in the UK permanently.

How to apply with your family

Each family member will need to make their own application as your dependant.

You’ll need to submit your application first to get an application number. This is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN).

Your family members will need to use your application number when they apply.

If you’re the first person in your family to apply, you can also get a ‘family linking code’ to connect your applications together. Your family members can enter the same code when they apply.

Partners, children under 18 and adult dependent relatives

Partners, children under 18 and adult dependent relatives do not have to apply at the same time as you. Your visa must still be valid when they apply.

Other family members

Other family members must apply within 2 days of your application.

If you have technical problems that mean your family members might not be able to apply within 2 days of you, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for help.

Apply online

Your family members can apply for the first time outside the UK or in the UK.

They can also apply to extend their BNO visa or switch to a BNO visa.

If you are granted the HK BN(O) visa and you used the UK Immigration : ID Check App when you submitted your application your visa will be issued in the form is digital immigration status and you will not receive any physical document such as a BRP. You will receive an email telling you that your application has been decided and this will contain instructions about how to access and share your digital immigration status. Read all emails from the Home Office UKVI carefully and keep then in a safe place where you can easily find it in the future.

Proving your immigration status after it is granted

After your immigration has been decided, you will continue to be able to get into your personal UKVI immigration account from where you will view and prove your immigration status.

To log into your immigration account you will need:

• the identity document (passport or BRP) that you used to create the account and make your immigration application
• your date of birth
• access to the mobile phone or email address you used to create the account and make your immigration application

Once  logged into your account you can generate a share code. This code can be shared with employers, the University or anyone else who needs to check your right to work, study or reside in the UK. The code has an expiry date on it but you can generate as many as you need. This code can be entered into the Home Office system by a 3rd party in order to verify your immigration status.

When might I need to provide my status code?

You may be asked to prove your status in the UK in the following situations:

• Enrolling on a course of study
• Accessing the National Health Service
• Applying for a job
• Renting accommodation
• Applying for a bank account or mortgage

If you are applying for a job, it might be worth mentioning that you have been granted permission to live/work/study in the UK under the HK BN(O) Route, and can provide a share code within your job application. This may help to reassure employers that you have the ongoing right to work.

Please note: it is very important that you keep your details, such as your current passport number and contact details up-to-date on your UKVI Immigration Account.  Failure to do so may mean you have difficulty getting back into your account to generate verification codes or you may experience problems when passing through immigration control at the airport.

In order to study some postgraduate courses (particularly around Engineering, Science and Technology) you will need to be granted an ATAS certificate before you can start your studies.

The application is free and is made online but it can take 4-8 weeks to receive so please plan ahead. We have comprehensive guidance to help you with your ATAS application.