BN(O) Status Holder Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa, an individual must hold British National (Overseas) status under the provisions of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986.

British Dependent Territories citizens with ties to Hong Kong were required to register as British Nationals (Overseas) before the 1997 handover. No individual born after 30 June 1997 can acquire BN(O) status, as this nationality cannot be transferred by descent to children.

BN(O) status is rarely revoked but may be lost under specific conditions. For instance, if an individual registered as a BN(O) before 1 July 1997 but ceased to be a British Dependent Territories citizen whether by renunciation or deprivation this would automatically result in the loss of BN(O) status in accordance with section 4(3) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. It is also possible to renounce BN(O) status voluntarily, though this step should be considered carefully.

Applicants may use either a valid or expired BN(O) passport as proof of BN(O) status when applying for a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa. If the passport is lost, historical records maintained by Her Majesty’s Passport Office can be used to verify eligibility.

Additionally, it is permissible to submit an application using a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport. If the applicant does not possess a valid BN(O) passport and their visa is approved, they can travel using a valid HKSAR passport.

Hong Kong BN(O) Visa – Ordinary Residency Criteria

Applicants for the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa may submit their applications either from within the United Kingdom or from overseas.

For those applying from outside the UK, it is generally mandatory to demonstrate that you are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong on the date of submission.

If you are applying to switch into the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa route while already in the UK, you must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong, the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man at the time of application.

When assessing ordinary residence, the Home Office evaluates whether you have established a habitual and regular pattern of life in a specific location, maintained consistently apart from temporary or occasional absences, and whether your residence is voluntary, purposeful, and intended to continue.
Link And Day Lawyers can guide you on the appropriate documentation and evidence required to establish ordinary residency based on your personal circumstances.

Hong Kong BN(O) Visa – Financial Eligibility Criteria

When applying for a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa from outside the UK, you must satisfy the Home Office that you possess sufficient financial resources to maintain and accommodate yourself (and any dependants) for a minimum period of 6 months, without relying on public funds.

If applying to switch into this visa route from within the UK, you will also be required to demonstrate adequate financial means for at least 6 months.
However, this requirement is automatically considered fulfilled if you have already resided in the UK for at least 12 months.

The Immigration Rules outline multiple ways in which this financial threshold can be met, including the reliance on credible undertakings of third-party financial support, if applicable.

Adequate Maintenance Formula:
To assess financial sufficiency, the projected weekly income (“A”), minus weekly housing costs (“B”), must be equal to or exceed the amount that would be available to the family if they were receiving income support (“C”).
Thus, A – B ≥ C.
For applicants relying on cash savings, the total savings must be divided by the number of weeks for which leave would be granted to ensure compliance with the formula.

Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa – In-Country Tuberculosis (TB) Test Requirement

A valid Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate is mandatory under the following circumstances:

• You are currently in the UK and seeking to switch to the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa route from within the country;

• Your most recent permission to enter or remain in the UK was for 6 months or less; and

• Prior to your last grant of permission, you resided for more than 6 months in a country listed in Appendix T of the UK Immigration Rules.

If these conditions apply, your TB test certificate must:

• Be obtained from a UK Home Office-approved test centre, and

• Have been issued within the last 6 months.

The in-country TB requirement will also be considered satisfied if you have already submitted a valid, approved TB test certificate with a successful visa application within the previous 12 months.

Duration of the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa

Upon approval, the Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa allows the holder to enter or remain in the UK for either:

• 30 months, or

• 5 years,
  depending on the duration of leave you apply for.

Key Conditions of the BN(O) Status Holder Visa

Holders of the BN(O) Status Holder Visa are entitled to:

• Work in the UK without restriction, including employment, self-employment, and voluntary work, provided they meet UK employment standards and possess the necessary skills and qualifications.
  
  
• Dependent children can attend state schools (if under 18) or pursue further education or training (for those aged 16–19).

Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Application Fees

The Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa is among the most cost-effective UK visa pathways. The application fee for a 30-month BN(O) visa is £180 per applicant, whereas a five-year BN(O) visa costs £250 per applicant. These fees are significantly lower compared to many other visa categories for entry into the UK.

In addition to the application fee, BN(O) citizens must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Applicants are also required to prove financial self-sufficiency, demonstrating they can adequately support themselves and any dependents for at least six months after arriving in the UK.

UK Settlement via the Hong Kong BN(O) Route

BN(O) visa holders can qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after completing five consecutive years of lawful residence in the UK.

Time spent under another visa category that leads to settlement may be combined with BN(O) visa residence to meet the five-year requirement. Applicants must also ensure that absences from the UK do not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period during the qualifying residence period.

For those under 65 years of age, passing the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) test is mandatory before settlement can be granted.

British Citizenship for BN(O) Holders

Once settled status has been held for 12 months, Hong Kong BN(O) citizens can apply to become British citizens. Eligible applicants may register as British under Section 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981, while adult dependents can apply for naturalisation.

Applicants must adhere to strict residency rules, including:

• No more than 450 days spent outside the UK during the five years preceding the application.

• No more than 90 days outside the UK within the final 12 months before applying.

Family Members and Dependents

Holders of a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa may include or later bring:

• A Dependent Partner (spouse or unmarried partner).

• Dependent children or grandchildren under 18 years of age (of the BN(O) holder or their partner).

• In exceptional circumstances, adult dependent relatives may also be considered.

There are no nationality restrictions for eligible family members applying as dependents under the BN(O) visa route.

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