British National
(overseas) visa

You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re 18 or older and either:

• A British National (Overseas).
• The child of a British National (Overseas) born on or after 1 July 1997.

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.

Your family members can apply for a BNO visa if they are eligible. 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 live with you and they’re highly dependent on you because of illness, disability or their age.

Children over 18 can also apply in the following circumstances:

• If you are a BNO and your own child over 18 wishes to apply, they must make their own application for a BNO visa separately from you.
• Your partner’s child aged over 18 can apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997 (their partner or child is also eligible).

note:

A separate application must be submitted for each family member.

Partners and children under 18 do not have to apply at the same time as you, but your visa must still be valid when they apply. Other family members must apply within 2 days of your application. 

When you apply for a BNO visa, you will need to have enough money to:

• Pay the visa application fee – It costs £180 if you are applying for 2 years and 6 months, or £250 if you are applying for 5 years.
• Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – TheIHS costs £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for under-18s.
• Support yourself and your family in the UK – You will need to show that you have enough money to pay for your housing and to support yourself and your family for 6 months, unless you have been living in the UK for at least 12 months. How much you need depends on how many family members are applying with you. For example, you will need about £2,000 as a single adult, and £9,200 as a couple with 2 parents and 2 adult children.

note:

You and your family members will each need to pay the visa application fee and the IHS.

You must apply online for a BNO visa. You can apply from outside or inside the UK.

As part of your online application, you will need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on what type of passport you have. You will need to either:

• Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your passport (if you have a BNO, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) or EEA passport).
• Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

You’ll usually get a decision within 12 weeks of your application date, whether you applied from inside or outside the UK.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision using the Home Office priority services.

When you apply for a BNO visa, you can apply to stay for either:

• 2 years and 6 months.
• 5 years.

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like once you are in the UK. After 5 years’ continuous residency, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).  After you have held ILR for 1 year, you will usually be able to apply for British citizenship.

With a BNO visa, you can:

• Work in most jobs (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach)
• Study (including at school, college or university).

You cannot usually get benefits (public funds), although some exceptions apply.

Since the Hong Kong BNO visa opened for applications in 2021, Smith Stone Walters has helped many individuals and families to secure permission to enter the UK under this route.

To speak to a qualified immigration advisor about your requirements, please contact us today.

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This page is intended for informational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to change and may vary based on your individual circumstances. For up-to-date advice and guidance, please contact Smith Stone Walters.