Posted Wednesday 18th February 2026
The Home Office has this month announced the expansion of the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa route, allowing adult children of BNO status holders to apply for the visa in their own right. Applicants must have been under the age of 18 at the time of the transfer of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997.
The BNO visa allows eligible individuals to live, work and study in the UK for periods of either 2.6 years or 5 years at a time, with the option to settle after 5 years’ continuous residence. The Home Office has confirmed that the required period for settlement will not change for this visa route, despite ongoing developments in terms of settlement eligibility across the wider immigration landscape.
Applicants are additionally permitted to bring partners and children to the UK under the BNO visa route, who would enjoy the same benefits in terms of work and study options in the UK.
Over 230,000 individuals have been granted BNO visas since the launch of the scheme in 2021, with an estimated further 26,000 individuals expected to benefit from the expansion of the visa over the next 5 years.
The Joelson immigration team offers full management of the process for potential applications, from the initial eligibility assessment through to submission of the application.
This article is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking or deciding not to take any action.
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