BN(O) Visa

The UK government recently announced the introduction of the new Hong Kong BN(O) visa (BN(O) visa).

The BN(O) visa will allow British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O) citizens) and their immediate dependants (even if their immediate dependants are non-BNO citizens) to reside and work or study in the UK, with a pathway to settlement and then citizenship.

Applicants can apply to enter or remain in the UK for an initial period of 30 months, extendable by a further 30 months, or a single period of 5 years. After 5 years, applicants can apply to settle in the UK and after 12 months with this status they can apply for British citizenship.

There is no skills tests or minimum income requirements, economic needs tests or caps on numbers being imposed with the BN(O) visa. Also, those that apply for the visa do not need to have a job before coming to the UK; they can search for job opportunities once they are in the UK.

As of 31 January 2021, the new Hong Kong BN(O) visa route is open to applicants seeking to live, work and study in the UK.

Fees for this visa are significantly lower than other visa routes, costing £250 per person for five years or £180 per person for 30 months. Applicants will also need to consider the Immigration Health Surcharge for themselves and any dependants.

Dependants

BN(O) citizens and their immediate dependants can apply for the BN(O) visa. Immediate dependants are spouses or partners and children under 18. Immediate dependants do not need to have BN(O) status themselves to be eligible. In compelling and compassionate circumstances, children over 18, born after 1 July 1997 to a BN(O) registered parent who are still dependant, will be able to apply as dependants if they apply for the visa with their family as a unit.

However, dependant grandparents or other relatives will not be eligible if they are not BN(O) citizens in their own right. In exceptional circumstances, where other adult dependants are highly dependent on a BN(O) citizen, these dependants may also be eligible at the discretion of the UK Government on a case by case basis.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this visa route applicants need to show that they:

have BN(O) status – a valid BN(O) passport is not needed to show this and a new BN(O) passport does not need to be requested if it’s expired or has been lost;
normally live in Hong Kong;
can accommodate and support themselves financially in the UK for at least 6 months;
show a commitment to learn English, where appropriate;
get a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate from a clinic approved by the Home Office;
pay a fee for the visa and the immigration health surcharge; and
have no serious criminal convictions, have not otherwise engaged in behaviour which the UK Government deems not conducive to the public good, and not be subject to other general grounds for refusal set out in the Immigration Rules.

Entitlements

Access to education including:

schooling for under 18 child dependants;
education and training for young people aged 16-19; and
the ability to apply for higher education courses.

Access to the National Health Service (NHS) (which is healthcare free at the point of use on the same terms as British residents), contingent on payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge.

It should be noted that BN(O) citizens and their dependants who successfully apply will not have access to social welfare benefits, such as unemployment and housing benefit, and will be responsible for their own accommodation and maintenance. They must also pay taxes and national insurance in the UK on earnings.

For more information please contact Jennifer Maxwell-Harris on Jennifer.mh@joelsonlaw.com or Reema Jethwa on reema.j@joelsonlaw.com

BN(O) Visa

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