Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Britain announces new class of visa for Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders

Britain announces new class of visa for Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders

The new visas will allow applicants to live and work in Britain for up to five years, after which they will be eligible to apply to settle in the country.

The British government is set to create a special class of visa next January for Hong Kong holders of BN(O) passports and their close family members as the first step in a new pathway to earning the right of abode in the country and full British citizenship.

There will be no cap on the number of British National (Overseas) passport holders allowed to participate, and applications will open on January 31, 2021, according to a statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

More than one million people from Hong Kong could move to Britain in the next five years under the new visa scheme, including 500,000 in the first year, according to British media reports citing official estimates.


A British National (Overseas) passport.


The new “Hong Kong BN(O) Visa” will allow the holder to enter and remain in Britain for an initial period of 30 months, extendable by a further 30 months, or a single period of five years, according to information on the British government’s website.

“You’ll be able to work and study, but you won’t be able to access public funds such as social welfare benefits,” a statement on the website reads.

Holders can apply to settle in Britain once they have lived there for five years. “After 12 months with this status, you can apply for British citizenship,” the statement says.

To be eligible, the applicant must have BN(O) status and “normally” live in Hong Kong or Britain, and must be able to accommodate and support him or herself financially in the country for at least six months. Those who are already in Britain can also apply locally.

Unmarried partners, spouses or civil partners are also regarded as dependants.

A five-year visa will cost £250 (HK$2,533) per person, while a 30-month visa will be £180 (HK$1,824) per person.

Hongkongers fearing national security law see BN(O) passports as sign of hope


BN(O) passports were issued to Hongkongers born before the 1997 handover, and under current rules, holders can visit Britain for up to six months, though the documents do not automatically allow them to work or live there. There are about 2.9 million Hongkongers eligible for BN(O) status.

In a statement, British Consul-General to Hong Kong Andrew Heyn said: “The imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong marked a clear erosion of the rights and freedoms for the people of this city.

“This new route to the [United Kingdom] is part of our commitment to the people of Hong Kong. The UK is ready to welcome BN(O) citizens and their dependants to the UK.”

In July, the British home secretary, Priti Patel, said China’s imposition of the sweeping, controversial national security law on Hong Kong had breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration – laying out the terms of the city’s 1997 territorial handover – and “could not be ignored”.

Patel said the BN(O) visa changes were a “proportionate response” to the situation, and “very generous”.

Ramon Yuen Hoi-man, from the Democratic Party’s international affairs committee, said he welcomed Britain’s offer, but reminded interested parties to be aware of charges from the National Health Service, which were higher than the visa fees.

UK unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passport holders


Still, Johnny Patterson, policy director of the London-based NGO Hong Kong Watch, said that “following campaigning, the fees announced are considerably lower than what was initially floated”.

He added that his group would now turn to urging the British government to consider creating options for Hongkongers born after the 1997 handover who have been excluded from the BN(O) scheme.

But lawmaker Ben Chan Han-pan, of the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said he thought the new offer sounded like a “scam”, warning that Hongkongers who took advantage could face consequences.

“They have to be careful, because there could be a price to pay, as Beijing may roll out new countermeasures” in retaliation, he said.

Indeed, Beijing has criticised London for its recent BN(O) moves, accusing it of meddling in Chinese internal affairs and threatening to stop recognising the passports in retaliation. In July, the Hong Kong government also issued a “solemn declaration” backing Beijing’s response, saying: “The [Hong Kong] government hereby renders support and full cooperation.”

The Post has contacted the Chief Executive’s Office for comment on the new scheme.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×