The BNO visa is an essential document for British overseas nationals. It is a chance for eligible Hong Kong residents and their families to live, work, and study in the UK for up to five years, offering a path to settled status and citizenship.
Find out below how you can apply for this visa and how you can use it for a smooth move to Britain.
BNO Visa Overview
The BNO visa, officially known as the British National (Overseas) visa, was introduced in 2021. Holders can have two years and six months or five years of visa validity. While in the UK, you will be free to live, work and study. After living in the UK continuously for at least five years, BNO visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and British citizenship after a further year of legal and continuous residence.
All Hong Kong British nationals (overseas) who are over 18 years old can apply for the visa. The British Government created the nationality in 1985. Hong Kongers could apply for it before the region was handed over to China in 1997. For many, it allowed them to maintain an essential link with the UK. Currently, there are around 2.9 million people in Hong Kong with that nationality.
Documents for a BNO Visa
To prove that you meet the application requirements, you’ll need to submit a range of documentation. Your documents will need to be in English or Welsh, or have received a certified translation.
The documentation you will usually need to provide is listed below:
- A current or expired BNO passport. You may still apply if you do not have one, but visa processing may take longer.
- Evidence that you live in Hong Kong, the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. This could be shown through utility bills with your name on them, or a rental agreement.
- Proof you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependent family members in the UK, such as payslips and bank statements.
- Evidence of your relationship with any family members joining you, such as birth and marriage certificates.
You will also need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test if you have been living in Hong Kong or any other high-risk TB nations in the past six months. Provide a TB certificate to prove that you have taken one.
Applying for your BNO Visa
You can apply for a BNO visa from inside or outside the UK. You must follow the process described below if you are applying from outside the UK:
- Head to the UK Visas and Immigration website to download and complete the BNO visa application form.
- Upload the application form, along with your supporting documentation.
- Pay the application fee and submit your application. The fee is currently £206 for a 2.5-year visa or £285 for a five-year visa.
- Book and attend a biometric test with your nearest visa application centre. Officials will take your fingerprints and photograph.
- Pass your application number to any family members who will be joining you in the UK.
With the application process completed, you’ll need to wait for visa processing. The standard processing time is 12 weeks from the date you attend your biometric appointment. However, it can take substantially longer if the Home Office is dealing with an unusually long backlog or there are issues with your application.
Bringing Family Members to the UK
You can make the move to the UK even smoother by bringing your family members who usually live with you to the UK. The following types of family members are eligible:
- Your spouse, unmarried partner or civil partner.
- Your children and grandchildren who are under 18 years old.
- Your adult children born on or after 1 July 1997. They must live with you and be dependent on you.
Other family members, such as your grandparents, parents, and siblings, may also be able to join you. However, this is reserved for exceptional circumstances.
Each dependent family member will need to apply for a visa separately from you. You’ll need to submit your visa application first, and then give your application number to your family members for them to use on their applications.
What to Do When Your BNO Visa Validity Runs Out
After your 2.5-year or five-year visa validity period runs out, you will lose the right to remain in the country. You will need to return to Hong Kong, apply for a visa extension, or apply for indefinite leave to remain.
You can apply for an extension if you continue to meet all of the BNO visa requirements and have not breached UK immigration law. You can make your extension application from within the UK. The extension can have a validity of 2.5 years or five years.
Your current BNO visa may expire while your extension application is being processed. However, you will be allowed to continue living, working and studying in the UK until you receive a decision, regardless of whether your visaa has run out of validity.
An alternative option is to apply for indefinite leave to remain once you have lived continuously in the country for at least five years. The British Government suggests that you don’t do this earlier than before your five-year visa expires, ensuring that officials don’t start processing your visa before you have achieved the residency period.
Indefinite leave to remain grants you the ability to settle permanently in the UK. You will be able to work, live and study without needing to worry about maintaining your visa’s validity. Permanent residents can also access NHS healthcare without needing to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. You will also be able to access public funds (benefits) if necessary. The final, and most significant, advantage of indefinite leave to remain is that you can apply for citizenship by naturalisation after you have held the status for 12 months.
