UK Sets Out BN(O) Visa Plan, Passport Not Required

Britain said on Wednesday that it will start accepting applications from January 21 next year for visas to allow British National (Overseas) citizens from Hong Kong the right to live and work in the UK, and applicants will not need to hold a current BN(O) passport.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she has crafted a "very generous" offer for BN(O) citizens, saying it is a proportionate response to the new situation Hongkongers find themselves in since Beijing's imposition of the national security law.

"I am not imposing skills tests or minimum income requirements, economic needs tests, or caps on numbers. I am giving them the opportunity to acquire full British citizenship. They do not need a job before coming to the UK - they can look for work once here. They may bring their immediate dependents, including non-BN(O) citizens," Patel said.

"At the same time, it is not an unconditional offer. BN(O) citizens need to support themselves independently while living in the UK; they must meet strict criminality checks and stay of good character, they will need to pay visa fees."

In a policy statement for parliament, Patel said given the "compelling and compassionate circumstances", BN(O) citizens moving to the UK will be allowed to bring along any dependent children born after the 1997 handover, including those over the age of 18, when ordinarily they would not be considered to be eligible.

The statement confirmed the visa will be valid for five years after which BN(O) citizens can apply for settled status if they have spent enough time in the country, and after one more year they can apply for British citizenship. There will be fees and charges associated with each stage of the process.

Visa holders will be able to use the National Health Service and any children under 18 can go to public schools, but there will be no access to housing or unemployment benefits.

BN(O) holders will be able to apply as a family unit along with their children, spouse or partner, but the statement said dependent grandparents or other relatives will not be eligible unless they are BN(O) holders in their own right, apart from in "exceptional circumstances of high dependency", when the UK government might use its discretion on a case-by-case basis.

Many Hongkongers have rushed to renew their BN(O) passports in recent weeks, but the statement makes clear this isn't necessary and successful applicants will also be able to travel to the UK using HKSAR or other passports.

But there are other requirements to meet, including that applicants are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, that they can show they have the means to support themselves for at least six months, and that they are committed to learning English if they don't already speak it.

While there is no language ability requirement at first, those seeking settled status will require "a good knowledge of the English language".

The statement said applications for the visa will be accepted online from Hong Kong or elsewhere and the fee will be announced in due course.

It added that while BN(O) citizens wishing to move to the UK are encouraged to apply after January 21 next year, they can still arrive in the country sooner if they wish.

Britain says around three million Hong Kong people will be eligible to apply for the new visa. Beijing earlier warned that it would take countermeasures if London went ahead with the citizenship plan.