BNO Visa Application Guide For Hong Kong British Nationals

You can apply for the BNO visa from overseas, but you should wait for a decision on your application before you travel to the UK. If you’re from Hong Kong and are a British national (overseas), you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa.

Deluxe Law Chambers is a specialist UK immigration law firm with extensive experience advising Hong Kong nationals and BNO status holders on securing lawful residence and long-term settlement in the United Kingdom. Our legal team provides strategic, detail-focused support across the full BNO route — from initial visa applications and complex family dependency cases to extensions, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship. We understand that relocation under the BNO scheme is not just a visa application but a long-term life decision, which is why our advice is structured to protect your future status, avoid costly errors and ensure your pathway to settlement remains secure from day one.

What Is the BNO Visa?

The British National (Overseas) visa is a UK immigration route for individuals who hold BNO status and their eligible family members.

It was introduced in January 2021 following changes in Hong Kong’s political and legal environment, offering a secure long-term option for BN(O) citizens and their dependants to relocate to the UK.

What BNO Status Means?

BN(O) status is a form of British nationality granted to Hong Kong residents who registered before 1 July 1997. It does not automatically give the right to live in the UK — the visa route provides that permission.

BNO Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a main applicant, you must meet all of the following:

BNO Status

You must:

• Hold BN(O) status, or
• Be the child of a BNO (born on or after 1 July 1997)

A valid BN(O) passport is helpful but not required if status can be confirmed through HM Passport Office.

Ordinary Residence

You must be ordinarily resident in:

• Hong Kong, or
• The UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Hong Kong (if applying in-country)

This is often misunderstood — short stays abroad, complex living arrangements or unclear address history can trigger Home Office queries.

Financial Requirement

You must show you can maintain and accommodate yourself and dependants for 6 months without public funds (unless you have already lived in the UK for 12 months).

The Home Office assesses this against income support levels, not luxury living standards — but evidence must be clear and credible.

Accommodation

You must have adequate accommodation in the UK that:

• Is not overcrowded
• Does not rely on public funds

Tuberculosis Test

Required if applying from a country listed by the Home Office (Hong Kong applicants use approved clinics).

Who Can Apply as Your Family Member?

The BNO Visa route has wider family provisions than most UK visas, but the rules are technical.

Adult Dependent Relatives

Must prove:

• Care unavailable or unaffordable in Hong Kong
• This is a high evidential threshold.
• Long-term care need due to age/illness/disability

How to Apply for a BNO Visa?

Step-by-Step Process

• Await decision (typically up to 12 weeks)
• Prepare documents (status, residence, finances, relationship evidence)
• Apply online via UKVI
• Pay visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• Verify identity via:
• Biometric appointment (UKVCAS or VAC)
• Submit application

BNO Visa application fee

You and your family members will each need to pay a visa application fee.

It costs:

• £193 if you’re applying for 2 years and 6 months
• £268 if you’re applying for 5 years

As part of your application, you might need to go to an appointment to give your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information).

Healthcare surcharge

You and your family members will each need to pay the healthcare surcharge.

This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. You’ll still need to pay for some NHS care such as prescriptions, dental care and eye tests.

For each adult (18 or older) it costs:

• £2,587.50 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
• £5,175 if you’re staying for 5 years

For each child (under 18), it costs:

• £1,940 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
• £3,880 if you’re staying for 5 years

You pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online visa application.

Extending Your BNO Visa

You can extend your visa if:

• Your leave is still valid
• You continue to meet the requirements

There is no limit to the number of extensions.

Timing matters — extension dates can affect your future ILR eligibility.

BNO Visa to ILR (Settlement)

After 5 years’ continuous residence, you can apply for ILR.

Key ILR Requirements

• No more than 180 days’ absence in any 12-month period
• Lawful residence
• Life in the UK Test
• English language requirement (B1 level)

Time spent on other settlement-leading visas may count if your last visa was a BNO. This is under Appendix Hong Kong British National Overseas.

ILR fee: £3,029

British Citizenship

After holding ILR for 12 months, you may apply to naturalise as a British citizen (subject to good character and residence requirements).

Why Legal Advice Matters for BNO Visa Applications?

Although the route is generous, refusals happen due to:

• Weak financial evidence
• Poor proof of ordinary residence
• Incorrect family dependency claims
• Absence miscalculations affecting ILR

Professional guidance ensures long-term settlement strategy is protected from the outset.

Need Help with a BNO Visa?

Deluxe Law Chambers provides specialist advice on:

• First-time BN(O) visa applications
• Complex family member cases
• Adult dependent relative applications
• Extensions and ILR strategy
• Refusals and reconsiderations

We help BNO families secure long-term stability in the UK, not just initial entry clearance.

Why Clients Choose Deluxe Law Chambers?

With offices in Manchester and London, Deluxe Law Chambers provides expert legal advice for all UK visa and immigration matters. Our experienced immigration lawyers are committed to making the visa process clear, efficient, and stress-free from start to finish.

• Our team has over 11 years of practical experience of working in UK immigration law firms and stays fully up to date with the latest Home Office rules and guidance, ensuring accurate and reliable legal advice.
• Every immigration case is different. Our immigration solicitors take the time to understand your circumstances and provide tailored legal solutions that meet your specific needs.
• Where eligible, we offer Priority and Super Priority UK visa services to help you obtain faster immigration decisions.
• We offer flexible video, telephone, and in-person appointments from our Manchester office, assisting clients across the UK and overseas.
• Our immigration lawyers are available seven days a week, including weekends, for urgent and time-sensitive immigration matters.
• We provide clear fixed-fee pricing, with instalment options available and no hidden costs.

At Deluxe Law Chambers, our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors are committed to delivering professional, honest, and results-driven UK immigration advice you can trust.

Frequently Asked Questions