We wish to inform you that the UK government will officially open the Hong Kong, British National (Overseas) visa route (“BNO”) from the 31st January 2021.
The visa is an extension of the entitlements that BNO citizens currently have where they were entitled to visit the UK for up to 6 months at a time without a visa, but they were subject to immigration controls and did not have a right of abode in the UK.
The new visa route will allow BNO applicants from Hong Kong, to reside, work and study in the UK with a pathway that could lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain), after completing 5 years in the UK and satisfying the relevant residency requirements. Please note that this visa route is applicable only to Hong Kong nationals and residents who were registered and have held the British National Overseas status and their families. It is also open both to applicants who are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, and those currently in the UK on a different type of visa.
There are several rules and requirements that the government have set out for applicants and their families to meet and should you like assistance and guidance on making an application under the above visa route, please contact our team and we will be able to assist you with the application process.