Apply for citizenship if you have British nationality
You've lived in Hong Kong
You may be eligible to apply if you’re ‘ordinarily resident’ in Hong Kong at the date of your application and:
- you were ordinarily resident there on 3 February 1997
- your parents were ordinarily resident there at the time of your birth if you’re a child born after 3 February 1997
Ordinarily resident means:
- you live in Hong Kong full-time
- you’re not breaking any immigration rules
- you’ve moved to Hong Kong voluntarily with the intention of settling there
You must also be of ‘good character’ - read the guidance when you apply.
Nationality
You must either have:
- been a British national on 3 February 1997
- become a British national after 3 February 1997
You must not have held citizenship or nationality of another country at the time or since.
You can be a national of a country even if you’ve never had a passport from there.
For example, you might be a Chinese national if you’re ethnically Chinese (even if you became a British national through a connection with Hong Kong - for example because you, your parents or your grandparents were born, registered or naturalised there).
Check with the immigration department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
How much it costs
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Each adult | £1,481 (including citizenship ceremony fee) |
| Each child | £1,214 |
| If child turns 18 during application process | £130 extra for each child (for citizenship ceremony) |
If you send the wrong fee your application will not be processed and you’ll have to apply again.
You may be able to apply for a fee waiver if you’re under 18 and cannot afford to pay the fee.
How to apply
Read the guidance to form EM before you apply.
It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You’ll get extra time to provide your fingerprints, photo and additional information, and to book a citizenship ceremony. This will not affect the decision. Do not apply if you’ll need your documents back by a specific date.
Fill in:
- application form EM
- the payment slip with the correct fee
Send the application form with your documents and payslip to the address in the form guidance.
If you do not send the correct documents your application could be delayed or refused without a refund.
Biometric information
You must also have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. You’ll be told how to do this after you apply.