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Guidance

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on considering applications through the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office
Published:
31 January 2021
Last updated:
8 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect that dependent children are no longer required to complete a 5-year continuous residence period before qualifying for settlement; to clarify how caseworkers should assess applications where individuals are recorded under different categories within Home Office systems; to set out the approach to applications for settlement from children where their parents have different visa expiry dates; and to clarify the position for visitors applying in-country to the route.

  2. The guidance has been updated to reflect that eligibility for the BN(O) route has been expanded to BN(O)s’ adult children who were born on or after 1 July 1979, the term ‘Household Member’ has been replaced with ‘Adult Child’ and references to the 90 day entry clearance vignette have been removed as applicants attending a visa application centre no longer receive a vignette.

  3. The guidance has been updated to reflect revised wording, replacing ‘Part 9: grounds for refusal’ with ‘Part Suitability’. Additionally, all references to ‘Paragraph 39E’ have been removed and substituted with ‘Exceptions for Overstayers’ in accordance with the change to the Immigration Rules introduced in November.

  4. Guidance has been updated to reflect the change in application fees in accordance with The Immigration, Nationality and Passport (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

  5. The guidance has been updated to clarify that individuals will no longer receive a Biometric Residence Permit and to clarify that dependent partners and Adult Dependent Relatives are not required to apply for the same length of permission as the main applicant.

  6. The guidance has been updated to reflect changes made to the Immigration Rules: Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) in April 2024. A full list of changes can be found in the guidance.

  7. Updated to reflect changes to the relationship requirement to remove the need for partners to have been living together for at least 2 years prior to applying.

  8. The guidance has been updated following recent changes to extend the concession to allow family members of a main applicant who passes away during the application process to continue to apply to the BN(O) route as if the main applicant were still alive, to family members of an adult child of a BN(O) status holder; and to extend the concession enabling UKVI to grant 12 months LOTR.

  9. Changes to reflect the updated policy which will enable applications to the BN(O) route from individuals aged 18 or over who were born on or after 1 July 1997 and who have at least one BN(O) parent.

  10. Guidance updated with amended proof of identity section.

  11. Updated guidance to reflect the changes to the Immigration Rules for this route.

  12. Updated guidance.

  13. Replaced this guidance with a new version.

  14. Updated the version of the guidance. This version includes updates on families making an application together and to the conditions of an applicant’s stay relating to access to public funds and police registration.

  15. First published.

Documents

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route (accessible)

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Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route

PDF, 591 KB, 59 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff consider applications for entry clearance and permission to stay on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route. It is based on Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) to the Immigration Rules.

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