Hong Kong BN(O) survey results (accessible version)
Published 31 January 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-hong-kong-british-national-overseas-visa-holders-2021/hong-kong-bno-survey-results-accessible-version
Survey of Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders, 2021
Summary of results
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Notes
The Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route opened on 31 January 2021. This allows BN(O) status holders and certain family members to live, work and study in the UK.
To understand more about BN(O) visa holders, in 2021 the Home Office commissioned IFF Research to conduct a small-scale survey of a random sample of 500 visa holders living in the UK.
The survey took place in two waves - the first in April to May 2021 with 250 participants, and the second in August to September 2021 with 250 further participants.
All survey participants were main applicants to the BN(O) visa, had been granted their visa, and were in the UK at the time of research.
The tables in this file summarise the results from the survey.
The survey results were weighted to make them representative of the overall population of BN(O) visa holders in terms of age, gender, and whether their visa application was submitted in-country or out-of-country, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
Tables 1 and 2 include management information on age and gender, updated to the end of September 2021 for the purpose of publication.
All data in this document refers to main applicants only; dependants are not included.
Table 1 - Age group of BN(O) visa holders, up to 30 September 2021
| Age group | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 2% |
| 25-34 | 19% |
| 35-44 | 32% |
| 45-54 | 29% |
| 55-64 | 14% |
| 65+ | 4% |
Source: Home Office visa application databases, as at 30 September 2021
Notes
- Data includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa only. Dependants are excluded.
- Data refers to all main applicants who had their visa granted by 30 September 2021.
Table 2 - Gender of BN(O) visa holders, up to 30 September 2021
| Gender | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| Male | 48% |
| Female | 52% |
Source: Home Office visa application databases, as at 30 September 2021
Notes
- Data includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa only. Dependants are excluded.
- Data refers to all main applicants who had their visa granted by 30 September 2021.
Table 3 - Marital status of BN(O) visa holders
| Marital status | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| Married | 72% |
| Living with partner for two or more years | 2% |
| Not married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner for two or more years | 27% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 4 - BN(O) visa holders’ partners’ living situation
| Partner’s living situation | Percentage of married or cohabiting visa holders |
|---|---|
| Partner also living in the UK | 90% |
| Partner abroad but planning to come to the UK | 8% |
| Partner abroad and not planning to come to the UK | 2% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Data in this table only refers to visa holders who are married or had been living with their partner for 2 or more years.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 5 - Number of children of BN(O) visa holders
| Number of children | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| No children | 41% |
| One child | 24% |
| Two children | 33% |
| Three or more children | 3% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Data in this table only refers to children under the age of 18, or over 18 who normally live with the visa holder.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 6 - Age group of children of BN(O) visa holders
| Age group of children | Percentage of visa holders with children |
|---|---|
| 0-3 years old | 10% |
| 4-10 years old | 48% |
| 11-15 years old | 43% |
| 16-17 years old | 6% |
| 18+ years old and living with parents | 23% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Percentages sum to more than 100% as visa holders may have multiple children in different age groups.
Table 7 - BN(O) visa holders’ children’s living situation
| Children’s living situation | Percentage of visa holders with children |
|---|---|
| All children living in the UK | 93% |
| Some children living in the UK | 3% |
| No children living in the UK | 4% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Data in this table only refers to visa holders with children under the age of 18 or over 18 and living with the visa holder.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 8 - Educational level of BN(O) visa holders
| Highest level of qualification achieved | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| Degree or higher | 69% |
| Lower than degree | 31% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 9 - Occupational background of BN(O) visa holders
| Occupational classification | Percentage of visa holders who had worked in Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Manager, director or senior official | 11% |
| Professional occupation | 39% |
| Associate professional occupation | 26% |
| Administrative and secretarial occupation | 13% |
| Other occupations | 11% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- Data in this table only refers to visa holders who had previously worked in Hong Kong.
- Occupational background is based on the occupations that respondents previously held in Hong Kong and may not reflect their current job.
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Table 10 - BN(O) visa holders’ intended length of stay in the UK
| Intended length of stay | Percentage of visa holders |
|---|---|
| Duration of current visa | 2% |
| Longer than the duration of current visa or indefinitely | 96% |
| Not sure | 2% |
Source: Home Office / IFF Research survey of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, April/May and August/September 2021
Notes
- This data is based on a sample of 500 HK BN(O) visa holders and may be subject to sampling error. The results have been weighted to represent the population of visa holders in terms of age, gender and in-country/out-of-country status, based on Home Office management information as at 27 August 2021.
- Data only includes main applicants to the BN(O) visa, who had been granted a visa and were in the UK at the time of the survey fieldwork.
- The duration of a BN(O) visa is either 2.5 or 5 years, after which visa holders may extend their visa or apply for indefinite leave to remain if they wish to stay in the UK
- Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.