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. This will allow you to live, work and study in the UK.
You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re:
- a British national (overseas)
- 18 or older
Your permanent home must be:
- in Hong Kong, if you’re applying from outside the UK
- in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong if you’re applying in the UK
You can apply to stay for either 2 years and 6 months or 5 years
You will be able to extend your visa if you want to stay longer, and you can apply for a visa extension as many times as you want. After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to for an Indefinite Leave to Remain.
With this visa type you can:
- work (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach)
- study (including at school, college or university)
With this visa type you would be unable to apply for most benefits (public funds)
Once you have a BNO visa, you might be able to apply for access to benefits. You’ll be eligible for this in certain financial circumstances, for example if you:
- do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
- have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
- are at risk of losing your place to live or being unable to afford essential living costs
- have a very low income, and not having access to benefits would harm your child’s wellbeing
