At a glance
If you are a British National (Overseas), or an eligible adult child of one born from July 1, 1979, you may apply to live in the UK with qualifying family members. The visa lasts 30 months or five years and can be renewed. You may qualify to settle permanently after five years.
- Main applicant
- At least 18, with British National (Overseas) status or as a qualifying adult child
- Permanent home
- Hong Kong when applying abroad; the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Hong Kong when applying inside the UK
- Financial support
- Normally six months of maintenance and housing, unless the 12-month UK-residence exception applies
Summary
The UK’s British National (Overseas) visa offers residence through a person’s own BN(O) status, a qualifying child-of-BN(O) provision, or an eligible family-member rule. Those branches have different age, home, and relationship requirements. A Hong Kong connection alone does not establish the particular right to apply.
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Establish the main applicant basis Document BN(O) status or the qualifying adult-child connection and check the permanent-home rules.
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Check each family member Match relationship, age, dependency, household, and timing requirements to the relevant family category.
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Apply for the chosen period Prepare maintenance, housing, fees, and identity evidence for a 30-month or five-year visa.
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Keep residence records If granted Maintain each person's UKVI details and review the separate settlement requirements.
A five-year visa is not settlement itself. Eligible family members have their own evidence and filing requirements.
Eligibility
The main applicant must be 18 or over and either hold BN(O) status or be the qualifying adult child. A BN(O) passport need not be current; the Home Office can check status. Someone applying abroad must have their permanent home in Hong Kong. An in-country applicant's permanent home must be in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong.
Applicants must normally show six months' maintenance and housing on the first application unless the 12-month UK-residence exception applies. The family rules can cover partners, children and grandchildren under 18 and, on strict care criteria, adult dependent parents, grandparents, siblings or adult children. Timing and household requirements differ by relationship.
The five-year BN(O) settlement path is intended to remain
The five-year BN(O) settlement path is intended to remain
The consultation states that BN(O) route holders will receive a five-year reduction from the proposed 10-year baseline, preserving settlement after five years subject to mandatory requirements. Later Immigration Rules will still need to implement the wider model.
Timing: The consultation ran from 20 November 2025 to 12 February 2026. GOV.UK currently says the government is analyzing feedback. No general implementation date has been announced, and current settlement rules remain in force unless and until Immigration Rules changes take effect.
What This Route Allows
Holders may work, including self-employment, and study, but not work as a professional sportsperson or coach. The route normally has no recourse to public funds, although a change of conditions is available for destitution, imminent destitution or child-welfare reasons and does not break the five-year settlement route.
Each person pays the visa fee and immigration health surcharge. From 8 April 2026 the fee is £206 for 30 months or £285 for five years. Settlement is available after five years' qualifying residence. It normally requires B1 speaking and listening and Life in the UK for an applicant aged 18 to 64, subject to exemptions. British citizenship is usually possible after holding settlement for 12 months. A grant is evidenced digitally.
What This Route Is Not
BN(O) status cannot now be newly acquired and does not pass to children. The adult-child visa limb does not make that person a BN(O). It is also not automatic family permission: each relative must apply and meet the relationship or dependency rule.
Next Steps
- Confirm BN(O) status and the main applicant category; use parent details if no passport is available.
- Gather birth, adoption, partner and dependency evidence and coordinate family filing dates.
- Budget the 30-month or five-year visa fee, IHS and six months' support.
- Maintain UKVI accounts, linked passports and residence records for every family member.
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