BNO Visa: Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Solicitors in London
We help Hong Kong families apply for, extend and settle on the BNO visa, from first application to British citizenship.
call 0207 100 2525 to speak to a specialist today. Available 24/7
The BNO visa (British National (Overseas) visa) lets BN(O) status holders from Hong Kong and their eligible family members live, work and study in the UK for up to 5 years at a time, with a route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 5 years and British citizenship 12 months later.
It is one of the most flexible routes in the UK immigration system. You don’t need a job offer, a sponsor or an English test to apply.
Adam Bernard Solicitors’ immigration team in London advises Hong Kong families on first BNO visa applications, extensions, the new Adult Child route, dependants, refusals and the move to settlement. Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation. We also offer consultations by Zoom, Teams and WhatsApp for clients still in Hong Kong.
Last reviewed: 2 October 2026. Fees and rules are checked against GOV.UK.
What's changed for the BNO visa in 2026?
From 8 April 2026, the BN(O) route was expanded so that adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1979 can apply in their own right, and BNO visa fees rose to £206 (2 years 6 months) and £285 (5 years).
The key 2026 changes are:
- Adult Child route expanded. Previously only adult children born on or after 1 July 1997 qualified. The cut-off is now 1 July 1979, so it covers anyone who was under 18 at the 1997 handover. The former “BN(O) Household Member” route is now called the “Adult Child” route. People already granted leave under the old name keep the same conditions (Home Office caseworker guidance, v14.0).
- New fees under the Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (GOV.UK: BNO visa costs).
- ID Check app for settlement. BN(O) applicants can now verify their identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app when applying for ILR. Passports that expired within the last five years are accepted for this.
- 5-year settlement protected. The government’s earned settlement reforms propose a 10-year baseline for most migrants. BN(O)s are expressly excluded and keep the 5-year route to ILR (A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, GOV.UK). Read our overview of the earned settlement announcement to see how other routes are affected.
Who is eligible for a BNO visa?
You can apply for a BNO visa if you are 18 or over, are a British National (Overseas) or the adult child of one born on or after 1 July 1979, and your permanent home is in Hong Kong (or, if applying from inside the UK, in the UK, Hong Kong, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man).
To qualify as the main applicant, you must:
- be 18 or older
- be a BN(O) status holder, or the adult child of a BN(O) born on or after 1 July 1979 (the Adult Child route)
- have your permanent home in Hong Kong if applying from outside the UK, or in the UK, Hong Kong, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man if applying from inside the UK
- be able to support yourself and your family for at least 6 months without public funds (unless you have already lived in the UK for 12 months)
- have a valid tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you have been living in Hong Kong
- not fall for refusal under the general grounds, for example serious criminality or previous immigration breaches
You do not need an English language test, a job offer or a sponsor for the BNO visa itself. English and the Life in the UK Test only apply when you later apply for ILR.
A BN(O) passport does not have to be valid. An expired BN(O) passport, or other proof of your BN(O) status, is accepted (GOV.UK eligibility).
Which family members can apply with you?
Your partner, your children and grandchildren under 18, and adult relatives who need long-term personal care can apply as dependants on your BNO visa; adult children of a BN(O) must make their own application under the Adult Child route.
| Family member | Can they be a dependant? | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner | Yes | With you, or later while your visa is valid |
| Child or grandchild under 18 (yours or your partner’s) | Yes, and they normally must live with you | With you, or later while your visa is valid |
| Parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter aged 18+ | Only if they need long-term personal care because of illness, disability or age, and that care isn’t available or affordable in Hong Kong | With you, or later while your visa is valid |
| Your own adult child (18+) born on or after 1 July 1979 | No. They apply separately under the Adult Child route | Any time |
| Other family members | Yes, where eligible | Must apply within 2 days of your application |
Source: GOV.UK: BNO visa family members.
The adult dependent relative test is strict and is where many family applications fail. Our page on the adult dependent relative visa explains the kind of care evidence the Home Office expects. If a child is joining you after you have moved, see our child visa to join parents guidance.
What are the benefits of the BNO visa?
BNO visa holders can work in almost any job or be self-employed without a sponsor, study at any level, use the NHS, bring eligible family, and apply for ILR after 5 years.
In detail:
- Work freely. You can take employed or self-employed work with no sponsor, salary threshold or skill level.
- Study. You can study at school, college or university. Dependent children can attend state schools free of charge.
- Healthcare. Paying the Immigration Health Surcharge gives you NHS access on the same basis as UK residents.
- Family. The range of dependants is wider than on most UK routes.
- Settlement. You can apply for ILR after 5 years, and the earned settlement reforms leave this unchanged for BN(O)s.
- Citizenship. You can usually apply for naturalisation 12 months after getting ILR.
The main restriction is that BNO visas are normally granted with no recourse to public funds. You can apply to have this condition lifted if you become destitute, or if there are particularly compelling reasons relating to a child’s welfare or very low income.
How much does a BNO visa cost in 2026?
A BNO visa costs £206 for 2 years and 6 months or £285 for 5 years, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per adult and £776 per child for each year of the visa.
| Cost (per person) | 2 years 6 months | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £206 | £285 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge: adult (18+) | £2,587.50 | £5,175 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge: child (under 18) | £1,940 | £3,880 |
| Total: one adult | £2,793.50 | £5,460 |
| Total: couple + 1 child | £7,733 | £15,085 |
Source: GOV.UK: BNO visa costs. Totals are our worked examples and exclude optional priority services, TB test and document translation costs.
30 months or 5 years? The 5-year visa costs more upfront but avoids a second application, a second set of fees and the risk of a gap in leave. The shorter visa can make sense if cash flow is tight. Either way, you need 5 years in the UK before ILR.
Financial requirement: how much money do you need?
You must show enough money to house and support yourself and your dependants for 6 months, at roughly the level of UK Income Support, unless you have already lived in the UK for 12 months or more.
GOV.UK gives these approximate figures:
| Household | Approximate funds |
|---|---|
| Single adult | £2,000 |
| Couple with one child | £3,100 |
| Couple with three children | £4,600 |
| Couple, two adult dependent parents and two adult children | £9,200 |
You can rely on savings, a UK job offer, income from work you’ll continue in the UK, or credible support from family or friends, including free accommodation they will provide. Evidence must be recent and traceable. Large unexplained deposits are a common reason the Home Office asks for more information.
Documents you'll need
You’ll need your BN(O) or HKSAR passport, proof of permanent residence, a TB certificate, proof of funds and proof of your relationship to any dependants.
Typically:
- current passport (BN(O), HKSAR or other), plus your BN(O) passport even if expired
- proof of permanent residence in Hong Kong (or the UK if applying in-country)
- TB test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic
- bank statements, payslips, job offer or sponsor letters for the financial requirement
- birth, marriage, civil partnership or adoption certificates for dependants
- for Adult Child applicants: your BN(O) parent’s passport and your birth certificate
- certified translations of any document not in English or Welsh
See the full list on GOV.UK: documents you’ll need.
How to apply for a BNO visa
You apply online, pay the fee and health surcharge, prove your identity with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre, and upload your documents; decisions usually take up to 12 weeks.
Applying from outside the UK
- Complete the online application on GOV.UK.
- Pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Verify your identity, either by scanning your BN(O), HKSAR or EEA passport with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by giving biometrics at a visa application centre.
- Upload your supporting documents.
- Wait for a decision, usually within 12 weeks (GOV.UK).
Applying from inside the UK
You can switch to the BNO visa from most other UK visas. You can also apply if you are a visitor whose circumstances have changed since you arrived, or if you have an outstanding asylum claim. You must not enter the UK as a visitor intending to apply for a BNO visa. Doing so risks refusal. In-country decisions also usually take up to 12 weeks (GOV.UK). If you are switching from another route, such as a Skilled Worker visa, we’ll check which route gets you to settlement fastest. Time on some routes may not count toward BN(O) ILR.
For a fuller walkthrough of the online form, see our guide on how to apply for a BNO visa.
Extending your BNO visa
If you were granted 2 years 6 months, you must apply to extend before your current visa expires; you can extend for another 2 years 6 months or 5 years, and you can extend more than once.
The extension follows the same process: an online form, fees and IHS, identity verification and supporting documents. Dependants usually extend at the same time. Partners and children who are not applying with you must still apply while your visa is valid (GOV.UK: extend your BNO visa).
BNO visa refused? Your options
A refused BNO visa is challenged by administrative review, not an appeal, and you must apply within 14 days if you are in the UK or 28 days if you are outside it.
Administrative review checks whether the Home Office made a caseworking error, for example misreading a bank statement or applying the wrong rule. It is not a chance to add new evidence. If the error is in your evidence rather than in the decision, a fresh application is often faster.
Your options, in order:
- Administrative review, within 14 days (in the UK), 28 days (outside the UK) or 7 days (if detained) (GOV.UK: administrative review).
- Fresh application with the missing or corrected evidence.
- Pre-action protocol letter, then judicial review in the Upper Tribunal, where the decision was unlawful or irrational.
A right of appeal only arises if the refusal involves a human rights claim. See our immigration appeals page.
From BNO visa to ILR and British citizenship
After 5 continuous years in the UK on the BNO route, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR); 12 months after ILR, you can usually apply for British citizenship. This “5+1” pathway is unaffected by the earned settlement reforms.
To qualify for ILR on the BN(O) route you must:
- have spent 5 continuous years in the UK with BN(O) permission
- have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period
- pass the Life in the UK Test and show English at B1 level (speaking and listening) if aged 18–64, unless exempt
- pay the ILR fee of £3,226 per person (decision usually within 6 months)
Source: GOV.UK: BNO visa settlement.
The Home Office expects around 92,000 BN(O) settlement applications in 2026, as the first 2021 arrivals reach five years. Check your absences carefully before you apply. Trips back to Hong Kong to care for family are the most common way applicants accidentally break continuous residence. Our settlement and ILR solicitors can review your travel history before you submit.
Once you have held ILR for 12 months, you can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen (GOV.UK). If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply as soon as you get ILR (see British citizenship by marriage).
Why choose Adam Bernard Solicitors for your BNO visa?
Adam Bernard Solicitors is an SRA-regulated London immigration firm with offices in High Holborn and Upton Park, 15 years’ experience and more than 15,000 clients.
For BNO cases we:
- confirm eligibility, including the new Adult Child route for those born from 1 July 1979
- build a financial evidence bundle that answers the 6-month maintenance test first time
- prepare adult dependent relative applications with the care evidence the Home Office expects
- review your absences before ILR so a trip home doesn’t cost you settlement
- handle refusals through administrative review, fresh applications and judicial review
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation. We offer meetings in person in London, or by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype if you are still in Hong Kong. You can also browse our other personal immigration services.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules and fees change, so always check your own circumstances with a qualified solicitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BNO visa?
Can adult children of BN(O)s apply for the BNO visa?
How much is the BNO visa in 2026?
Do I need a valid BN(O) passport to apply?
Do I need to speak English to get a BNO visa?
How long does a BNO visa take to process?
Will the earned settlement changes affect BN(O) visa holders?
Can I bring my parents on a BNO visa?
What happens if my BNO visa is refused?
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