British National (Overseas) visa
You may be a British Indian or a resident of Hong Kong with citizenship status as a British National (Overseas), and thus be eligible to apply to a special immigration route set up exclusively for BNO citizens.
This is a type of visa that offers eligible individuals and their families the opportunity to live, work, and study in the UK.
The experienced UK immigration specialists are ready to help you with your application and offer tailored advice and services when you call them today at +2080162308.
You may be a British Indian or a resident of Hong Kong with citizenship status as a British National (Overseas), and thus be eligible to apply to a special immigration route set up exclusively for BNO citizens.
This is a type of visa that offers eligible individuals and their families the opportunity to live, work, and study in the UK.
The experienced UK immigration specialists are ready to help you with your application and offer tailored advice and services when you call them today at +2080162308.
How to Apply for the BNO Visa and What Is It?
The British National (Overseas) Visa (or BNO Visa) was introduced in 2021 and provides a specific immigration route to British National (Overseas) status holders, who are Hong Kong nationals.
This visa enables the individual and certain family members to reside in the UK to study, live, or work there.
Either as a domestic or international applicant, the BNO visa is flexible and provides a longer-term route to settlement.
Applicants are free to choose either the 2.5-year visa (which can be renewed) or the 5-year visa option.
Among the most appreciable advantages of this visa is that one may use the visa as a stepping stone to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous lawful residence.
You can also be allowed to apply for British citizenship after completing 12 months in ILR.
This pathway demonstrates the UK’s continued interest in welcoming British National (Overseas) citizens in Hong Kong who require security and opportunities in Britain.
To be able to apply for a British National (Overseas) Visa, you should match the following criteria:
- You are at least 18 years old
- You have the status of British National (Overseas)
- You are born on or after 1 July 1997 and are the child of a BNO citizen
- When outside the UK, your permanent home is in Hong Kong
- You are living in the UK, Hong Kong, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man when you are making your application
- Other members of your family can also apply, provided they are eligible and typically use it at the same time as you
- You need to apply separately with your partner, children under 18, or your adult dependant relatives, where appropriate
This visa pathway enables individuals and families to reside in the UK, providing a long-term route to settlement and citizenship.
To fill out your BNO visa application, you should prepare the following:
- An identity and national document, e.g., a valid passport, showing your identity and nationality
- An expired or current BNO passport (or a photocopy) to show your BNO status, where possible
- You can apply even without your BNO passport, but check-in might take longer since the Home Office will have to confirm your status.
- To travel to the UK, it is not required to have a BNO passport, which is only accepted as a valid passport or travel document.
- You can apply even without your BNO passport, but check-in might take longer since the Home Office will have to confirm your status.
- Evidence of residence in Hong Kong, the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
- Some financial resources prove that you can support yourself and your family.
- Recordings of your affiliation with any provided configurations of the family with whom you are seeking to apply, alongside
- A valid tuberculosis (TB) test certificate that was not submitted before entry in the UK
- Certified translations in English of documents to be first written in languages other than English
Preparation of these documents will ensure a smooth and uninterrupted application process.
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The British National (Overseas) Visa is a visa issued to holders that allows them to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom.
Although the visa is highly flexible and offers numerous rights to its citizens, there are some restrictions and terms that applicants and current visa holders should be aware of.
You Are Allowed to Do:
Having a BNO visa, you are eligible to:
- Be in the UK with no time limit as long as you remain within the visa period
- Employment at the workplace in full-time jobs, part-time jobs and even self-employment
- Study in schools, colleges or universities in the UK
- Take with you eligible relatives, such as partners, children and other dependants
- Apply to stay indefinitely with the service of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) once you meet the requirements after residing in the UK continuously within 5 years
- Obtain British citizenship a year after receiving ILR
You Are Not Allowed to Do:
Although the BNO visa presents freedom, there are certain restrictions that come along with it:
- In the UK, you are unable to work as a professional sports coach or sports person. This comprises exercises that need registration and licensing or national sporting regulatory bodies.
- You are not generally entitled to receive any award of public funds, so most state benefits including universal credit, housing benefit and income support are restricted.
Exceptions: Where BNO Visa Holders Can Have Access to Public Funds
BNO visa holders will only be allowed to access the public funds in restricted and special cases. You can qualify in case you can prove that:
- You have no place to stay, and you cannot afford to acquire one
- You have a place to stay, yet you cannot afford basic living expenses, e.g. food, power, or heating?
- Your home is about to be taken away from you or you are facing some dire financial moment of truth
- You earn very little and without help, this might hurt the wellbeing of your child
On the one hand, provided that you are in either of these situations, you might be eligible to get your visa conditions modified so that you can have access to the temporary use of public funds.
There will also need to be supporting documentation, and a good reason must be provided as to why such a request needs to be submitted. It is recommended to seek professional immigration advice before doing so.
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To apply, change, or renew a BNO visa, you must:
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Make the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS) Payment
- Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to finance yourself as well as the family members, for at least 6 months (first-time applicants)
Things to Be Aware of:
- Each family member and every applicant pays fees.
- Your application will also require biometric data to be provided
- The NHS can be accessed with the healthcare surcharge, but there are a few services that can mean additional charges, such as prescriptions and dental care
- When you come to renewing your visa and continue getting some of the UK expenses, you might be free of paying any cost, but documentation will be needed
- This financial support may consist of your income, savings, job offers available in the UK, or family/friends.
- There is no need to provide financial evidence as a rule, in case you have the 12-months of living in the UK.
Tip: Confirm the most up-to-date fees and requirements on the official UK government website before applying.
Once you have lived in the UK with a BNO visa for 5 years, you can apply to settle in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain (also referred to as settlement).
With ILR, you can:
- Study, work, and live in the UK without any time limitations
- Obtain benefits (when possible)
- Apply it to achieve British citizenship
Before applying, it is advisable to check out the latest ILR requirements.
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BNO visa holders who fulfil the conditions may apply to renew their visas before their expiration.
Waiting For a Decision:
If you stay in the UK, you can wait until a decision is made. Apply at least 28 days before expiry in case of settlement more than 5 years later.
Key Points:
- An unlimited number of extensions
- Every member of the family has to apply individually
- Minors under the age of 18 generally require an application to be made by both parents
- Lead online and verify your identity online through the ID Check app or in a UKVCAS centre
- Possible waiting time is up to 12 weeks
- Until you are issued a decision, you are not permitted to travel
- You might afford to purchase a quicker verdict
- Assistance during application can be offered to people with no access to the internet or technology
As guidance may be updated, please check the current guidance before applying.
A British National (Overseas) visa may be rejected due to several reasons, including the uncertainty in terms of the BNO status or the candor of the individual applying.
Should your application be denied, you have the option of seeking an administrative review. This should be within 14 or 28 days, depending on where you submitted your application.
Where the UK immigration authorities discover that there has been a mistake in the initial decision, it can be quashed.
Otherwise, taking legal action by making use of a Pre-action Protocol or Judicial Review should be considered.
In most situations, the best course of action is to submit a new and more comprehensive application, accompanied by the necessary evidence.
Stuck after being turned down? Talk to an immigration adviser to see what your best options are.
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we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
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ISUK is the firm that focuses on trusted and customised UK immigration services. Our skilled and qualified team of experts is available to assist you throughout the process of acquiring a British National (Overseas) Visa, to provide you with clear and individual advice.
The application can be overwhelming since the BNO visa is a new route. That’s where our professional advisers come in. Wielding the current UK immigration law, we will be in a good position to guide you through filing a good and properly instituted application.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about your eligibility, filling out online forms, taking the necessary documents supporting your application, and we will be glad to help through our immigration consultants.
To find out more about our services and how to make your BNO visa application start-to-finish, easy and successful, get in contact with ISUK today by calling +44 (0)333 305 9375 or chat with us live.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to benefit of British National (Overseas) (BNO) Visa?
You can apply to be eligible provided you are a British National (Overseas), 18 years old or over, or a child of a BNO status holder born on or after 1 July 1997.
Your permanent residence needs to be Hong Kong, the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man where you are applying.
What is the purpose of a BNO Visa?
The holders of BNO are allowed to reside, work in most professions, or study in the UK.
They are also allowed to bring their suitable relatives, and settle after 5 years and gain British citizenship.
What can I not do with a BNO Visa?
You are not allowed to work as a professional athlete or sports coach.
Neither are you generally permitted to claim public funds, unless you can satisfy special hardship standards.
What financial qualifications are necessary when it comes to a BNO visa?
Applying as a first-time applicant, you are required to demonstrate that you can financially take care of yourself and your family for at least 6 months, which includes accommodation expenses and living expenses.
This is usually exempted where you have already resided in the UK for a year or more.
What is the processing time of a BNO Visa application?
It typically takes 12 weeks after the application date to make a decision. This period can vary depending on whether you used the app ID Check or visited one of the visa centers, and whether additional checks, interviews, or other procedures are required.
What do I do when my BNO Visa is denied?
When your application is denied, you may request an administrative review of the decision within the specified timeframe (14 or 28 days). In case of upholding the decision, you may approach a Pre-action Protocol and Judicial Review, or make a new application with better documents.
Is it possible to extend my BNO Visa, and what does it mean in terms of settlement?
Yes, you can apply to renew your visa before it expires. It has no restriction in terms of extensions.
Nonetheless, should you intend to make your home in the UK, then you must make your application at least 28 days before the expiry of your visa to gain a good 5-year stay and become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
