A huge number of people from Hong Kong have already taken advantage of the BN(O) visa allowing them to live, work and study in the UK.
In January 2021, the UK government launched a visa scheme for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas), known as the BN(O) visa, to give eligible Hong Kong citizens a route towards permanently settling in the UK. This year the scheme was given renewed support by the government’s ‘Welcome Programme’.
The support comes in the form of a further £2.6m worth of funding for 2023-2024 towards national and regional projects to help BN(O)s and their families to settle in the UK.
VCSE organisations (voluntary, community and social enterprise) across the country have been invited by the government to bid for funding from the total amount available. This could go towards programmes to support employability, mental health and wellbeing, and social integration.
A popular route to citizenship
The UK has long since been a hugely popular place for Hong Kong and Chinese nationals to come to work, study and invest. The BN(O) visa scheme opens the opportunity for more Hong Kongers to come to the country, with the potential for it being a more permanent move.
Since the scheme went live in January 2021, the government reports that more than 160,000 eligible people from Hong Kong have applied, with the expectation of many more to follow.
Of Hong Kong’s approximately 7.5 million population, there are an estimated 5.4 million residents – including 2.9 million BN(O)s as well as their dependent family members) who could be eligible to take up the scheme.
The UK government points out: “The visa reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who have had their rights and freedoms restricted.”
BN(O)s and their eligible family members are able to live, study and work in the UK for five years, after which point they can apply for settlement. After 12 months, they can then apply for full British citizenship, and would then be able to reside in the UK permanently.
The BN(O) visa welcome scheme
This year’s government funding towards the scheme’s ‘Welcome Programme’ includes a range of projects, including ongoing money towards a network of 12 ‘Welcome Hubs’ based in various locations across the UK. These hubs are aimed at helping newcomers understand and connect to services in their local areas.
BN(O) visa holders can also access a reporting and support service called On Your Side, which is also open to all other eastern and southeast Asian communities living in the UK who experience or witness racism.
English language classes are also a crucial part of the settlement process for many, and there is funding towards this as well as destitution support where needed. According to government figures, more than 3,600 BN(O)s have received English language classes and support so far.
Felicity Buchan, Minister for the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, said: “BN(O)s have already become a vibrant part of the UK’s communities, making a fantastic contribution to our national life, and creating new businesses and social enterprises.
“Continuing our support reflects our commitment to our new friends and neighbours on the BN(O) route. We are proud that so many have chosen to make the UK their home.”
Recently, the UK government announced it would be increasing the cost of visas allowing people to visit, work and study in the country. Most work and visit visas will increase in cost by 15%, while study visas, settlement, citizenship and other visas could increase by at least 20%.
However, according to a report from South China Morning Post, some of those moving to the UK using a BN(O) visa believe the increase is fair.
Immigration consultant Benny Cheung Ka-hei, director of Goldmax Immigration Consulting, believes the new charge will not halt the number of Hong Kongers moving to the UK using the scheme.
“Among all the immigration schemes around the globe, the BN(O) visa scheme is the cheapest, fastest and easiest one with very low-cost requirements,” Cheung said.
