What is a British national (overseas)?

British national (overseas), often shortened to BNO, is a form of British nationality created for people with a connection to Hong Kong. It is not British citizenship. A BNO can hold it alongside another nationality, and it allows a person to apply for the BNO visa to live in the UK.

How British national (overseas) status works

British national (overseas) status was created by Article 4(1) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. It came into effect on 1 July 1987.^{[2]Home Office, British nationals (overseas): caseworker guidance}

Home Office guidance says the status can be acquired only by the people, and in the way, that the guidance describes. It can be held with another nationality or citizenship, including another form of British nationality such as British citizenship. It cannot be transmitted to children. It can be renounced and, once renounced, it cannot be resumed. It can be lost automatically or by deprivation. BNO holders are, uniquely among British nationals, entitled to hold a passport in that status.^{[2]Home Office, British nationals (overseas): caseworker guidance}

Adults and minors were entitled to register as BNOs if they were a British dependent territories citizen by connection with Hong Kong, or would not have been one but for a connection with Hong Kong. The deadline to register depended on the year of birth.^{[2]Home Office, British nationals (overseas): caseworker guidance}

This guidance page was published for Home Office staff on 14 July 2017. It describes the status itself, not the visa.^{[2]Home Office, British nationals (overseas): caseworker guidance}

The BNO visa

The BNO visa is a UK visa for people from Hong Kong. If you are from Hong Kong and are a British national (overseas), you and your family members can apply for it.^{[1]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Overview}

You can apply for the visa from overseas, but you should wait for a decision before you travel to the UK.^{[1]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Overview}

Family members

Family members can apply as your dependant. This includes a partner and a child under 18. Other adult family members can only apply if they are highly dependent on you because of illness, disability or age. Each family member makes their own application.^{[5]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Your family members}

Partners, children under 18 and adult dependent relatives do not have to apply at the same time as you, but your visa must still be valid when they apply. Other family members must apply within 2 days of your application.^{[5]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Your family members}

Settling and citizenship

You can apply for settlement if you have a BNO visa and you have spent 5 continuous years in the UK. The earliest you can apply is 28 days before the 5 years are complete, and an earlier application will be refused. In most cases you must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.^{[3]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Settle in the UK}

If you are 18 to 64 you will usually need to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement.^{[3]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Settle in the UK}

A BNO can usually apply for British citizenship 1 year after settling. A partner and adult relatives can also naturalise 1 year after you settle.^{[4]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Becoming a British citizen} For the difference between settlement and citizenship, see ILR vs British citizenship.

Example

Mei Ling is a British national (overseas) and lives in Hong Kong. She applies for a BNO visa for 5 years with her husband and their 16-year-old daughter. Each of them makes a separate application. Her husband and daughter do not have to apply on the same day. Her visa must still be valid when they apply.

After 5 continuous years in the UK, she can apply to settle. She cannot apply earlier than 28 days before the 5 years end.

What people get wrong

People often treat BNO status as if it were British citizenship. It is not. A BNO needs a visa to live in the UK, and BNO status cannot be passed on to children.

Home Office guidance confirms that the status cannot be transmitted.^{[2]Home Office, British nationals (overseas): caseworker guidance}

A second mistake is the settlement timing. An application made earlier than 28 days before the 5 years are complete will be refused.^{[3]Home Office, British National (Overseas) visa: Settle in the UK}

The bottom line

British national (overseas) is a form of British nationality for people connected to Hong Kong. It is not British citizenship and it carries no automatic right to live in the UK. Instead it allows a person and their family to apply for a BNO visa, with a route to settlement after 5 years and then to citizenship. For the other forms of British nationality, see types of British nationality.