Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance

The guidance has been updated to reflect revised wording, replacing ‘Part 9: grounds for refusal’ with ‘Part Suitability’. Additionally, all references to ‘Paragraph 39E’ have been removed and substituted with ‘Exceptions for Overstayers’ in accordance with the change to the Immigration Rules introduced in November.

The guidance has been updated to clarify that individuals will no longer receive a Biometric Residence Permit and to clarify that dependent partners and Adult Dependent Relatives are not required to apply for the same length of permission as the main applicant.

The guidance has been updated to reflect changes made to the Immigration Rules: Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) in April 2024. A full list of changes can be found in the guidance.

Updated to reflect changes to the relationship requirement to remove the need for partners to have been living together for at least 2 years prior to applying.

The guidance has been updated following recent changes to extend the concession to allow family members of a main applicant who passes away during the application process to continue to apply to the BN(O) route as if the main applicant were still alive, to family members of an adult child of a BN(O) status holder; and to extend the concession enabling UKVI to grant 12 months LOTR.

Changes to reflect the updated policy which will enable applications to the BN(O) route from individuals aged 18 or over who were born on or after 1 July 1997 and who have at least one BN(O) parent.

Guidance updated with amended proof of identity section.

Updated guidance to reflect the changes to the Immigration Rules for this route.

Updated guidance.

Replaced this guidance with a new version.

Updated the version of the guidance. This version includes updates on families making an application together and to the conditions of an applicant’s stay relating to access to public funds and police registration.

First published.