British National (Overseas) visa
🇬🇧 United Kingdom visas · Ancestry
What it is
Route for British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong and their family to live, work and study in the UK, leading to settlement.
Key facts
- Category
- Ancestry
- Duration
- 30 months or 5 years, extendable; leads to settlement.
- Processing time
- Up to 12 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 5 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Direct route
- Dependants
- Yes
- Age
- 18 or over
- How to apply
- Online
- Health insurance
- Not required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (BNO visa - 2 years 6 months)
- GBP 206
- Health surcharge
- GBP 1,035 per year
- Proof of funds (Example £2,000 single adult, 6 months; waived after 1 yr)
- GBP 2,000
- Application fee (BNO visa - 5 years)
- GBP 285
- Application fee (BNO visa - 2 years 6 months (switch/extend, same fee table))
- GBP 206
- Application fee (BNO visa - 5 years (switch/extend, same fee table))
- GBP 285
Key requirements
- British National (Overseas) status (or a family member of one)
- Usually resident in Hong Kong
- Ability to support yourself
Working on this visa
You can: work (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach), study (including at school, college or university).
Bringing family
A dependant can include your: husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner, child or grandchild under 18, partner's child under 18, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they're highly dependent on…
Money you must show
Example £2,000 single adult, 6 months; waived after 1 yr
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 2 August 2026.