In a significant expansion of Britain’s flagship British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route, the Home Office has confirmed that – with immediate effect – adult children of BN(O) passport-holders who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s 1997 hand-over may now lodge applications in their own right, together with their partners and children. The change, announced on 11 February 2026, comes only days after pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai was handed a 20-year prison sentence in Hong Kong and has been framed by ministers as part of the UK’s “historic commitment” to safeguard Hongkongers’ rights. (theweek.com)
The revised rules close a loophole that had split thousands of families since the BN(O) route was launched in 2021. Previously, adult offspring could accompany parents only if they remained financially dependent on them; those who had already formed their own households were excluded. Home Office impact modelling suggests the tweak could enable about 26,000 additional Hongkongers to relocate over the next five years, on top of the 230,000 visas already granted. (theweek.com)
For applicants who would prefer professional guidance through the online application and documentation process, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office provides step-by-step assistance – from document pre-checks and biometric appointment scheduling to courier submission – to help ensure BN(O) and other UK visa filings go smoothly. More information on these services is available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
![UK widens BN(O) visa scheme, allowing adult children of status-holders to apply independently]()
Practically, candidates will submit the same online application – paying the £180 application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge – but must now supply evidence that they were under 18 on 30 June 1997 and that one parent holds BN(O) status. Once approved, visa-holders receive five years’ limited leave, after which they may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and then citizenship. The route remains exempt from the UK’s new baseline 10-year residence requirement introduced for most other migrants in 2025.
For corporate mobility managers in Hong Kong, the policy shift broadens the talent pool eligible for secondment or permanent transfer to the UK. HR teams should update mobility policies, briefing notes and relocation budgets immediately: while the BN(O) visa permits employment and study without sponsorship, new arrivals must still navigate National Insurance registration, banking, schooling and accommodation hurdles. Employers should also build the UK’s new £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – mandatory for all HKSAR and BN(O) passport-holders since 8 January 2026 – into pre-trip approval workflows to avoid boarding denials.
Strategically, the expansion reinforces London’s use of migration levers as a foreign-policy tool and underscores the continuing deterioration of civil liberties in Hong Kong. Immigration-law specialists expect further adjustments later this year when the Home Office publishes its five-year review of the BN(O) route, including possible fee hikes and tougher English-language benchmarks. For now, however, split BN(O) families finally have a straightforward pathway to reunification in Britain – and businesses gain another channel for recruiting bilingual, internationally experienced talent.
The revised rules close a loophole that had split thousands of families since the BN(O) route was launched in 2021. Previously, adult offspring could accompany parents only if they remained financially dependent on them; those who had already formed their own households were excluded. Home Office impact modelling suggests the tweak could enable about 26,000 additional Hongkongers to relocate over the next five years, on top of the 230,000 visas already granted. (theweek.com)
For applicants who would prefer professional guidance through the online application and documentation process, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong office provides step-by-step assistance – from document pre-checks and biometric appointment scheduling to courier submission – to help ensure BN(O) and other UK visa filings go smoothly. More information on these services is available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Practically, candidates will submit the same online application – paying the £180 application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge – but must now supply evidence that they were under 18 on 30 June 1997 and that one parent holds BN(O) status. Once approved, visa-holders receive five years’ limited leave, after which they may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and then citizenship. The route remains exempt from the UK’s new baseline 10-year residence requirement introduced for most other migrants in 2025.
For corporate mobility managers in Hong Kong, the policy shift broadens the talent pool eligible for secondment or permanent transfer to the UK. HR teams should update mobility policies, briefing notes and relocation budgets immediately: while the BN(O) visa permits employment and study without sponsorship, new arrivals must still navigate National Insurance registration, banking, schooling and accommodation hurdles. Employers should also build the UK’s new £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – mandatory for all HKSAR and BN(O) passport-holders since 8 January 2026 – into pre-trip approval workflows to avoid boarding denials.
Strategically, the expansion reinforces London’s use of migration levers as a foreign-policy tool and underscores the continuing deterioration of civil liberties in Hong Kong. Immigration-law specialists expect further adjustments later this year when the Home Office publishes its five-year review of the BN(O) route, including possible fee hikes and tougher English-language benchmarks. For now, however, split BN(O) families finally have a straightforward pathway to reunification in Britain – and businesses gain another channel for recruiting bilingual, internationally experienced talent.
