In a written statement to Parliament late on 6 March, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the forthcoming increase of the English-language requirement for settlement—from CEFR level B1 to B2—will **not** apply to holders of the British National (Overseas) visa. (hongkongwatch.org)
The exemption protects more than 200,000 Hongkongers who have relocated to the UK under the BN(O) pathway since 2021. They will continue to meet the lower B1 threshold when applying for indefinite leave to remain after five years, avoiding the need for additional language tuition or costly retesting.
![UK keeps tougher B2 English rule away from BN(O) visa route]()
For anyone in Hong Kong preparing a BN(O) application—or dealing with any other global visa paperwork—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its local team helps clients gather supporting documents, book approved English-language tests, and submit applications accurately, saving both time and money. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Immigration lawyers say the carve-out preserves the “spirit of welcome” behind the BN(O) scheme and spares employers the administrative burden of monitoring staff compliance with a higher benchmark. It also maintains a level playing field for family dependants, many of whom are children or elderly parents with limited English exposure.
The announcement follows strong lobbying by diaspora groups and comes ahead of broader reforms to the UK’s settlement system. Corporates sending Hong Kong talent to Britain should nonetheless track future Statements of Changes, as income and skills thresholds for work routes are still set to rise in 2027.
The exemption protects more than 200,000 Hongkongers who have relocated to the UK under the BN(O) pathway since 2021. They will continue to meet the lower B1 threshold when applying for indefinite leave to remain after five years, avoiding the need for additional language tuition or costly retesting.
For anyone in Hong Kong preparing a BN(O) application—or dealing with any other global visa paperwork—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its local team helps clients gather supporting documents, book approved English-language tests, and submit applications accurately, saving both time and money. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Immigration lawyers say the carve-out preserves the “spirit of welcome” behind the BN(O) scheme and spares employers the administrative burden of monitoring staff compliance with a higher benchmark. It also maintains a level playing field for family dependants, many of whom are children or elderly parents with limited English exposure.
The announcement follows strong lobbying by diaspora groups and comes ahead of broader reforms to the UK’s settlement system. Corporates sending Hong Kong talent to Britain should nonetheless track future Statements of Changes, as income and skills thresholds for work routes are still set to rise in 2027.
