A cross-party group of Conservative MPs tabled an amendment to the UK Borders Bill on 24 October that would allow Hong Kong residents aged 18–25, born after the 1997 hand-over and with at least one British National (Overseas) parent, to apply for the BNO visa independently. Currently, adult children can only apply as dependants if they lodge at the same time as an eligible parent.
Advocates argue that the change would plug a "generation gap" in the popular relocation route, which has logged nearly 90,000 applications since its launch on 31 January 2025. Home Office data show approvals running above 80 per cent, but volume dipped 20 per cent in Q3 as some families opted for new pathways to Australia and Canada. Activists say many pro-democracy campaigners born after 1997 have been "left behind" and face legal risks in Hong Kong.
If the amendment passes, the new rules could come into force as early as January 2026. Successful applicants receive five-year residency rights, permission to work or study, and a route to British citizenship after six years. The MPs behind the move—including former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and ex-immigration minister Damian Green—argue it is "a modest, targeted fix" that aligns with the UK’s moral commitment to Hong Kong.
For employers with staff mobility programmes, the proposal could widen the pool of bilingual graduates eligible to work in Britain without sponsorship, but it may also exacerbate skills shortages in Hong Kong’s tech and finance sectors if more young professionals depart. Companies should review global mobility budgets and immigration support services in anticipation of a surge in self-sponsored moves.
Prospective applicants are advised to start gathering documentation—birth certificates, parents’ BNO passports and proof of financial means—so they can file quickly once the Home Office publishes detailed guidance.
Advocates argue that the change would plug a "generation gap" in the popular relocation route, which has logged nearly 90,000 applications since its launch on 31 January 2025. Home Office data show approvals running above 80 per cent, but volume dipped 20 per cent in Q3 as some families opted for new pathways to Australia and Canada. Activists say many pro-democracy campaigners born after 1997 have been "left behind" and face legal risks in Hong Kong.
If the amendment passes, the new rules could come into force as early as January 2026. Successful applicants receive five-year residency rights, permission to work or study, and a route to British citizenship after six years. The MPs behind the move—including former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and ex-immigration minister Damian Green—argue it is "a modest, targeted fix" that aligns with the UK’s moral commitment to Hong Kong.
For employers with staff mobility programmes, the proposal could widen the pool of bilingual graduates eligible to work in Britain without sponsorship, but it may also exacerbate skills shortages in Hong Kong’s tech and finance sectors if more young professionals depart. Companies should review global mobility budgets and immigration support services in anticipation of a surge in self-sponsored moves.
Prospective applicants are advised to start gathering documentation—birth certificates, parents’ BNO passports and proof of financial means—so they can file quickly once the Home Office publishes detailed guidance.
