Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for Adult Dependant Relatives
The BN(O) Adult Dependant Relative visa route is for the parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person of a BN(O) Status holder (or their dependent partner or household member).
This Guide is for Adult Dependent Relatives. We have separate guides for the other applicants:
- Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for BNO Status Holders
- Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for Dependent Partners of BNOs
- Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for Dependent Children under 18 of BNOs
- Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for Children over 18 born after 1997 of BNOs
Applications for Hong Kong BN(O) visas opened on 31 January 2021.
There are validity, suitability and eligibility requirements that an adult dependent relative must meet to make the application. The eligibility requirements cover your:
- Relationship
- Dependency
- Ordinary residence
- Adequate maintenance and accommodation
- TB Certificate
You do not need to apply under this route if you are a BN(O) or the Dependent Partner of a BN(O). You can instead, apply as a BN(O) Status Holder in your own right, see our Guide: Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for BNO Status Holders, or as their Dependent Partner, see our Guide: Hong Kong BN(O) Visa for Dependent Partners of BNO Status Holders.
Validity Requirements for a Hong Kong BN(O) Visa
How do you apply for a BN(O) visa?
If you have a chipped HKSAR, BN(O), or EEA passport you can apply for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. Alternatively, you can apply online using the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa application form.
What are the application fees for a BN(O) visa?
You must pay the application fee (£180 to apply to stay for 30 months or £250 to apply to stay for 5 years) and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee (£2,587.50 if you’re applying to stay for 30 months or £5,175 if you’re applying to stay for 5 years).
Do you need to apply from outside the UK?
If you are not currently in the UK, you will need to apply to make your BN(O) visa application and obtain entry clearance before you travel to the UK. If you are in the UK lawfully, or if you fall within the exception for overstayers, you can apply to switch to this visa from within the UK. You cannot be on immigration bail when you apply, except where you have been placed on immigration bail after making an asylum claim in the UK.
Additionally, for your BN(O) visa application to be valid, you will need to be over the age of 18, provide any required biometrics, and provide a passport or other travel document to prove your identity and nationality. Your Sponsor must either be applying for a visa under the BN(O) route at the same time or must have already been granted permission.
Suitability Requirements for a Hong Kong BN(O) Visa
You must not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal. This will consider your personal history and immigration history. If there are any concerns, you should seek immigration advice prior to applying.
Additionally, if you are applying from within the UK, you must not be in breach of immigration laws (unless paragraph 39E, the exception for overstayers, applies), or on immigration bail (unless you have been placed on immigration bail after making an asylum claim in the UK). See my blog for an answer to the question: What is Paragraph 39E?
If you are in the UK lawfully, if you fall within the exception for overstayers, or if you are on immigration bail following an asylum claim, you can apply to switch to the BN(O) Status Holder route from within the UK.
Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Relationship Requirement
If you have not previously been granted permission as an Adult Dependent Relative of a BN(O) or partner of a BN(O) Status Holder, then you must show you meet all of the relationship requirements:
- You must be the adult parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person who has made a valid application as a BN(O) Status Holder (or as a dependent partner or household member under the BN(O) route) or who already has permission on the BN(O) route (the Sponsor can also be both a British citizen and a BN(O) Status Holder);
- If you as a parent or grandparent, you must not be in a subsisting relationship with a partner unless, that partner is also the parent or grandparent of the BN(O) Status Holder or of the partner of a BN(O) Status Holder; and that partner is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay at the same time as you
Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Dependency Requirement
If you have not previously been granted permission as an Adult Dependent Relative of a BN(O) or partner of a BN(O) Status Holder or BN(O) Household Member, then you must show you meet all of the dependency requirements:
- as a result of age, illness or disability you must require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks, for example washing, dressing and cooking and be incapable of performing them yourself
- be unable, even with the practical and financial help of the relevant Sponsor to obtain the required level of help in Hong Kong, if the relevant Sponsor move to the UK, either because the help:
- is not available, and there is no person in Hong Kong who can reasonably provide it; or
- is not affordable.
The dependency requirements are very difficult to meet, and are similar to those under Appendix Adult Dependent Relative. They will need to be supported by strong evidence.
The “required level of care” will be objectively assessed based on your specific physical, emotional or psychological needs. The care available in Hong Kong, and whether it is realistically available to you will be considered, as well as its geographical location and cost. You will need to provide evidence of medical conditions, how long you have been living together and how care is provided.
The most difficult aspect of this test is showing that there is no one who can reasonably provide the required level of care (a close family member: son, daughter, brother, sister, parent, grandchild, grandparent, a wider family member, friend or neighbour, home-help, housekeeper, nurse, carer or care or nursing home).
Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Ordinary Residence Requirement
If you are applying from outside the UK, you must be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the date of application.
If you are applying from inside the UK, you must be ordinarily resident in the UK, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Bailiwick of Jersey, the Isle of Man or Hong Kong on the date of application.
In determining where a person is ordinarily resident, the Home Office will consider if you have a regular habitual mode of life in a particular place for the time being, which has continued apart from temporary or occasional absences, and whether that residence is voluntary, lawful, and adopted for a settled purpose. We can advise you on the evidence that can be provided to show this, depending on your particular circumstances.
Maintenance & Accommodation Requirement
If you are applying for permission to stay and have been living in the UK for 12 months or more on the date of application, you will automatically meet the financial requirement. You do not need to provide further evidence.
If you are applying for entry clearance, or have been living in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, you must show that you will maintain and accommodate yourself in the UK without recourse to public funds for at least 6 months. You may also rely on credible promises of future third party support to meet this requirement.
How is adequate maintenance calculated?
Adequate maintenance is where the projected weekly income (“A”), less weekly accommodation costs (“B”), would be equal to, or more than, the amount the family would be entitled to if they were in receipt of income support or equivalent (“C”). In order to calculate whether the amount held in cash savings is sufficient, the total amount must be divided by the number of weeks of limited leave that would be granted if the application was successful (“A”). The formula for calculating adequate maintenance is the same as with weekly income: A – B ≥ C. We can assist you with the formula and advise you as to the specified financial evidence that must be submitted.
What is adequate accommodation?
Accommodation that is not overcrowded and does not contravene public health regulations.
TB Certificate Requirement
Do you need a TB Certificate?
If you have been resident in Hong Kong for the 6 months before you apply, you will need a valid medical certificate confirming you have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in you.
If you are in the UK, and your last grant of permission was for less than 6 months and you were present in a country listed in Appendix T of these rules for more than six months immediately prior to their last grant of permission you must provide a valid TB Certificate. A valid medical certificate is a certificate from an approved centre issued within the 6 months immediately before the date of application. There are approved clinics in the UK, listed here. The list of accepted clinics in Hong Kong can be found here.
A TB Certificate is not required, if you provided one as part of a successful application for entry clearance in the 12 months before the date of application.
Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Decision & Conditions
You can be granted either 30 months (plus, where the applicant has extant permission under the Hong Kong BN(O) Route, the remaining period of that permission, up to a maximum of 28 days) or 5 years under the route.
You will not be able to access public funds (unless you have previously varied your permission to remove the no access to public funds condition). However, you can undertake work (including self-employment and voluntary work) except for employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach). You can also study, but may require an ATAS Certificate depending on your course of study.
Refusal of a Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Application
If the application is refused, it is possible to apply for an Administrative Review to challenge the decision, but there is no right of appeal. If you have been refused, we can review the reasons for refusal and advise you as to the merits of an administrative review.
Contact our British Nationality Lawyers in London
For expert advice regarding an application for a Hong Kong BN(O) visa or any aspect of British Nationality Law, contact our British Nationality Lawyers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.
