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Hong Kong BN(O) — Status Holder

United KingdomLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in United Kingdom Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

Indefinite leave to remain (settlement), which gives the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as the holder likes and to apply for benefits if eligible; it can be used to apply for British citizenship, which a British national (overseas) can usually do 1 year after settling.

See recorded sources

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

A person with a BNO visa who has spent 5 continuous years in the UK can apply; the earliest application is 28 days before completing 5 years in the UK.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state exactly when the qualifying period begins.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

Time in the UK on any visa that allows settlement counts, provided the last visa was a BNO visa (e.g. Entrepreneur, Family, Global Talent, Investor, Minister of Religion, Representative of an Overseas Business, Skilled Worker, Sportsperson, UK Ancestry). Time outside the immigration rules (e.g. ‘leave outside the rules’ at the border for BNO status holders) and time on visas that do not allow settlement (e.g. Youth Mobility Scheme, Student) does not count.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa/print
    You can count time spent in the UK on any visa that allows you to apply for settlement, as long as your last visa was a BNO visa. For example: Entrepreneur visa Family visa Global Talent visa (or a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa) Investor visa Minister of Religion visa Representative of an Overseas Business visa Skilled Worker visa (or a Tier 2 General work visa) Sportsperson visa UK Ancestry visa
  • https://www.gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa/print
    You cannot count time you spent in the UK that was outside of the immigration rules. For example, if you had permission granted via ‘leave outside the rules’ at the border for BNO status holders and their family members. You also cannot count time spent on any visa that does not allow you to apply for settlement, for example: Youth Mobility Scheme visa Student visa - previously called a Tier 4 (General) student visa

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

In most cases no more than 180 days may be spent outside the UK in any 12 month period (continuous residence).

See recorded sources

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the other conditions, application route and renewal, retention or loss rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Current GB capture review did not establish a literal, route-specific claim for this answer.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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