On February 9, 2026, the Home Office announced its intention to strengthen safe and legal routes to the UK for Hong Kongers. This will see an expansion of the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa route, which will allow thousands more Hong Kong residents to move to the UK. The expansion of the BN(O) visa policy will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders, along with their partners and children, to apply to move to the UK independently of their parents.
In November 2025, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had also affirmed her commitment to Hong Kongers by confirming they will retain a 5-year pathway to UK permanent residence compared to a new standard baseline of 10 years’ residence being proposed for most other migrants.
Key changes
The expansion will introduce new eligibility criteria designed to support families and individuals who would have previously fallen outside the main BN(O) visa route. Key changes include:
- Adult children of BN(O) status holders who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China will now be eligible to apply for the route independently of their parents.
- Partners and children of eligible applicants will also be able to join them in the UK under the expanded route.
The expansion of the route addresses policy gaps that previously separated families. An implementation date for the policy has not yet, been confirmed. We will be monitoring the position and advise on any further updates as and when they are announced.
What does this mean for eligible individuals?
BN(O) visa holders are not restricted from working in the UK including taking up employment, self-employment, or starting a new business. This flexibility negates the requirement to, for example, seek an alternative visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, to facilitate employment in the UK.
Further, the BN(O) visa route offers a direct route to UK permanent residence and eventually British citizenship subject to eligibility criteria being met. This affords individuals using this visa route long-term security in the UK.
As part of their recruitment and talent retention strategies, employers should consider whether the expansion of the BN(O) route offers them an alternative visa route for supporting potential and existing employees with procuring the appropriate right to work in the UK.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please reach out to your Account Manager or email us at [email protected].
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
