The UK government has announced an expansion of its visa pathway for Hong Kong residents, allowing adult children of British National (Overseas) status holders, along with their partners and children, to apply independently.
Previously, only those who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover were eligible to apply. Officials estimate that about 26,000 people could arrive in the UK under the expanded route over the next five years.
The expansion is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to Hong Kong, amid growing concerns over the erosion of rights and freedoms in the territory. The government cited the 20-year prison sentence of British citizen Jimmy Lai under Beijing’s National Security Law as evidence of increasing repression.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “This country will always honour its historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong. We are proud to have already provided a safe haven to almost 170,000 Hong Kongers since 2021. In the face of the continued deterioration of rights and freedoms, we are now expanding eligibility so more families can build new lives here.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added: “Though Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms continue to erode, this government’s support for its people remains steadfast. Young people who missed out on resettlement protection because of their age will now be covered.”
Since the BN(O) route was launched, over 230,000 people have been granted visas, with almost 170,000 already moving to the UK. The expansion aims to close previous gaps in eligibility that resulted in “unfair outcomes within families.”
The announcement is part of broader UK asylum reforms, designed to create safe and legal humanitarian routes for people fleeing war and persecution, while managing border controls. Parallel efforts include extending the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme and continuing the resettlement of Afghans who assisted British forces.
