Thousands more people from Hong Kong will be able to start new lives in the UK after the government announced a significant expansion of the British National (Overseas) visa route,
strengthening what it calls safe and legal pathways to Britain.
Under the changes, adult children of BN(O) status holders who were under the age of 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997 will now be allowed to apply for the scheme in their own right, rather than relying on their parents’ applications. Their partners and children will also be eligible to join them.
Ministers estimate that around 26,000 people could arrive in the UK through the expanded route over the next five years.
The move is framed as part of the UK’s long-standing commitment to the people of Hong Kong, coming against the backdrop of a continuing decline in civil liberties and political freedoms in the territory. The Beijing-imposed National Security Law has been widely criticised for curbing dissent and press freedom, prompting many Hong Kong residents to seek opportunities abroad.
Concerns over those freedoms were underscored this week by the sentencing of media entrepreneur and British citizen Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison. The Prime Minister raised Mr Lai’s case directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent visit, opening high-level discussions on the UK’s most pressing concerns. The government said it would step up engagement on the case following the sentencing.
In a further signal of support, the Home Secretary confirmed in November that Hong Kongers arriving under the BN(O) route will continue to benefit from a five-year pathway to permanent settlement, even as the government plans to move most other migrants onto a 10-year residency requirement.
The BN(O) expansion sits alongside broader reforms to the UK’s asylum and migration system. Ministers have pledged to introduce new, capped humanitarian routes for people fleeing war and persecution, aimed at providing alternatives to dangerous small-boat crossings once border controls are restored.
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.
While we must restore order and control to our borders, the British people will always welcome those in genuine need of sanctuary”.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“Though Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms continue to erode, this government’s support for its people remains steadfast, and that’s why we are ensuring that young people who missed out on resettlement protection because of their age will now be covered”.
Since the BN(O) route was launched, more than 230,000 visas have been granted, with almost 170,000 people already moving to the UK.
The announcement comes amid continued use of bespoke migration schemes in response to global crises. The government recently extended the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme for another year, having already offered refuge to around 310,000 Ukrainians and their families. Since 2021, more than 37,000 Afghans have also been resettled in the UK, including thousands who supported British forces during operations in Afghanistan. Photo by Acred99, Wikimedia commons.