Nearly 10,000 Hongkongers granted UK permanent residence
Quick Look
- Nearly 10,000 Hongkongers have received permanent residency in the UK through a special immigration route launched in January 2021.
- These individuals can apply for British citizenship next year after completing five years of residence.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The UK launched a bespoke immigration pathway in January 2021 for Hongkongers, allowing them to apply for permanent residence after five years. This pathway makes them eligible for British citizenship subsequently.
Nearly 10,000 Hongkongers have been granted permanent residence in the UK under a bespoke British immigration pathway launched in January 2021, making them eligible to apply for citizenship next year.
“Since the scheme began, there have been a total of 9,804 grants of settlement to individuals whose most recent leave was on the BN(O) route, with 8,682 grants issued over the latest 12-month period [ending March 2026],” the UK Home Office said on Thursday when releasing quarterly immigration statistics.
“Some individuals may be qualifying earlier, where time spent on other eligible visa routes, before moving onto the BN(O) route, counts towards their five-year residence period,” the Home Office added.
If BN(O) visa holders have lived in the UK for five years, they can apply to stay permanently under a status known as “indefinite leave to remain”. This give them the right to live, work and study there for as long as they like and to access government benefits if they are eligible. They can then apply for British citizenship after a year.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
BN(O) visa holders will become eligible to apply for British citizenship.
Very likely
Open Questions
- What is the total number of BN(O) visa applications received?
- What is the breakdown of settlement grants by age or family unit?
- What are the specific criteria for 'other eligible visa routes' that count towards residence?
- What is the UK government's long-term projection for BN(O) route immigration?
