1 Introduction

This report is the second of four short briefings summarising findings from analysis of official data sources that - while not directly quantifying migrant flows or stocks - enable insight into specific aspects of international migration patterns. Our goal is to inform and assist a wide range of users, and for this we depend on your feedback. So please send your comments and suggestions to demography@london.gov.uk.

2 Context for the BN(O) scheme

Following imposition of National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, the UK government opened a new immigration route for British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders. This scheme was designed to facilitate Hong Kong nationals to live, work and study in the UK, and opened on 31 January 2021. After five years in the UK, BN(O) status holders and their family members will be able to apply for settlement, followed by citizenship after a further twelve months.

To apply for a BN(O) visa one must be at least 18 years old and registered as a British National (Overseas). The only way of being a British overseas territories citizen by connection with Hong Kong is by having registered as a British National (Overseas) before 1 July 1997. It is not possible to register now. If applying for a BN(O) visa from outside the UK (classified as an out-of-country application), one’s permanent home must be in Hong Kong, while if applying in the UK (classified as an in country application) one’s permanent home must be in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong.

The UK Home office estimated in October 2020 that there were around 2.9 million British Nationals (Overseas) in Hong Kong and also 2.3 million dependants eligible for the BN(O) visa scheme. By the end of March 2023 there had been a total of 172,500 applications for the (BN(O) route, and 113,500 people had arrived in the UK on the BN(O) scheme.

The 2011 census recorded 102,241 people who had been born in Hong Kong residing in England and Wales, of which 26,435 (nearly 26%) lived in London. By the 2021 census, the numbers had increased to 121,429 people who had been born in Hong Kong residing in England and Wales, of which nearly 28% lived in London (33,760).

In 2021 the Home Office commissioned a small-scale survey of a random sample of 500 BN(O) visa holders living in the UK. 96% of the interviewees reported that they intended to stay in the UK either indefinitely or at least longer than the duration of their current visa.

Source of data: gov.uk See the table “Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes”
Data are provided quarterly by the Home Office.The most recent data were released on 25/05/23.

3 BN(O) statistics for the UK

Of the total 172,500 applications for the (BN(O) route since it was introduced on 31 January 2021 until the end of Q1 2023, 83% (144,000) were out-of-country applications. The chart below shows the number of applications for BNO visas from outside the UK made during each quarter, disaggregated by whether the applicant was the main applicant or dependant.

Source: Home Office. Chart: GLA demography

The monthly out-of-country application rate was highest during the first two months after the scheme opened (the chart shows the number of applications was greatest in Q2 2021, but the scheme started on 31 January, so there were only two months during the first quarter of 2021 in which applications were made). The chart also shows that the rate of applications for Q4 2022 was the lowest to date, and it slightly increased in Q1 2023.

The most frequent nationalities of out-of-country applicants to date are Hong Kong (86,352, 60%) and China (55,822, 39%). For the most recent quarter there were 9,411 out-of-country applications for the BN(O) route. Of these, 53% were from Hong Kong nationals and 45% were from China nationals. For this quarter 5,472 (58%) related to main applicants and 3,939 (42%) related to dependants.

With respect to the number of visas granted, 139,144 out-of-country BN(O) visas, and 27,276 in country BN(O) visas have been granted up until 31 March 2023. During Q1 2023, 9,279 out-of-country BN(O) visas were granted, of which 5,640 were for main applicants and 4,089 were for dependants. There were also 3,014 in country BN(O) visas granted.

113,500 people have arrived in the UK on the BN(O) scheme up to the end of March 2023, of which 8,300 arrived during the first quarter of the year.

For more information, or to send your comments and suggestions, please contact the Demography Team, GLA City Intelligence Unit.
demography@london.gov.uk