The UK may offer British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong a path to live and work in the UK soon. As this is a developing topic, employers are advised to remain alert and be ready to take advantage of any new changes in immigration law. The BNO passport gives its holders visa-free access to 100 countries, compared with 134 countries to which SAR passport holders have visa-free access.

BNO passport holders are permanent residents of Hong Kong, who are entitled to British diplomatic and consular protections outside of Hong Kong and China.

Employers looking to transfer Hong Kong employees to the UK will still need to obtain a sponsor licence and to go through the standard immigration procedures. You can renew your BNO status even when your passport has expired however it does come at a price. Most topics have at least 3-5 articles from various law firms, so there's an opportunity to read different perspectives and analyses. • If they don’t receive your signed declaration form and supporting documents within 90 days, your application will be withdrawn and you won’t get a refund; I’ve noticed a mistake in my application after payment, what should I do? This effectively means that BNO passport holders require a suitable visa to work and study in the UK in line with other non-EU nationals. A press release issued by the UK government on May 29 said that if China follows through with its new national security law, the government will explore options to allow BN(O)s to apply for leave to stay in the UK, for an extendable period of up to 12 months if eligible. The proposed changes include opening a new route for work or study for an extendable period of 12 months and offering BNO nationals a path to British citizenship. most of the questions I used to get on this website was about BNO and I have always said – ‘BNO: Yours for Life’.’ You cannot logically have an expired citizenship. The usual employment considerations also remain at play, such as the structuring of the transfer and managing the rights and benefits that the employee may have in the two jurisdictions. Hong Kong, which was a former British colony, was handed over to China in 1997 when it became one of its Special Administrative Regions. At $970, a 32-page 10-year BNO passport costs the same as a British passport. • Renewal – if you have an existing, undamaged BNO passport, and your name and British national status have not changed, • Changes to your current passport – if you have changed your name, you want to change the photo or if there is a change to your British national status, • Lost or stolen passport replacement – if you are applying to replace a BNO passport that has been lost or stolen, • Damaged passport replacement – If you have damaged your existing passport and you are applying to replace it, • Extension of a passport to full validity – if your last passport was issued for one year or less, and you are applying to extend it. Explained: What is the UK's latest offer for Hong Kong’s British passport holders? Introducing PRO ComplianceThe essential resource for in-house professionals.

Click here to join our channel (@ieexplained) and stay updated with the latest. According to a memorandum of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, a British National Overseas (BNO) passport is a travel document that does not include citizenship. Last week, the Chinese legislature approved a national security law that proposes to ban seditious activities targeting mainland Chinese rule. Your visa or resident permit (or colour photocopy); Your tax records (eg a letter from a tax authority); Your educational records (eg school report); Your employment record (eg official letter from your employer).
They can spend 12 months in the UK without a visa as long as they applied for and were granted a BN(O) passport, a move that affects over 2.9 million Hong Kong residents.

It is governed by a mini-constitution called the Basic Law — which affirms the principle of “one country, two systems”. Proposed changes to the BNO passport policy. Note that if dont reply within 6 weeks the applicaiton will be cancelled with no refund. 26 lakh Indians infected in Sept, a 71% jump on numbers till end of Aug, Understanding an abundant, highly transmissible coronavirus mutation.

Cost will always be an issue but this once off cost will last you for 10 years. The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985 [1], from which this new class of British nationality was created.Holders of BN(O) passports are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British … British National (Overseas): path to British citizenship? Tracey Brown December 1, 2013 BNO Renewal. He said: “Today about 350,000 people hold British Nationals (Overseas) passports and another 2.5 million people would be eligible to apply for them. You will need a colour photocopy of both sides of your Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card; If you are a dual national, a colour photocopy of your non-British passport (SAR passport); One document as evidence of name and address and/or residency dated within the last year. In conjunction with an "in-country" switch provision, BNO passport holders wishing to apply for a work visa will benefit from the relaxed requirements under the new Points-based System to be introduced from 1 January 2021. The articles are all extremely well done and provide a practical viewpoint, not just an academic one. Currently, Hong Kong citizens with BN(O)s have the right to enter the UK for six months as a visitor. • They will show you the total amount that you need to pay, and you will need to enter your card details. About three reforms: Education, labour and agriculture reforms are connected, Celebrate, don’t mourn, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Poco C3 launch in India on October 6: Here’s what we know so far, ‘This made me cry’: Woman pens obituary for pet dog, post leaves netizens emotional, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel tests positive for coronavirus, Belarus activist shares Alternative Nobel with 3 others, Heard narrator’s voice in my head: Avni Doshi on writing Booker nominated novel. Nest Audio vs Google Home: What's the difference? That is as big a ballpark as what you can get. The document replaced the British Dependent Territories citizens’ passport. With the legal sector working digitally, it's a great time to review your current content marketing strategy and see where you can get the best ROI from your existing content. Its for life! Any letter sent to you from a government department (eg rates letter); A letter from your bank / building society. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines. At $970, a 32-page 10-year BNO passport costs the same as a British passport. Meeting Housing Needs In The Wake Of The Hong Kong Crisis: Will Modern Methods Of Construction Be Part Of The Solution. The supporting documents package will include your old passport. For all the latest Explained News, download Indian Express App. Implications on employee transfers to the UK. According to an article in The South China Morning Post, the BN(O) was first issued in 1987, 10 years before the return of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China. You will need 2 identical photos taken within the last 30 days; Your original BNO passport (except if it was lost or stolen). If you would like to learn how Lexology can drive your content marketing strategy forward, please email enquiries@lexology.com. A pathway to citizenship for millions in Hong Kong. A larger 48-page BNO passport costs $1,150.
Whilst there is no official regulations or guidance from the Home Office (as of the date of this publication), one of the potential avenues for implementing the changes would be to allow BNO passport holders to "switch" their immigration status from a visitor to a "worker" whilst inside the UK. Take good advice – Renew your BNO as the cost will only go up. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. A 32-page five-year child’s passport costs $630. (Please do not forward photographs of your countersigner). Currently, BNO passport holders are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a visitor.  Express Explained is now on Telegram. There is a long term saving in the end as on average $97 a year for an updated BNO passport is a small price to pay. Please contact customerservices@lexology.com. When pushed for a number they gave a ballpark figure – between 70,000 and  200,000 citizens of Hong Hong renewed theirs. • Provide the details in a signed and dated covering letter with your declaration form and supporting documents; How will I get my new passport and supporting documents? If we have to missing documents you’ll have 6 weeks to provide them.

They address both legislative and judicial updates and offer an experienced, thoughtful analysis of directions or trends. See the forms and address for the British Consulate in Hong Kong here. A press release issued by the UK government on May 29 said that if China follows through with its new national security law, the government will explore options to allow BN(O)s to apply for leave to stay in the UK, for an extendable period of up to 12 months if eligible.