New UK citizenship visa route opens for Hong Kong residents
PTI
London |
Updated on
January 31, 2021
British National Overseas passports (BNO) and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People s Republic of China passports - REUTERS
British National Overseas passports (BNO) and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People s Republic of China passports - REUTERS×
A new visa route that offers Hong Kong residents the option to apply to come to the UK and become citizens through a fast-track system officially opened on Sunday.
Around 300,000 Hong Kong nationals are expected to apply for the visa, which is open to holders of the British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents and was announced last year in retaliation of China s controversial new National Security Law.
BBC News
Published
media captionWhat is the BNO visa for Hong Kongers?
The UK will not look the other way on Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) status, No 10 says, amid a row with China over a new visa.
From Sunday Hong Kong citizens with BNO status can apply for a special UK visa.
But China s foreign ministry has been critical of the move, saying while the UK may be in dire need of talents it should not have used the BNO passport as a political cover-up .
It said it will no longer recognise the BNO passport as a travel document.
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The UK government will deliver on its commitment to open a new visa for Hong Kong BN(O) status holders on Sunday 31 January.
The commitment was made following the Chinese government’s imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong last year, in breach of its commitments under international law.
The visa reflects the UK’s historicâ¯andâ¯moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who have had their rights and freedoms restricted.
Those with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status and their eligible family members will be able to come to the UK to live, studyâ¯and work. As with other visas, afterâ¯5 years in the UK, theyâ¯will be able to apply forâ¯settlement, followed byâ¯British citizenship after a further 12 months.