(UK) — UK government figures recorded nearly 670 Hongkongers gaining indefinite leave to remain under the BN(O) visa route by the end of 2025, the first clear sign the scheme is moving from arrivals to long-term settlement.
That settlement figure appeared despite over 230,000 visas granted since the route launched on January 31, 2021, and nearly 170,000 people arriving in the UK over the same broad period.
The early cohort reached the five-year mark for eligibility after five years of continuous residence, with some qualifying earlier if prior time on other routes counted. Tens of thousands more are expected to apply for settlement in 2026.
The BN(O) visa route opened in early 2021 as a pathway for eligible Hongkongers to live, work and study in the UK, and it is now mature enough to show both arrival totals and the first settlement outcomes.
That shift matters because settlement, formally indefinite leave to remain, marks the point at which applicants move beyond temporary permission to stay. It also puts the spotlight on how many people who secured visas have gone on to establish a longer-term life in Britain.
The same figures show a persistent gap between visas granted and arrivals, a difference that reflects timing and mobility rather than a single, comparable count. Visas can be issued to people who travel later, change plans, move onward, or apply from inside the UK rather than from overseas.
Public reporting also shows more than one cumulative total depending on cut-off dates and definitions. One alternative figure put visa grants at 181,609 from launch to late 2025, alongside the broader total of over 230,000 from launch to February 2026.
Early demand looked strong when the route opened. From January 31–September 30, 2021, early applications stood at ~88,800.
Survey findings from early 2021 suggested potential demand could run high across the eligible population. At that time, 6% of ~2.9 million BN(O) holders planned to apply, equating to ~186,000, while 32% were considering it, equating to ~932,000.
Those early indicators sat alongside the government’s five-year forecast of 322,000 applicants, a benchmark that later administrative totals allowed observers to measure against in broad terms rather than as a straight line.
By September 2023, official snapshots showed over 154,000 out-of-country visas granted, with 135,000 arrivals, plus 31,000 in-country grants. By the end of 2025, nearly 670 people had moved through to settled status, reflecting the first cohort reaching eligibility.
Applicant numbers have fallen short of initial targets, with a 47% decline in applications during 2025 amid uncertainties over long-term settlement policies. The government confirmed in November 2025 that BN(O) holders retain the five-year path to settlement, unlike proposed 10-year requirements for most other migrants.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced an eligibility expansion on February 9, 2026, widening access for adult children of BN(O) holders who were under 18 at Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China. Under the change, they can apply independently.
Mahmood said: “This country will always honour its historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong,” while pointing to a safe haven for nearly 170,000 since 2021. Cooper said UK support remains “steadfast” amid eroding rights.
The expansion also allows those adult children to apply with partners and children, without changing the five-year settlement timeline. The government projected 26,000 arrivals over the next 5 years from the expansion.
Alongside the numbers, the route’s requirements and costs shape who applies and when they travel. Under 2025 updates, eligibility includes BN(O) status, shown through a valid or expired passport or a certificate, and an adult baseline of age 18+, with ordinary residence requirements tied to whether an applicant applies from overseas or from within the UK.
Applicants also need to show financial self-sufficiency for 6 months. Health-related requirements include a TB certificate for overseas applicants, in addition to visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
After an April 2025 increase, fees stood at £193 for a 30-month visa and £268 for a 5-year visa per applicant. The Immigration Health Surcharge was £1,035/year for adults and £776/year for children under 18.
Government figures set out example totals for a single adult that combine the visa fee and the health surcharge. Those totals ran from £2,780.50 for a 30-month application to £5,443 for a 5-year application.
For settlement eligibility, the rules also focus on continuous residence, with a maximum of 180 days absence per 12-month period. That makes tracking travel and time spent outside the UK part of how many families plan their move over several years.
Employment outcomes have become another measure of how the scheme is bedding in as arrivals stay longer. By 2025, about two-thirds of working-age BN(O)s were employed, compared with a UK rate of 75%.
Researchers and experts have also pointed to skills mismatch, with people working in roles below their qualifications despite high education levels. One measure put degree-level qualifications at 59%.
The BN(O) route emerged in response to Hong Kong’s 2020 National Security Law, and the latest settlement figure shows the first group moving beyond temporary status. Cooper’s description of support as “steadfast” framed the government’s message as the scheme enters a phase where more holders seek indefinite leave to remain.
670 Hongkongers Gain Indefinite Leave Under Bn(o) Visa as Targets Slip
The UK’s BN(O) visa program has reached a milestone as the first participants secure permanent residency. While over 230,000 visas have been issued since 2021, the focus is now shifting toward long-term integration. Recent policy changes have expanded eligibility to younger generations, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to Hong Kong citizens despite rising application costs and a slowing rate of new applicants.
