British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) is a special type of British nationality created for residents of Hong Kong before the 1997 handover to China. It was introduced in 1985 to allow people who were British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTC) connected with Hong Kong to retain a form of British nationality after sovereignty transferred to China on 1 July 1997.
Who are BN(O)s?
People who registered as British National (Overseas) before 1 July 1997, mainly Hong Kong residents with BDTC status. About 2.9 million people hold BN(O) status, with around 720,000 holding valid BN(O) passports as of 2025.
Nationality status:
BN(O)s are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British citizens. They do not have the automatic right to live or work in the UK without a visa and are subject to UK immigration controls.
Rights and privileges:
BN(O)s can hold British passports and receive consular protection from UK diplomatic posts outside China, Hong Kong, and Macau. They are exempt from visa requirements for short visits (less than six months) to the UK. They have some rights in the UK as Commonwealth citizens, such as voting rights and eligibility to serve in most civil service roles and the armed forces.
Historic Background about BN(O)s:
Before the creation of British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status, residents of Hong Kong held a form of British nationality called British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC), formerly known as Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under the British Nationality Act 1948. Under the British Nationality Act 1948, Hong Kong residents were CUKCs, which gave them British nationality with rights tied to the colonies, including Hong Kong. This status was based on jus soli (right of the soil), meaning birth in the territory conferred nationality.
The British Nationality Act 1981, effective from 1983, redefined British nationality categories. It replaced CUKC status with new categories, including British Dependent Territories Citizenship (BDTC) for Hong Kong residents. BDTC status was linked specifically to the dependent territory (Hong Kong) and did not grant the right to live or work in the UK. The Act was passed during the period when the UK was negotiating the future of Hong Kong with China, which culminated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984), agreeing that Hong Kong would be handed over to China in 1997.
The UK government foresaw that after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong residents would lose their BDTC status because Hong Kong would no longer be a British dependent territory. To maintain a form of British nationality for Hong Kong residents without granting full British citizenship or the right of abode in the UK, the UK created the British National (Overseas) status under the Hong Kong Act 1985. BN(O) status was a voluntary registration available only to BDTCs connected with Hong Kong between 1987 and 1997. It allowed holders to retain a British nationality status and hold BN(O) passports after the handover. However, BN(O) status did not grant the right to live or work in the UK and holders were subject to UK immigration controls. Those BDTCs who did not register as BN(O) and had no other nationality became British Overseas Citizens (BOCs) after the handover, a status with even fewer rights.
Political and social context:
The British government was concerned about a potential large influx of Hong Kong residents to the UK after 1997, similar to the migration of Ugandan Asians in the 1970s, so it deliberately limited the rights attached to BN(O) status. The 1981 nationality changes and BN(O) creation effectively cut off full British citizenship rights from the majority of Hong Kong’s population, especially ethnic Chinese residents, reflecting the UK's intention to relinquish sovereignty over Hong Kong and control migration. This led to criticism that the UK government "abandoned" many Hong Kong residents by denying them full British citizenship and the right of abode in the UK.
Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984)
Before the creation of British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status, residents of Hong Kong held a form of British nationality called British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC), formerly known as Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under the British Nationality Act 1948. Under the British Nationality Act 1948, Hong Kong residents were CUKCs, which gave them British nationality with rights tied to the colonies, including Hong Kong. This status was based on jus soli (right of the soil), meaning birth in the territory conferred nationality.
The British Nationality Act 1981, effective from 1983, redefined British nationality categories. It replaced CUKC status with new categories, including British Dependent Territories Citizenship (BDTC) for Hong Kong residents. BDTC status was linked specifically to the dependent territory (Hong Kong) and did not grant the right to live or work in the UK. The Act was passed during the period when the UK was negotiating the future of Hong Kong with China, which culminated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984), agreeing that Hong Kong would be handed over to China in 1997.
The UK government foresaw that after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong residents would lose their BDTC status because Hong Kong would no longer be a British dependent territory. To maintain a form of British nationality for Hong Kong residents without granting full British citizenship or the right of abode in the UK, the UK created the British National (Overseas) status under the Hong Kong Act 1985. BN(O) status was a voluntary registration available only to BDTCs connected with Hong Kong between 1987 and 1997. It allowed holders to retain a British nationality status and hold BN(O) passports after the handover. However, BN(O) status did not grant the right to live or work in the UK and holders were subject to UK immigration controls. Those BDTCs who did not register as BN(O) and had no other nationality became British Overseas Citizens (BOCs) after the handover, a status with even fewer rights.
Political and social context:
The British government was concerned about a potential large influx of Hong Kong residents to the UK after 1997, similar to the migration of Ugandan Asians in the 1970s, so it deliberately limited the rights attached to BN(O) status. The 1981 nationality changes and BN(O) creation effectively cut off full British citizenship rights from the majority of Hong Kong’s population, especially ethnic Chinese residents, reflecting the UK's intention to relinquish sovereignty over Hong Kong and control migration. This led to criticism that the UK government "abandoned" many Hong Kong residents by denying them full British citizenship and the right of abode in the UK.
Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984)
The Sino-British Joint Declaration is a treaty signed on 19 December 1984 between the United Kingdom and the People’s Republic of China, which set the terms for the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China on 1 July 1997. Under this agreement, Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, maintaining a high degree of autonomy except in foreign affairs and defense. The declaration guaranteed that Hong Kong’s existing capitalist system, legal system, and way of life would remain unchanged for 50 years after the handover, until 2047, under the principle of “one country, two systems.” The treaty was registered with the United Nations in 1985 and remains legally binding according to the UK government.
The background to this agreement lies in Hong Kong’s colonial history: it had been a British colony since 1842, with the New Territories leased to Britain for 99 years starting in 1898. As the lease approached expiration in 1997, Britain and China negotiated to peacefully resolve Hong Kong’s future, balancing China’s sovereignty claims with the need to maintain Hong Kong’s economic and political stability. The Joint Declaration laid out China’s basic policies for governing Hong Kong after the transfer, including establishing the SAR with a high degree of autonomy and preserving its social and economic systems separate from mainland China. Since 2014, China has claimed the treaty is no longer legally binding, arguing it expired with the handover, while the UK insists it remains in force. Despite these disputes, the Joint Declaration remains a foundational document governing the relationship between the UK, China, and Hong Kong.
Anti-Extradition Compaign (2019) and National Secruity Law (2020)
Anti-Extradition Compaign (2019) and National Secruity Law (2020)
The Anti-Extradition Campaign in 2019 began as widespread protests in Hong Kong against a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. Many Hongkongers feared this law would undermine the city’s judicial independence and expose residents to unfair trials and political persecution. The protests quickly grew into a broader pro-democracy movement demanding greater political freedoms and opposing perceived encroachments by Beijing on Hong Kong’s autonomy.
In response to these protests and ongoing unrest, China imposed the National Security Law (NSL) on Hong Kong in 2020. This law criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, with penalties up to life imprisonment. It grants Beijing broad powers to intervene in Hong Kong’s legal system, including establishing a mainland-controlled security office exempt from local jurisdiction. The law also expands police powers to conduct searches without warrants, freeze assets, and censor online content. It applies not only to Hong Kong residents but also to foreigners and non-permanent residents, and it restricts those found guilty from holding public office. The National Security Law was introduced to suppress dissent and restore control after the 2019 protests, but it has been widely criticized for undermining the freedoms promised under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The law marks a significant tightening of Beijing’s grip on Hong Kong, effectively curbing political opposition and freedom of expression in the city. The UK has criticized China for actions seen as undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, such as imposing the National Security Law in 2020 and altering electoral laws, which it views as breaches of the Joint Declaration.
BNO Visa (2021) and the U.K. Government
BNO Visa (2021) and the U.K. Government
The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa scheme was launched by the UK government on 31 January 2021 to provide a pathway for Hong Kong residents holding BN(O) status and their eligible family members to live, work, and study in the UK. This visa reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who chose to maintain their ties with the UK before the 1997 handover. The visa allows an initial stay of 30 months, extendable by another 30 months or up to 5 years, after which holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) and, subsequently, British citizenship.
The UK government states that the policy is “in recognition of the unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong, the UK’s historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong through the Joint Declaration, and our unique obligations towards those who elected to retain their ties with the UK through obtaining BN(O) status.” The scheme was introduced in response to Beijing’s imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong in 2020, which the UK government viewed as undermining the autonomy and freedoms promised under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The BN(O) visa offers a safe alternative for those concerned about the changing political environment in Hong Kong. It does not require applicants to have a BN(O) passport or meet minimum income or skills requirements, but applicants must show they can support themselves initially.
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