Can a Hong Kong citizen come to the UK?
A visa scheme to allow Hong Kong residents to come to the UK opens on Sunday, with some 300,000 people expected to apply. The visa, which is open to holders of a British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents, will offer a fast track to UK citizenship.
Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?
Nationals of Albania, Armenia, Cambodia, etc. require a visa to enter Hong Kong. All visitors to Hong Kong must have a passport that is valid for at least one month to six months (depending on nationality) after the period of their intended stay in Hong Kong. If you want to travel from Hong Kong...
Can I study in the UK with a Hong Kong passport?
If you have a Hong Kong passport and are travelling to the UK for the purposes of undertaking short-term study, you do not need a study visa. You can stay for up to 6 months without a visa.
Can a Hong Kong passport holder apply for permanent residence?
Starting from 21 August 2020, Hong Kong passport holders are eligible for applying 5 years student and temporary skilled visas after the enforcement of the national security law. After meeting the requirement of the 5 years stay, eligible visa holders can apply for permanent residence in the same manner like other nationalities. [15]
How long can I stay in UK with Hong Kong passport?
Duration of Stay: 180 days.
Do Hong Kong passport need visa to UK?
No, BN(O) and HKSAR passport holders can enter the UK as a visitor without the need to obtain a visa in advance and can stay in the UK for up to 6 months.
Is Hong Kong visa free for UK?
Hong Kong tourist visa is not required for citizens of United Kingdom for a stay up to 180 days.
Can Hong Kong people come to UK?
The UK opened its borders to three million Hong Kongers and their dependents - potentially five million people - following China's democracy crackdown. And they've been arriving in the UK or applying to come here - on average - at a rate of 2,500 a week since January.
How long can a Hong Kong stay in the UK?
Duration of a Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa If your Hong Kong BN(O) Status Holder Visa application is approved you will be able to enter or remain in the UK for a period of either 30 months or 5 years, depending on the period of leave applied for.
Where can Hong Kong citizens travel without a visa?
As of this recent year, Hong Kong citizens can enter visa-free (get a visa on arrival or apply for an eVisa), 170 countries and territories....Where Can Hong Kong Citizens Travel Without a Visa?CountryAllowed to StayFinland90 daysFrance and territories90 daysGermany90 daysGreece90 days105 more rows
Is Hong Kong passport powerful?
According to the Henley Passport Index, in 2019 the Hong Kong SAR passport was ranked as the 19th most powerful passport worldwide, tied with Bulgaria; in contrast, the Macau SAR passport was ranked 36th, while the PRC passport was ranked 74th.
Can I get British citizenship if I was born in Hong Kong?
You may be eligible to apply if you're 'ordinarily resident' in Hong Kong at the date of your application and: you were ordinarily resident there on 3 February 1997. your parents were ordinarily resident there at the time of your birth if you're a child born after 3 February 1997.
Do Hong Kong citizens need a visa for Europe?
Do Hong Kong citizens need to obtain a visa for European travel? No, Hong Kong citizens will not need a visa to enter Europe and stay for up to 90 days per 180-day period. Although there are no new European visa requirements for Hong Kong citizens travellers will soon need to register with ETIAS.
Why Hong Kong residents are leaving for the UK?
Among Hong Kong natives, many have taken advantage of something known as the British National Overseas (BNO) visa — a program that allows Hong Kong citizens born before the 1997 handover to live, work and study in the U.K. for up to five years and offers a path to citizenship.
How can I apply for UK visa from Hong Kong?
How can I apply for UK visa from Hong Kong? To apply for a UK visa from Hong Kong you will need to submit an online application and attend an appointment at the visa application centre. At this appointment you will need to submit the printed online visa application form and your supporting documents.
Why are Hong Kong nationals coming to UK?
103,900 Hong Kongers have applied to move to Britain in the year since it launched a new visa program, the U.K. home office said Thursday. The British National Overseas (BNO) visa grants Hong Kongers the right to live, work and study in the U.K.
How long can you stay in the UK without a visa from Hong Kong?
6 monthsIf you have a Hong Kong passport and are travelling to the UK for the purposes of tourism, or to visit friends and family for a short stay, you won't usually need a visitor visa to come to the UK. You can stay for up to 6 months without a visa.
Can I enter UK with BNO passport?
If you use a valid BNO or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport to prove your identity, you do not need to travel to the UK using the same passport.
Is Hong Kong passport powerful?
According to the Henley Passport Index, in 2019 the Hong Kong SAR passport was ranked as the 19th most powerful passport worldwide, tied with Bulgaria; in contrast, the Macau SAR passport was ranked 36th, while the PRC passport was ranked 74th.
How long does it take to get a UK visa in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa You should get a decision within 12 weeks once you either attend your appointment at the visa application centre or when you submit your online documents after completing the ID Check app.
The Hong Kong BN(O) visa
The UK government has created a new visa to enable British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, and their i...
BN(O) status
BN(O) status is a form of British nationality created for people from Hong Kong so they could retain a form of British nationality after handover i...
About the BN(O) visa
The Hong Kong BN(O) visa will provide eligible applicants with the ability to enter or remain in the UK for up to 5 years. Applicants and their fam...
Who can apply
Anyone who is a BN(O) status holder and normally resides in Hong Kong can apply for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa. Applicants do not need a valid BN(O)...
How to apply
You can start your application online.There are 2 application options available:1. If you have a BN(O), HKSAR, or EEA biometric passport, you can a...
Applying and travelling as a family
The Hong Kong BN(O) visa is designed to enable a BN(O) status holder and their dependants to come to the UK as a family unit.If you’re applying as...
Applying from within the UK
There have been some BN(O) status holders who have wished to travel sooner. In these exceptional circumstances, UK Border Force officers have been...
Costs
Applications for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa will cost £180 per person for 30 months or £250 per person for the 5-year visa.Like other nationals comin...
What you can and cannot do with this visa
You can: work (except as a professional sportsperson) study (including applying for higher education courses) use the NHS You cannot claim public f...
Additional eligibility requirements
Residency requirementsIf you’re applying from outside the UK, you and your family members must normally live in Hong Kong.If you’re already in the...
How can I apply for UK visa from Hong Kong?
To apply for a UK visa from Hong Kong you will need to submit an online application and attend an appointment at the visa application centre. At th...
Is there a travel advisory for Hong Kong?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are travel advisories worldwide, including for travel to Hong Kong. There may also be risks of violent clash...
How can I check UK visa status online?
After completing the online application, you will receive an email message stating your application number, also known as ‘GWF reference number’. Y...
What is a Hong Kong BN visa?
The Hong Kong BN (O) visa is designed to enable a BN (O) status holder and their dependants to come to the UK as a family unit.
Where do you live if you are applying for a visa from outside the UK?
If you’re applying from outside the UK, you and your family members must normally live in Hong Kong.
How long do you have to travel to the UK to get a BRP?
Once you have a vignette, you must travel to the UK within 90 days of the date the vignette is placed in the passport.
How long do you have to be in the UK to get a BN?
As part of your application, BN (O) status holders will need to be able to show that they can support themselves and their dependants for at least 6 months when in the UK.
How long does it take to get British citizenship?
Those eligible will be able to apply for settlement after 5 years if they meet the requirements, and British Citizenship 12 months after settlement.
Can family members apply for BN visa in Hong Kong?
If your family members do not apply with you, they will not be able to apply for the Hong Kong BN (O) visa to join you later.
Can a child live in the UK with their parents?
Children under 18 must intend to live with their parents during their stay in the UK, unless there is a good reason why they cannot.
How can I apply for UK visa from Hong Kong?
To apply for a UK visa from Hong Kong you will need to submit an online application and attend an appointment at the visa application centre. At this appointment you will need to submit the printed online visa application form and your supporting documents. You will also need to register your biometric information, ie; a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photo of your face.
How long can a British citizen stay in the UK?
For a citizen who holds a British National Overseas (BNO) passport, they can currently come to the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, but for long stays they must apply for a visa in much the same way as other Hong Kong citizens.
How can I check UK visa status online?
After completing the online application, you will receive an email message stating your application number, also known as ‘GWF reference number’. You can use this number to track your visa application online.
When will Hong Kong open for BNO?
If you are a BNO citizen, you should consider the new Hong Kong BNO visa, which is set to open from 1 January 2021. If you are looking to travel to and enter the UK prior to the new route opening in 2021, and are otherwise ineligible for a visa under the UK immigration rules, you should consider the special provisions under ‘Leave Outside ...
What happens if you don't provide all the information required for a visa?
If you fail to provide all necessary information and supporting documents at the visa application centre, you may be refused a visa. The types of documents required could include proof that you can support yourself during your stay, a certificate of sponsorship from your UK employer, or a letter of acceptance for a course of studies at an accredited institution.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Visa processing times can differ, depending on the type of visa, although 90% of non-resident visa applications are completed within a period of 3 weeks and 95% of residence applications are completed within 12 weeks.
Can Hong Kong citizens travel to the UK?
If you’re a Hong Kong citizen and want to apply for a visa to visit the UK, the following guide looks at the different types of UK visa, when these are needed and the application process for obtaining a visa.
How many Hong Kong residents are eligible for the British scheme?
The British government estimates 5.4 million Hong Kong residents are eligible for the scheme, that's about 72% of its 7.5 million population. It is difficult to say how many eligible people will actually come to the UK. A government report published last year put the number of people expected to take up the offer at about 300,000 in ...
When did China impose a security law on Hong Kong?
But in June 2020, China's parliament imposed a severe security law on Hong Kong, following months of protest and unrest in reaction to a proposed extradition law.
How many people will come to the UK in the first 5 years?
A government report published last year put the number of people expected to take up the offer at about 300,000 in the first five years.
Is Hong Kong a country?
Hong Kong was handed from the UK to China under the Sino-British Joint Declaration agreement, which said the communist country would respect the territory's capitalist system and rule of law for 50 years, an arrangement known as "one country, two systems". But in June 2020, China's parliament imposed a severe security law on Hong Kong, ...
Do Hong Kong residents need a BNO passport?
It's not clear what impact this will have as Hong Kong residents can use other documentation to enter mainland China, and wouldn't normally need a BNO passport. The only time they might use a BNO passport is upon arrival in the UK or another country that recognises the document.
When did Hong Kong become a British citizen?
Any Hong Kong BDTCs who failed to register as a BN (O) by 1 July 1997 and would thereby be rendered stateless (generally because they were a non-ethnic Chinese and therefore could not automatically acquire Chinese nationality), automatically became a British Overseas Citizen under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986.
How many people were in Hong Kong at the time of the British handover?
At that time, there were some 3.5 million residents of Hong Kong with BDTC status by virtue of their connection with Hong Kong. Another 2 million were believed to have been eligible to apply to become BDTCs. After the handover, they would have lost this status and became solely Chinese nationals. At the time, Hong Kong was the largest of the remaining British dependent territories with over 5 million inhabitants.
What is a British passport?
A British passport for a BDTC with connection with Hong Kong. The British Nationality Act 1981 created new categories of British nationality and renamed British colonial territories. After implementation, all British Crown colonies became British Dependent Territories.
Why did China not recognise Hong Kongers?
The main legal rationale for the Chinese position was that recognising these people as British could be seen as tacit acceptance of a series of treaties which China considers " unequal " – including the ones which ceded the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the land between the Kowloon Peninsula and the Sham Chun River and neighbouring islands (i.e. the New Territories) to the UK. The main political reason was to prevent the vast majority of Hong Kong residents from having any recourse to British assistance (e.g. by claiming consular assistance or protection under an external treaty) after the handover of Hong Kong .
How many people were granted British citizenship in 1990?
However, the British did agree to creating the British Nationality Selection Scheme, which granted to a select 50,000 people and their families the ability to obtain full British citizenship without having to fulfil the ordinary requirements, under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990.
What was the British citizenship act of 1948?
The British Nationality Act 1948 provided for a new status of Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC), consisting of British subjects who had a close relationship (either through birth or descent) with the United Kingdom and its remaining colonies. The Act also provided that British subjects could be known by the alternative title Commonwealth citizen .
When did the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act come into force?
The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 (now renamed as "Status of Aliens Act 1914") came into force on 1 January 1915, codifying for the first time the law relating to British nationality.
How long is a Hong Kong visa valid for?
90 days. 90 days on each visit in 12-month period if granted. Starting from 21 August 2020, Hong Kong passport holders are eligible for applying 5 years student and temporary skilled visas after the enforcement of the national security law.
Why are there travel restrictions for Chinese citizens?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries have imposed temporary travel restrictions on Chinese citizens or persons arriving from China.
How long is a temporary visa valid in Taiwan?
This 【Temporary entry and stay permit】online (online visa) is valid for three months for a single entry (if using a cruise ship to enter Taiwan, it is two entries)
How long does a Bermuda passport last?
Bermuda requires passports to be valid for at least 45 days upon entry. Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives and South Africa.
Which countries require a passport validity of at least one month?
Countries that require a passport validity of at least one month beyond the date of intended departure include Eritrea, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Maldives and South Africa.
Do countries have restrictions on foreigners?
Many countries have entry restrictions on foreigners that go beyond the common requirement of having either a valid visa or a visa exemption. Such restrictions may be health related or impose additional documentation requirements on certain classes of people for diplomatic or political purposes.
Can Chinese citizens travel to Hong Kong?
between Hong Kong and Russia) and unilateral decisions to grant visa exemptions (e.g. Myanmar), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders enjoy visa exemptions and simplified visa procedures to a large number of destinations worldwide. Whilst the visa exemptions mostly only apply when Chinese citizens of Hong Kong are visiting on short trips for pleasure or on business, a number of countries extend the visa exemption to short stays involving paid activities (e.g. Belgium and Luxembourg).
How long is a passport valid in Hong Kong?
All visitors to Hong Kong must have a passport that is valid for at least one month to six months (depending on nationality) after the period of their intended stay in Hong Kong. If you want to travel from Hong Kong to China mainland, you may need to apply for a China visa. See our top mainland China tours from Hong Kong.
How long does it take to get a visa?
It normally takes four weeks to process a visa application upon receipt of all required documents.
Is Hong Kong a SAR?
Although Hong Kong is part of the People's Republic of China it remains a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own visa policy and requirements.
