BNO Adult Children Route Opens Today
08 Apr 2026
From today, 8 April 2026, the British National (Overseas) visa route is open to a new group: adult children of BNO status holders who were born after 1 July 1979 — meaning they were under 18 when Hong Kong was handed back to China on 1 July 1997. If you meet that description, you can now apply for a BNO visa in your own right, without being included on a parent's application. Your partner and dependent children can come with you.
Previously, adults on the BNO route could only join as dependants if they were living with a parent who had applied. That requirement has been removed. If your parent holds BNO status, you can now apply independently — whether or not your parent is applying at the same time or is already settled in the UK. The Home Office estimates around 26,000 additional people will make the move under this expansion over the next five years.
The visa terms are the same as for all other BNO applicants. You can choose between a 30-month visa or a 5-year visa, and the pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain remains 5 continuous years in the UK. You will also be subject to the standard 180-day absence limit in any 12-month period during that qualifying period. Once you have ILR, you can apply for British citizenship after a further year.
If you think you qualify, you can apply online through the GOV.UK BNO visa page. From today, BNO applicants can also use the ID Check app to complete biometrics, which removes the need to attend a visa application centre in most cases.
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