BNO dependent children get settlement residence rule change
04 Sep 2026
If you are on the BNO route with children under 18, a rule change published on 3 September 2026 removes a hurdle that used to stand between your children and settlement. The government's explanatory memorandum for Statement of Changes HC 584 says plainly: "This change removes the requirement for dependent children on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route to complete a five-year continuous residence period before qualifying for settlement."
Under the current rules, a dependent child normally needs to show five years of continuous residence in the UK before they can apply to settle alongside their parents. The updated rule text confirms the child must have spent a continuous period of 5 years with permission in the UK on a route under which a person can settle, "unless they are aged under 18 at the date of application." In other words, children who are still under 18 when they apply are exempt from the five year wait, so they can settle at the same time as a qualifying parent rather than being held back by their own residence clock.
This change takes effect on 8 October 2026. If your own five year qualifying period as a BNO visa holder is coming up and you have dependent children under 18, it is worth checking your settlement application plans against this new exemption so you do not delay their application unnecessarily. Use our ILR calculator to track your own continuous residence and absence days ahead of applying.
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