British Citizenship - UK Naturalisation

British Nationality and Lived in Hong Kong

Eligibility:

You may qualify to apply for British citizenship if you are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the time of your application and meet these criteria:

• You were ordinarily resident in Hong Kong on 3 February 1997.
• If born after this date, your parents were ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at your birth.

What is 'Ordinarily Resident'?

• Living full-time in Hong Kong.
• Not violating any immigration rules.
• Moved voluntarily with the intention to settle permanently.

Character:

You must be of good character.

Nationality:

• You must have been a British national on 3 February 1997, or
• You must have become a British national after that date.
• You should not have held citizenship or nationality of another country at any time since then.

British National (Overseas) Visa

If you are from Hong Kong SAR and hold British National (Overseas) status, you and your family can apply for a BN(O) visa to live in the UK.

Who Can Apply for BNO Visa?

• Hong Kong residents who are British nationals (overseas)
• The child of a BN(O) if born on or after 1 July 1979
• Family members, including partners, children under 18, and certain adult dependents, can also apply alongside or later.

Stay Duration and Extensions

• You can stay for 2.5 or 5 years
• You can extend your visa multiple times
• After 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency)

BNO Visa Costs

• Application fee: £206 for 2.5 years, or £285 for 5 years
• Healthcare surcharge: approx. £2,588 for 2.5 years, or £5,175 for 5 years.
• You must show you can support yourself and your family financially during your stay.

BNO Visa Application Process

• Apply online from outside or inside the UK
• Prove your identity with a passport or travel document
• Provide evidence of your residence, finances, and relationship with family members
• TB test certificates may be required depending on where you apply from.

Path to Settlement and Citizenship

• After 5 years of residence, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain
• Once settled, you can apply for British citizenship after 1 additional year
• Family members can also apply for citizenship if eligible

Who Can Apply for UK Passport?

• You must be a British national
• You need to be 16 or older (or will be within 3 weeks)
• You’ve never held a UK passport before, including passports issued before 1 January 1994
• You can use your child’s passport until it expires, even if you're over 18
• An adult passport is valid for 10 years.

Documents for UK Passport

• Original birth or adoption certificates (or official copies)
• If born outside the UK, additional evidence based on circumstances, such as parents’ UK status or naturalisation certificates
• Documents not in English or Welsh need certified translations
• Supporting documents will be returned separately.

Applying by Post

• Fill in the application form and attach two passport photos (one signed)
• A countersignatory must confirm your identity and sign one photo
• Send your application and documents using the pre-paid envelope or visit a Post Office with the Passport Check and Send service
• Expect a longer processing time than the Online Application

After Applying for Passport

• You may be called for an interview to verify your identity, including online video options
• Your new passport will be sent by courier or recorded delivery

UK Citizenship Advice

In 2026, get Specialist assistance with your British Citizenship application and UK Passport! Contact our experienced UK  Immigration Lawyers, who are members of the Law Society of England and Wales. Complete our Contact Form or Call us to schedule an office meeting in Australia, Singapore or Hong Kong SAR for assistance with:

• British Citizenship Assessment
• Citizenship application process, costs and processing time
• Completion of all Application forms
• Preparation of Supporting documents
• Upload of your documents to the UK Government website
• Payment of Government Citizenship fee, Healthcare Surcharge and Passport fee
• Registration of your information with VFS Global in your city
• Scheduling of your Appointment with VFS Global
• BNO Visa application assistance for Hong Kong citizens
• Guidance regarding Biometrics process

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

For my Settlement or CItizenship application, can I get Priority Faster processing?

Yes, priority processing times are 5 working days for Settlement and UK Visa applications and 30 working days for Family visa applications submitted outide the UK and CItizenship applications. Source: UK Government - Faster Decisions .

I was born in the United Kingdom, do I automatically get Britisj Citizenship?

No, it depends on when you were born and your parents marriage situation.

After how many years of being married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, can you apply for British Citizenship?

Usually after 3 years of living in the UK, provided that you have Indefinite Leave to remain (ILR) or Settled status.

As an Irish Citizen, how many years do I need to live in the UK, in order to get British Citizenship?

Irish citizens must have lived in the UK for 5 years.

If I have Pre-Settled status under the EU Settlement scheme, when am I eligible for British Citizenship?

You must prove that you have EU Settled status and you are from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, and have lived and in the UK, whilst working or studying. To be eligible for UK citizenship, you will then need to live an additional 1 year in the UK.

I am a Commonwealth citizen, how do I become eligible for British citizenship?

You may be eligible for British Citizenship under the Windrush Scheme, and can apply for proof of your right to live and work in the UK if you are a Commonwealth citizen,  and you were settled in the UK before 1 January 1973. If you have been living in the UK continuously or have the RIght of Abode, you can apply for British citizenship.

I was born before 1 January 1983, outside the UK, but my father is British, am I also British?

Yes, you are automatically British provided that at the time of your birth, your father was a British citizen, and he was married to your Mother and able to pass on British citizenship to you. 

What if I was born before 1 January 1983, outside the UK, but my father is not British but my mother was British and they were not married at the time of my birth, am I British?

Yes, provided that your mother or father was a citizen at the time of your birth and was a citizen in their own right or your parents were born or adopted in the UK or your mother or father was working as a Crown servant at the time of your birth or you were born in a non-Commonwealth country or Sri Lanka.

Do I need to provide Biometrics?

Yes, for your British citizenship application, you will need to schedule an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service centre to provide biometrics (fingerpints and photo).

Am I automatically a British citizen if I was born outside the UK between 1983 and 2006?

Yes, provided you were born outisde the UK between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006, and your mother and father were married if your father had British citizenship and they could pass on their citizenship to you.

Am I automatically a British citizen if I was born outside the UK after 2006?

Yes, provided that you were born outside the UK, on or after 1 July 2006 and your mother or father was a British citizen at the time of your birth and they could passon their citizenship to you.

If I was born outside the UK after 2006, but I do not meet the requirements to be an automatic citizen, can I still get British citizenship?

Yes, provided that you meet 1 of the following requirements below:

• you lived in the UK with your parents
• your British parent lived in the UK before your birth
• you were adopted outside the UK
• your father was a British citizen when you were born but your mother was married to another person then
• you were born in the UK and your father had indefinite leave to remain in the UK at that time, and your mother was married to another person at that time

Does the UK allow Dual Citizenship?

Yes, dual citizenship is acceptable. Therefore, you can be a British citizen as well as a citizen and passport hjolder of other countries.

If you become a British citizen, do you need to attend a Citizenship Ceremony?

Yes, if you are 18 or over and your application to become a British citizen is approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving your invitation from the Home Office.

How do I book a Citizenship Ceremony?

Your citizenship ceremont can be booked with your Local Council. The cermeony is usually arranged in Groups, with other people.

What happens at the Citizenship Cemremony?

During the ceremony, you will make an oath of allegiance or an affirmation, and a pledge, promising to respect the UK’s rights, freedoms, and laws. After the ceremony, you will receive your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

Once I have British citizenship, can I apply for a British passport?

You need British nationality to apply for or hold a British passport. However, having British nationality does not guarantee a passport. Your application or existing passport may be refused or revoked if:

• You are suspected of a serious crime and an arrest warrant has been issued.
• A court order restricts your travel or prevents you from holding a UK passport.
• You are on bail with conditions preventing you from leaving the UK.
• You have been brought back to the UK at the government’s expense and have not repaid what you owe.
• You are subject to a European Union or United Nations travel restriction.