London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025

Hong Kong applications for British residence scheme fall in second quarter

Hong Kong applications for British residence scheme fall in second quarter

Immigration specialists say Covid-19 restrictions and demand for education in the UK continue to fuel demand.

The number of Hongkongers who have applied for a new route to British citizenship dropped by almost 8 per cent in the second quarter compared with the first three months of the year, but immigration specialists said the city’s coronavirus restrictions continued to fuel interest in moving to the UK.

British government figures released on Thursday showed there were 18,100 applications for the British National (Overseas) visa programme between April and June, down by 1,400 from the 19,500 recorded between January and March.

Almost all of the applications – 96 per cent – were filed from outside Britain and the remainder were made from inside the United Kingdom.

Figures released on Thursday showed there were 18,100 applications for the British National (Overseas) visa programme between April and June.


The latest figures marked a decline from the peak of 34,300 people who rushed to sign up in the first two months after the scheme was launched at the end of last January.

Margaret Szeto, the founder of migration consultation company Aura Global, said the city’s strict Covid-19 rules were behind the rise in applications this year compared with the last three months of 2021, when 15,600 Hongkongers applied for the scheme.

She explained that parents who planned to send their children to school in the UK from September had made up the bulk of the applications for the first six months of the year.

Szeto said Canada, a popular option for Hongkongers, and Australia had also launched programmes for people who wanted to emigrate.

Antonia Grant, an immigration lawyer at legal firm Baker McKenzie, highlighted concerns about restrictions on the transfer of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) pensions out of Hong Kong, changing economic predictions in Britain and the relocation of staff to Singapore by companies among the reasons for the slight drop off in second quarter applications for a move to the UK.

The Hong Kong government no longer recognises the BN(O) passport as a valid travel document and the MPF Authority said last March that scheme members could no longer rely on their BN(O) passport or its visa as evidence to support an application for early withdrawal of a pension.

Willis Fu Yiu-wai, a senior immigration consultant at Goldmax Associates, said he expected an increase in applications later this year, when the British government extended the visa scheme to allow young Hongkongers born on or after July 1, 1997, aged 18 or over, and who have at least one parent with BN(O) status to apply to settle in Britain on an independent basis.

“We received calls from youngsters who are looking for ways to leave Hong Kong, but were previously not eligible to apply for the BN(O) visa,” he said.

“Now, with that chance, I foresee an increase in applications starting from October.”

People at the airport bid farewell to loved ones departing from Hong Kong.


From its launch in January 31 last year to June this year, a total of 140,500 Hongkongers have applied for the pathway to British citizenship, with 95 per cent of them, or 133,124, having gained approval.

An estimated 5.4 million people out of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million-strong population are eligible for the scheme, which allows successful applicants and their dependents to live, work, and study in Britain for up to five years, after which they can apply for citizenship.

Britain launched the visa after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong, which the UK described as a “clear and serious breach” of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration that laid out the conditions for the city’s return to mainland Chinese rule.

The legislation came into force in June 2020 in the wake of anti-government protests the year before and bans acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×