London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 04, 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
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×