If you are from Hong Kong and a British National (Overseas), you and your family members can apply for a British National (overseas) visa (BNO visa). It allows you to live, work and study in the UK.

You are able to apply to enter or stay in the UK for a period of 30 months (which you can extend by a further 30 months) or a period of five years. You are able to apply from outside or inside the UK.

You are able to apply for settlement after five years if you meet the requirements, and British Citizenship 12 months after settlement.

You can find more information about applying for the visa on the government webpages. The government has also produced an online Welcome Pack for all BN (O) status holders with information, translated into Cantonese, on how to access services and understand life in the UK.

Help and support

In order to help us to help you, we would be grateful if you could complete this short survey so we can make sure you are able to access useful advice and support when you need it.

Complete our online survey

National Organisations

Local/Regional Organisations

Welcome to Warrington

We have put together some resources that may be useful to you as a new arrival from Hong Kong, relocating to Warrington. Please check carefully to make sure these are relevant to you and what you need, and please seek further help and advice if you are unsure.

Employment – rights at work
Education and learning
English language classes for speakers of other languages
Housing
  • Housing advice
  • Email us to find out what support can be provided to BN(O) status holders and any dependants who are destitute or at risk of destitution

In addition, the government has announced that it is going to provide funding for us and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships to support new arrivals.

The North West Regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (NWRSMP) is funded by the Home Office, and hosted by Manchester City Council. They are local authority led, but work with organisations across the statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors to help the region to deal with, and benefit from, migration.

20 March 2024