Registering BNO As A British Citizen

• Page Contents
• Overview
• Registration On The Basis Of 5 Years Residence
• Registration On The Basis Of Crown Or Similar Service
• Registration As BNO With No Other Nationality
• How Can We Help?
• Our Fixed Fees

You can apply for registration as a British citizen if you are a British National (Overseas) i.e. BNO and meet the relevant eligibility requirements for registration as a British citizen. The status of British National (Overseas) was created by the Hong Kong Act 1985 and inserted into s.4(1) with effect from 1 July 1987 by Article 7(2) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986. Those BN(O) citizens who cannot qualify for registration as British Citizens may qualify for new Hong Kong BNO visa UK being introduced from 31 January 2021.

Our specialist team of nationality solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis in relation to your application for registration as a British Citizen being a BN(O). Ask a question to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice with our specialist immigration solicitors for your application for registration as a British Citizen.

If you are a British National (Overseas), you may be eligible to register as a British Citizen under one of the eligibility criteria as set out below.

Registration On The Basis Of Five Years Residence

To be eligible to register under the five-year residence requirement you must:

• have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years; this is known as the residential qualifying period; and
• have been present in the United Kingdom five years before the date of your application; and
• have not spent more than 450 days outside the United Kingdom during the five-year period; and
• have not spent more than 90 days outside the United Kingdom in the last 12 months of the five-year period; and
• have not been in breach of the immigration rules at any stage during the five-year period; and
• be free from immigration time restrictions (hold ILR) for the last 12 months of the five-year period of your stay in the United Kingdom.

Meeting The Residential Requirement

The residential qualifying period will be worked out from the day Home Office UKVI would receive your application. You must show you were present in the United Kingdom at the start of this period. For example, if Home Office UKVI received your application for registration as a British Citizen on 25 November 2020, you would have to show that you were in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2015.

You cannot count time you have spent in the United Kingdom while exempt from immigration control as part of the residential qualifying period. If you are in the United Kingdom as a diplomat or as a member of visiting armed forces or if you are in any place of detention, you would be considered exempt from immigration control. This time would be treated as absence from the United Kingdom.

Registration On The Basis Of Crown Or Similar Service

If you do not meet the five-year residence requirement, you may be eligible to register as a British citizen on the basis of your own crown or similar service.

You will need to show that:

• you have been or are in crown service under the government of a British overseas territory; or
• you have been or are in service as a member of a body established by law in a British overseas territory, the members of which are appointed by or on behalf of the Crown.

Registration on the basis of crown or similar service is only granted in exceptional circumstances. You need to show that you:

• have been or are the holder of a responsible post; and
• have given outstanding service; and
• have a close connection with the United Kingdom.

Registration As British Citizen If You Are A British National (Overseas) With No Other Nationality

Followings are the requirements you need to meet to be eligible for registration as a British citizen by descent.

You must:

• be a British National (Overseas);
• not hold any other citizenship or nationality;
• not have given up any citizenship or nationality;
• not have lost any citizenship or nationality by action or inaction.

It is possible to be a citizen or national of a country even if you have never held a passport issued by the authorities of that country. You should make sure this does not apply to you before you make your application for registration as a British citizen.

How Can We Help?

Our expert team of nationality law solicitors in London can represent you in your application for registration as a British Citizen and carry out all the work on your British Citizenship application until a decision on your application is received from the Home Office UKVI. As part of our professional legal services in relation to your application for registration as a British Citizen, our specialist team of immigration solicitors will carry out the following immigration casework:

• We will assess your eligibility for registration as a British Citizen by considering all the relevant information including your past immigration history;
• We will advise  you on the chances of success in your application for registration as a British Citizen and would draw your attention to any weaknesses in your application;
• We will advise you on the list of documents to be submitted in support of your application for registration as a British Citizen;
• We will assess all the supporting documents to ensure that the documents you provide duly satisfy the Home Office UKVI requirements for registration as a British Citizen;
• We will complete the relevant application form online for your registration as a British citizen, submit the same online, help you pay the Home Office UKVI fee for the application and schedule your appointment with the application centre for enrolment of your biometrics;
• We will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the application explaining in detail your eligibility for registration as a British Citizen by referring to all the relevant information, documents, laws and requirements;
• We will upload all the supporting documents online to be considered in support of the application including our cover letter prepared to support your application;
• We will carry out all the work on your application for registration as a British Citizen until a decision is received from the Home Office UKVI on your application.

Our Fixed Fees For Registration Of Adults As British Citizens