Fill in and sign section [10] of the Passport application form, taking care to include valid contact details, address and valid Passport information. [18] The British National Overseas (BNO) passport is a travel document that allows people to get consular assistance and protection from UK diplomatic posts. Must sign, date and certify 1 of the 2 Passport sized photographs provided (Only 1 photo is to be used the other is to be left blank!) There are an estimated 2.9 million Hongkongers eligible for BNOs and as many as 2.3 million of their dependents, according to a U.K. government Earlier, residents of Hong Kong were Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and their relevant passports bore the texts 'British Passport' at the top and 'Hong Kong' at the bottom of the cover. What is BNO passport? This endorsement is identical to the one appearing on passports of British citizens from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man without a qualifying connection, for more than five years, to the United Kingdom by descent or residency. Currently there is an estimated 2.9 million people who are eligible to apply for BN(O) Passports and around 300,000 Hong Kong people currently hold one. British passports issued to British citizens after 29 March 2019 no longer carry the words "European Union" on the cover, making them identical to BN(O) passports in appearance. To be eligible for ‘Leave Outside the Rules’ they must usually live in Hong Kong. For longer stays or other purposes of visit, holders of BN(O) passports needed to apply for the appropriate visas at the UK diplomatic missions overseas. The holder's page is identical to the identification page of British Citizen passports with the nationality being indicated as British National (Overseas). [11], As of 2 October 2020, the number of valid British National (Overseas) passports in circulation was 469,416.[12]. As of January 2021, the UK will allow individuals living in Hong Kong with rights to a BNO passport and their immediate dependants to apply for a special UK visa. [10], As of 17 April 2020, the number of valid British National (Overseas) passports in circulation was 357,156. In addition, the Government of Hong Kong does not allow BN(O)s to renounce their Chinese citizenship pursuant to the nationality law of the People's Republic of China. from 1 July 1987 to 21 December 1989, only 15% of newly issued passports were of the BN(O) type; the majority still held the British Dependent Territories Citizen passports). [9], As of 24 February 2020, there were 349,881 holders of BN(O) passports and the UK Home office estimates that there are around 2.9m BN(O)s in Hong Kong. The text United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is present below the coat of arms of the United Kingdom; the wording British Passport is printed above the coat of arms. Under United Kingdom law, holders of these passports are considered to be British, and are entitled to consular protection if they get into difficulties in any place outside of China. Holders of the British National (Overseas) passport are allowed visa-free access for 6 months upon entering Macau. 350,000 holders of BNO passports as of February, according to the U.K. Home Office. BNO passports were issued to Hong Kong residents born before the handover of the territory from the UK to China in 1997. “Today, about 350,000 of the territory’s people hold British National (Overseas) passports and another 2.5 million would be eligible to apply for them. Children born before 1 July 1997 whose parents have BNO status and whose names are mentioned in their parents’ BNO passports (i.e the child is listed as an ‘Included Child’ in parents’ BNO passports, even if the child has never registered in the past.) The British National (Overseas) status itself does not automatically grant the right of abode anywhere (including the United Kingdom and Hong Kong). This is something the UK considers a violation of the principle of 'One country, two systems' as set out by the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, an internationally binding treaty.[4]. Before July 2020, holders of BN(O) passports could only visit UK for no more than six months (or three months when arriving from the Republic of Ireland). The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. The nationality on the machine readable zone, however, is GBN rather than GBR. These are issued by the United Kingdom Government to Hong Kong residents who had British nationality by virtue of a connection with Hong Kong before reunification with China in 1997. [citation needed]. After five years they could apply for "settled status" and then register as a British citizen after another year.[20]. This makes the number of visa-free countries of the BN(O) passport comparatively smaller. In December 2013, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom announced backsourcing of overseas passport processing to their HM Passport Services in Liverpool. As a result, the fee for renewing BN(O) passports was reduced by 35% as of April 2014. Under the new visa, holders will be permitted to remain in the UK for 5 years, at which point they become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Holders of BN(O) passports are ineligible to register for the Registered Traveller service for clearing immigration. On the other hand, someone who was not born in the country can be eligible for a British passport over time, provided they meet the requirements set by the Government. Use this guide to help you apply for a British National Overseas (BNO) passport from Hong Kong. [15], In the early years after the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, the issue of counterfeit British National (Overseas) passports aroused international attention and government scrutiny, as such passports were being manufactured and used by illegal immigrants from the mainland of the People's Republic of China, who wished to gain direct access to the United Kingdom by way of Hong Kong. BN(O) passports are currently issued in their latest biometric versions (as of 2020) and they bear the "electronic travel document symbol" () on the navy blue coloured cover. [19], From 31 January 2021, BN(O) holders will be able to apply for the right to work and study in the UK for a period of up to five years with limited leave to remain (known as the BN(O) visa). I was born in Hong Kong in 1990, when the city was still under British rule. Dependants of BNO passport holders who were born after 1 July 1997 are not eligible to apply for a BN(O) passport since they are born after the UK’s handover of Hong Kong to China. BN(O) passport holders who possess right of abode in Hong Kong normally use their permanent identity cards to enter Hong Kong. Between 1990 and March 2020, all BN(O) passports sported a burgundy red cover identical to that of the British Citizen passports, albeit without the words "European Union" text at the top part of the cover. These passports are also recognised by many other countries for visa-free travel purposes. I have never held a BNO passport nor an HKSAR passport since my birth and I would like to apply for BNO because I prefer a Commonwealth citizenship to a communist citizenship. If China implements a controversial proposed security law, … Registration for the BN(O) passports was not regarded as a popular, practical option during the early years (e.g. British National (Overseas) status is a specific type of British nationality. British National (Overseas) status is not recognized by the Government of China, so BN(O) passports are not recognized by Mainland China ports of entry controlled by Ministry of Public Security. The machine-readable zone starts with P The New Lassie Roots, Tim Southee Stats, Moussa Dembele Fifa 21 Potential, Marnus Labuschagne Net Worth, Teacher Education In Finland, Orange Revolution Sdn Bhd, New Nba City Jerseys 2021, Uaa Track And Field Championships 2020 Results, 1kd To Npr, Beau Bridges Kids,