The British National Overseas -[BN(O)] BN(O) - route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to theto those people of Hong Kong who chose to keepretain their ties to the UK whenby Hongtaking Kongup wasBN(O) handedstatus overat the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

In January 2021, the Home Office launched the BN(O) visa., Thisenabling enables BN(O) status holders and their family members to live, work, and study in the UK.

In April 2021, the MinistryDepartment offor Housing,Levelling CommunitiesUp, Housing and LocalCommunities Government(DLUHC) (then DLUHC) launched a new UK-wide Welcome Programme to support those on the BN(O) visa settle into the UK.

Year 54 of the Welcome Programme

InAs Marchthe 2025,programme has developed, we have identified that BN(O)s will benefit most from support with a) employability and b) mental health and wellbeing. Therefore, over the Ministryfourth ofyear, Housing,our CommunitiesVoluntary, Community and LocalSocial GovernmentEnterprise (MHCLG) announced(VCSE) itsfunding fifthworth yearcirca of£1 million will be targeted towards these two priority areas, and there will no longer be funding for theregional UK-wideVCSE Welcomeprojects. ProgrammeThis tois supportbased BN(O)on statusevidence holders.of need in areas identified through ongoing delivery and funded research.

The VCSE grants will complement support offered through other aspects of the Welcome Programme deliveredover bythis MHCLGyear, includes:including:

• Grantcontinued funding ourfor Mental12 HealthWelcome andHubs Wellbeingacross (Barnardo’s)the projectUK, at the same level of £3.6 million as previous years

• continued demand-led funding for anlocal additionalauthorities 6to months.provide SeeEnglish detailslanguage ofand thisdestitution project.
  support (England only)
• we will also maintain funding for the current Hate Crime Reporting Service for BN(O)s and East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities until 31 March 2024, and a further announcement on the future provider will be made in due course
• continuing to signpost BN(O)s through the online Welcome Pack with information about the support and services they can access in the UK

ContinuingFelicity fundingBuchan, Minister for the networkHong ofKong 12BN(O) Welcome HubsProgramme acrosssaid:

I am proud the UK,UK helpinggovernment established a visa route giving BN(O)s understandand their loved ones the freedom to live, work, and connectstudy here, on the pathway to servicesBritish citizenship.  The Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, in its fourth year, will continue to provide the support BN(O)s and their localfamilies area.need to integrate and thrive into their new communities.

Children and Young People Resettlement Fund

FurtherThe fundingChildren forand OnYoung YourPeople’s Side,Resettlement Fund is a hate£2.5 crimemillion reportingfund andfacilitating projects in England until March 2025 that support serviceyoung forpeople, BN(O)saged 21 and allunder, otheron Eastthe Ukraine, Afghan and SoutheastHong AsianKong communitiesBN(O) inpathways. Families will benefit from the UKprojects whofunded, experiencewhich orincludes witnessprojects racismtailored orto anythe otherspecific formneeds of hate.

Information for BN(O)s

This informationpage ishas for:

• been designed for those people who have recently arrived in the United Kingdom from Hong Kong
• Kong, or those who are applying to move to the UK, on the BN(O) visa.

You willThis findpage contains a list of resources for you to settle in the UK, including:

• including an online Welcome Pack
• Pack, letters to support BN(O)s navigate public services
• services, information on how to access MHCLG’sDLUHC’s Welcome Programme
• Programme, announcements and updates

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Information on services may be different depending on wherewhich innation of the UK you live.live in.

Online Welcome Pack

TheAn online Welcome Pack willhas been developed to help you settle into life in the UK.UK, Itincluding includes how to access the public services that are available to you.

The Welcome Pack is available in English and Cantonese. You can access the relevant language by changing the language settings at the top of this page.

Welcome Pack for arrivals from Hong Kong on the British National (Overseas) visa

PDF, 915 KB, 51 pages

The pack provides a wealth of information and resources to help you to settle into the UK.UK Itand explains how to access public services, such as how to:

• apply for a National Insurance number
• number, register with a GP
• GP, find a school for your children
• children, set up a bank account
• account, start a business
• business, buy or rent a home
• home, and access careers advice and support

support. In some places the Welcome Pack covers specific services in England only. YouThe canfollowing findlinks provide further information on services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Welcome Hubs

The Welcome Programme has created 12 virtual Welcome Hubs across the whole of the UK.UK The Welcome Hubs are to support you and your family asto youintegrate settle into your community.communities. Through the Welcome Hubs you can:

• findcan navigate local support
• support, build your confidence and skills through sessions with specialists
• getspecialists, helpand to integrate settle into your community.

Find your local Welcome Hub and their contact details.

Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) grant scheme

In year 54 of the Programme, our Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) funding worth circa £1 million will be usedtargeted totowards extend the mentaltwo healthpriority andareas wellbeingof projecta) beingemployment deliveredand byb) Barnardo’smental throughhealth toand Septemberwellbeing. 2025This tois deliverbased supporton forevidence BN(O)sof need in oversubscribedareas elementsidentified ofthrough theirongoing project.delivery and funded research.

SeeFurther furtherinformation detailson about the project.VCSE grant scheme competition and making applications will be published on this GOV.UK page in due course.

English language and destitution support

The English language support funded by the Welcome Programme is an integral part of the support available to you. Funding is available for local authorities in England to support youthose who may require support to learn English or improve yourtheir English language ability. Get in touch with your local authority to find out how to access English lessons. Find your local authority.

Within the 2024/25 VCSE grant scheme there will be a requirement for English language to be an element within the employment-focused project to support BN(O)s in engaging in the workplace.

The Welcome Programme also provides funding for destitution support. If you are at risk of becoming destitute (homeless) you will need to apply for a Change of Condition to lift the No Recourse to Public Funds limitation on your BN(O) visa. For more information on this, please read section 8 in the Welcome Pack.

FurtherWe informationadvise onyou the support available can be found on the information for local authorities page.

You should visit the relevant pages for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to find out more about support in those nations.

Hate crime and support

TheUntil 31 March 2024, the Welcome Programme alsocurrently funds ‘On Your Side.’, This is a third-party reporting and support service for BN(O)s and all other East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK.

You can use On Your Side to find support and make a report if you experience or witness racism or any other form of hate. This includescould anyinclude verbal harassment in person or online, criminal damage such as graffiti, or physical violence perpetrated because of hostility against an aspect (or assumed aspect) of a person’s identity such as their race, gender, religion, disability, sexuality, or political beliefs. Racism could include:

• verbal harassment in person or online
• criminal damage such as graffiti
• physical violence

On Your Side is led by the independent charity Protection Approaches alongside a consortium of mainly East and Southeast Asian community organisations, and operates independently of the UK government.

You can find out more on the On Your Side website, or call their 24/7 free helpline on 0808 801 0393.

Resources

Certificates of No Criminal Conviction

A letter from theDLUHC department to BN(O)s and prospective employers on Certificates of No Criminal Conviction from the Hong Kong Police can be found below. This letter is available in English and Cantonese.

Letter on Certificates of No Criminal Conviction

PDF, 136 KB, 2 pages

‘To whom it may concern’ letter for BN(O)s and businesses

A letter to whom it may concern from the former Minister of State for theDLUHC department can be found below. This letter provides further information regarding your legal status, which you may find helpful when settling in the UK such as finding housing, employment, or opening a bank account. This letter is available in English and Cantonese.

To whom it may concern letter

PDF, 184 KB, 4 pages

Announcements

• British National (Overseas) visa
• April 2021: National welcome for Hong Kong arrivals
• February 2022: Community projects awarded government funding to help Hong Kongers settle into life in the UK
  • Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Welcome Programme: VCSE grant recipients Year 1 (2021/2022)
• July 2022: Support continues for Hong Kongers building new lives in the UK
  • Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme: VCSE Grant recipients Year 2 (2022/2023)
• March 2023: Government announces a third year of support to help Hong Kongers settle into life in the UK
• June 2023: Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Welcome Programme: Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Year 3 (2023/2024) grant schemes
• March 2024: Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Programme: Year 4 VCSE Funding (2024/2025)