The BN(O) visa was opened in January 2021. The first batch of Hong Kong friends with the "five-year visa" will gradually reach the point of applying for British permanent residence (ILR / Indefinite Leave to Remain) in 2026. Five years is not a long time, but if you make one mistake in the step of permanent residence, you may have to wait another year. Today, we will explain clearly the hard conditions and recent policy changes for BN(O) to apply for permanent residence.
BN(O) visa permanent residence: hard threshold for 5 years of residence
BN(O) follows the "5+1" path - you can apply for ILR after you have lived legally in the UK for 5 consecutive years, and you can apply for British Citizenship after you have obtained permanent residence for 12 months. The earliest application can be submitted is , 28 days from , 5 years ago.
The most likely thing to overturn in the past five years is the number of days outside the country. The rules require compliance with Appendix Continuous Residence: In any rolling 12-month period, departures from the UK should generally not exceed 180 days. Note that it is "rolling 12 months", not based on calendar years - many people think that it will be cleared after a year has passed, but as a result, when a certain interval is superimposed, it exceeds the standard.
Traveling to and from Hong Kong during the epidemic, going back to take care of parents, long-term business trips... these will all add up to 180 days. It is recommended to use 永居计算器APP to accurately calculate each entry and exit to the day, and do not estimate based on impressions.
English and examination requirements for British permanent residence ILR
Like most permanent residence paths, BN(O)'s application for ILR requires two items: "Life in the UK Test" (24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 correct answers to pass) and English proficiency CEFR B1 (listening and speaking). Both are independent requirements and must be passed.
Here is a blackboard: The British government is advancing the " Earned Settlement ()" reform. The public consultation has ended on February 12, 2026. The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing about 130,000 responses. It is expected that will be implemented in the autumn of 2026. . One direction of reform is to raise the English language threshold for permanent residence from B1 to B2, and possibly introduce an income threshold. For the specific effective time and whether BN(O) is applicable, please refer to the final announcement of GOV.UK. If you can submit this year, it is recommended to lock in the existing rules as early as possible.
BN(O) permanent residence fees and new regulations: the 5-year path is preserved
In terms of fees, starting from April 8, 2026, the application fee for ILR is £3,226 per person for , and does not need to pay IHS (medical surcharge) during the permanent residence stage. If a family of three applies at the same time, the budget must be calculated per person.
The good news is that under the framework of the earned-based reform, the BN(O) path has received the treatment of " reduced by 5 years " from the 10-year qualifying period - that is to say, the core path to permanent residence in 5 years has been retained and will not be changed to 10 years across the board.
Another change: Starting from February 9, 2026, BN(O) qualifications will be expanded. Some adult children of BN(O) status holders who were under 18 years old on July 1, 1997 can apply independently from their parents, and their spouses and children can also apply together. This provides an additional way for many families who were originally stuck on the "dependency visa".
Tips to avoid pitfalls when submitting UK visa permanent residence application
📌 Don’t leave the country before is decided : After submitting ILR until you get the result (usually within 6 months), do not leave the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, otherwise the application may be considered abandoned.
📌 Prepare all materials in advance for : passport/BRP or eVisa identity, proof of address, Life in the UK and English certificates, and complete departure records.
📌 If wants to naturalize, they have to wait another 12 months : After getting ILR, they must hold it for 12 months before they can apply for naturalization (except for those whose spouse is a British citizen). Plan your stay this year and don’t step on the red line of leaving the country again.
This article is for reference only. The details of the autumn reform have not yet been finalized. Please consult a licensed lawyer for specific questions and refer to the latest announcement of GOV.UK.
[Data source] GOV.UK British National (Overseas) visa: Settle in the UK (gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa/settle-in-the-uk); GOV.UK "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" earned settlement consultation.
Let’s talk about your BN(O) permanent residence progress
Chat in the comment area: What year is your BN(O) in five years? Have you ever been worried about the number of days you were away from the country in the past five years? Do you plan to lock in the existing five-year rules this year, or wait and see the new rules in the fall?
If you find it useful, please forward to your Hong Kong friends who are also applying for permanent residence in the UK. - One more person can calculate 180 days in advance, and one less person has to wait in vain for a year.