How many years does it take for BN(O) permanent residence? 5+1 path and new regulations in 2026

On January 31, 2021, the BN(O) visa was officially opened. The first batch of Hong Kong families to land in Manchester City, Reading and Nottingham will be in their fifth year this year - 2026.

So the most common question backstage in the past six months has become the same sentence: There are rumors outside that the permanent residence will be changed to 10 years. Will BN(O) be dragged into the water? We will explain clearly the parts that can be verified at once.

1. How many years does it take to stay in BN(O) permanent residence? What does "5+1" mean?

The statement of GOV.UK is very straightforward: if you have lived in the UK continuously for 5 years with an BN(O) visa, you can apply for permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR); after getting permanent residence and 12 months , you can usually submit a naturalization application. This is commonly known as "5+1".

Two details that are easily overlooked:

📌 The time spent on other visas before may count. If you have previously stayed in the UK with a work visa, spouse visa or other visa "leading to permanent residence", that time can usually be counted as 5 years, but the last period of status must be BN(O) path . Many people switch from Skilled Worker to BN(O), which can save more than half a year.

📌 can be submitted 28 days in advance. does not have to wait until midnight on the day of five years to submit. It can be submitted four weeks in advance, but the "date of five years" on the materials must be calculated accurately.

2. In the 10-year permanent residence reform, has the BN(O) visa been exempted?

Let’s talk about the conclusion first and the boundaries first.

The Ministry of the Interior's public consultation on "earned settlement" ended on February 12, 2026. The core idea is to extend the default permanent residence period to 10 years, and then provide reductions and exemptions based on "contribution" such as income, taxes, English, and whether there are violations. This plan has not yet become a formal law. Officially, it is expected to be implemented in the autumn of 2026, and some ministers have publicly stated that it may be postponed to 2027.

In response to a parliamentary petition signed by more than 100,000 people, the government confirmed that the BN(O) route would retain a 5-year qualification period - giving a direct 5-year reduction within the 10-year default framework. The "5+1" schedule for BN(O) families has not been changed at this time.

But don't be too quick to breathe easy. The consultation document also proposes that those who enjoy the exemption must still meet a set of "basic thresholds", among which the most discussed is that must have a certain tax income record (the reference line mentioned in the draft is the personal income tax threshold of £12,570) and no crime or immigration violations. For parents who take care of their children full-time, retired BN(O) elders, or self-employed people whose income is below this line, this is more worthy of attention than "5 or 10 years".

The final rules are subject to Statement of Changes officially announced by the Ministry of the Interior. If you will be five years old this year, the pragmatic approach is - submit as early as possible under the old rules. Don't bet that the new policy will be more friendly to you.

3. How to calculate the 180-day red line for BN(O) permanent residence?

This is the most common "hidden secret" for BN(O) families: within five years, must not leave the country for more than 180 days within any rolling 12-month period .

Pay attention to the word "scroll". It is not cut into sections by visa year, but each 12-month window from your application date back to you must be met individually. Many people return to Hong Kong to take care of their elders, three or four times a year, for more than a month each time, and the total adds up to quietly breaking the line, but they are still doing mental calculations according to the "calendar year".

In terms of calculation method, the Ministry of Interior's Continuous Residence Guidelines clearly defines "full day". The processing on the day of entry and exit may be different from what you imagine. For border cases (such as exactly 179 days or 181 days), it is recommended to check the passport and boarding records one by one. If you want to save trouble, you can use the 永居计算器 APP to enter each entry and exit period. It will automatically calculate the most dangerous window in a rolling 12-month period, accurate to the day.

4. How much does it cost to apply for BN(O) permanent residence? Exam and Materials Checklist

💷 application fee: £3,226 per person from 8 April 2026 (previously £3,029). There is no need to pay IHS medical surcharge during the permanent residence stage. This is often overlooked as "saving a lot of money". Expedited service is additional and costs approximately £500 within 5 working days and approximately £1,000 the next day, subject to the current announcement of GOV.UK.

📝 two hard targets : Life in the UK Test (£50, 24 questions need to be answered 18 correctly) + English B1 (listening and listening). If you are 65 years old or above or if you have medical exemption, it will be discussed separately. When a family applies together, each adult must meet the criteria individually - one spouse waiting until the end to take the exam is the most common cause of delay.

🗂 Enter SET(O) in the form, fill it out online, select the BN(O) category, and then collect biometric information. It is recommended to organize five years of entry and exit records, proof of address, tax and employment records into a timeline three months in advance.

If your situation is a bit special - you changed your visa midway, your departure is close to the red line, your adult children's accompanying status is in question - it's much more cost-effective to spend a few pounds to ask for clarification first than to conduct an administrative review afterwards. For justiscript.com, for just £5 you can receive a written response from a practicing UK lawyer to a specific question within 24 hours, in either Chinese or English.

5. After obtaining BN(O) permanent residence: there are two lines for naturalization

Permanent residence is not the end. In addition to "holding permanent residence for 12 months", naturalization also requires passing a residence test: 's total absence from the country in the past five years did not exceed 450 days, and the last 12 months did not exceed 90 days . After obtaining permanent residence, many people finally relaxed and returned to Hong Kong to live for half a year. As a result, the naturalization clock was pushed back by a whole year.

Five years is a long time, long enough for people to forget that they are keeping track of time. But from that flight in 2021 to today, you have completed the most difficult part.

This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions. The policy shall be subject to the latest announcement by the Ministry of the Interior.
[Data source] GOV.UK: british-national-overseas-bno-visa / Continuous residence caseworker guidance / Home Office Immigration application fee table (effective April 8, 2026)

💬 Chat in the comment area: Which month will be full in your BN(O) five years? What are you most worried about in the past five years: 180 Days, Life in the UK, or whether the New Deal will change?

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