British National (Overseas) visa
Your family members
Your family members can apply as your ‘dependant’ if you’re either:
- a British national (overseas)
- aged 18 or older (and born on or after 1 July 1997) and the child of a British national (overseas)
A dependant can include your:
- husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- child or grandchild under 18
- partner’s child under 18
- parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they’re highly dependent on you because of illness, disability or their age
Children over 18 can still apply if you’re a British national (overseas) and:
- they’re your own child - they must make their own application for a BNO visa separately from you
- they’re your partner’s child - they’re eligible to apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997 (their partner or child is also eligible)
Partners
They’ll need to prove one of the following:
- they’re in a civil partnership or marriage with you that’s recognised in the UK
- they’ve been in a relationship with you and you’ve been living together for at least 2 years when they apply
- they’ve been in a relationship with you for at least 2 years when they apply and you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture
If you’re not living together, they’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:
- communicate regularly with each other
- support each other financially
- care for any children you have together
- spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events
Children under 18
In most cases, children under 18 need to apply with both parents, unless:
- one parent has sole responsibility for them
- one parent already has a BNO visa
- one parent has the right to live in the UK permanently, for example if they are a British citizen
The child must normally live with you, unless they’re either:
- living away from home to study
- applying after you’ve already moved to the UK
Children 18 or older
If you’re a British national (overseas), your partner’s children aged 18 or older can apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997. They must apply at the same time as you and normally live with you unless they’re living away from home to study.
If they’re not eligible for a BNO visa, they may be able to apply for another visa to come to the UK to work or study. Check what visa they need.
Adult dependants
Other adult family members (18 or older) can only apply if they’re highly dependent on you. This means they need long-term personal care to do everyday tasks because of illness, disability or their age.
An adult dependent relative includes your or your partner’s:
- parent or grandparent
- brother or sister
- son or daughter
Adult dependent relatives can apply if they can show both of the following:
- they need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or their age, and medical records show this
- they cannot get or afford the care they need in Hong Kong without you - even with your or your partner’s support
If eligible, they can apply as an ‘adult dependent relative’.
How long family members can stay
When you apply for the first time, your family member will need to apply for the same BNO visa as you, for either:
- 2 years and 6 months
- 5 years
When you apply for the second time, you and your family members will be able to extend your visas.
After they’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, your family members can apply to live in the UK permanently.
How to apply with your family
Each family member will need to make their own application as your dependant.
You’ll need to submit your application first to get an application number. This is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN).
Your family members will need to use your application number when they apply.
If you’re the first person in your family to apply, you can also get a ‘family linking code’ to connect your applications together. Your family members can enter the same code when they apply.
Partners, children under 18 and adult dependent relatives
Partners, children under 18 and adult dependent relatives do not have to apply at the same time as you. Your visa must still be valid when they apply.
Other family members
Other family members must apply within 2 days of your application.
If you have technical problems that mean your family members might not be able to apply within 2 days of you, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for help.
Apply online
Your family members can apply for the first time outside the UK or in the UK.
They can also apply to extend their BNO visa or switch to a BNO visa.