UK keeps '5+1' BN(O) path but raises B2-level English and income requirements
發佈日期: 2025-11-21 20:09
TVB News
The UK government is tightening the criteria for British National (Overseas) residents applying for permanent settlement, introducing minimum income requirements and higher English standards. The core "5+1" BN(O) pathway, however, will remain unchanged.
Here's the latest policy.
The UK's Home Office on Thursday released a consultation paper confirming that despite sweeping immigration reforms across the system, the UK will honour its commitment to Hongkongers.
This means BN(O) holders may still apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR after five years of lawful residence, and for citizenship after a further year.
Although the five-year residency rule is here to stay, BN(O) applicants must now meet the same elevated eligibility thresholds as other migrants.
The consultation outlines five requirements: Applicants will need to reach B2 proficiency -- instead of just B1 level, comparable to A-level standard English.
Applicants must show an annual income of at least 12,570 pounds within the past three to five years -- that's about 128,000 Hong Kong dollars.
Currently, BN(O) migrants face no income threshold, making this a major shift that brings them in line with all other ILR applicants.
Another highlight of the reforms is a flexible residency model.
Those earning 125,140 pounds or above, global talent visa holders, or those with C1 English may qualify for ILR in as little as three years.
Those receiving public benefits or with past immigration breaches may see their required residency extended to 15 to 30 years.
The Home Office specifies that BN(O) migrants, and spouses or dependants of British citizens, will not be affected by these residence extensions.
The consultation runs for 12 weeks and could be implemented as soon as April next year.
Introduced in 2021, the BN(O) visa has already issued more than 154,000 entry permissions in its first two years.
So what does it mean to pass the B2 English exam?
Here's what B2 exam looks like.
In its writing paper, two tasks have to be completed in 1 hour 20 minutes, each 140 to 190 words.
Reading and Use of English encompass seven parts which test sentence rewriting, fill-in-the-blanks and comprehension.
Education consultant Chan Sze-ming says B2 level is roughly equivalent to Level 4 in HKDSE, and many Form 3 to 4 Hong Kong students entering UK schools already reach B2 or even C1, but older BN(O) applicants "may find it more demanding."
