Switching to a BNO Adult Dependent Relative Visa

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 29 April 2026

You can apply to switch to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK if you are already in the UK on a different UK visa. An application to switch to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK is made in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) of the Immigration Rules.

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Free Immigration Advice for a BNO Adult Dependent Relative

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide 5-minute, free, one-off immigration advice on your BNO adult dependent relative visa application. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your BNO adult dependent relative visa application.

Requirements for Switching to a BNO Adult Dependent Relative Visa

A person applying for switching into BNO adult dependent relative visa should meet the following requirements of the immigration rules:

Valid Application

You must submit a valid application for switching into a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK in accordance with the requirements for a valid application as set out in Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) of the Immigration Rules.

Suitability Requirements

The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

The applicant must not be:

in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
on immigration bail, except where they have been placed on immigration bail after making an asylum claim in the UK.

Ordinary Residence Requirement

An applicant applying for permission to stay must be in the UK and ordinarily resident in the UK, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Isle of Man, or Hong Kong on the date of application.

Relationship Requirement

Where the applicant is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay, and they have not previously had permission on the Hong Kong BN(O) route they must be the parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person who is making a valid application for entry clearance or permission to stay at the same time as the applicant as:

a BN(O) Status Holder, applying on the BN(O) Status Holder route; or
the partner of a BN(O) Status Holder, applying on the BN(O) Status Holder route; or
the child of a BN(O) status holder, applying on the BN(O) Household Member route; or
the partner of a child of a BN(O) status holder, applying on the BN(O) Household Member route

Where the applicant is the parent or grandparent of a BN(O) Status Holder or of the partner of a BN(O) Status Holder or of the child of a BN(O) status holder applying on the BN(O) Household Member route or of the partner of a child of a BN(O) status holder applying on the BN(O) Household Member route, the applicant must not be in a subsisting relationship with a partner unless:

that partner is also the parent or grandparent of the BN(O) Status Holder or of the partner of a BN(O) Status Holder or of the child of a BN(O) status holder applying on the BN(O) Household Member route or of the partner of a child of a BN(O) status holder applying on the BN(O) Household Member route; and
that partner is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay at the same time as the applicant.

Dependency Requirement

Where the applicant is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay, and they have not previously had permission on the Hong Kong BN(O) route the applicant must:

as a result of age, illness or disability require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks; and
form part of the same household as the BN(O) Status Holder or BN(O) Household Member who has, or is at the same time being granted, permission; and
be unable, even with the practical and financial help of the BN(O) Status Holder or the partner of the BN(O) Status Holder or the BN(O) Household Member or the partner of the BN(O) Household Member, depending on who they applied with, to obtain the required level of help in Hong Kong, if the BN(O) Status Holder or the partner of the BN(O) Status Holder or the BN(O) Household Member or the partner of the BN(O) Household Member moves to the UK, either because the help:
- is not available, and there is no person in Hong Kong who can reasonably provide it; or
- is not affordable.

Where the applicant and their partner are the parents or grandparents of the BN(O) Status Holder, or of the partner of the BN(O) Status Holder, or of the BN(O) Household Member, or of the partner of the BN(O) Household Member, the applicant, or their partner, must:

as a result of age, illness or disability require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks; and
be unable, even with the practical and financial help of the BN(O) Status Holder or the partner of the BN(O) Status Holder or the BN(O) Household Member or the partner of the BN(O) Household Member, depending on who they applied with, to obtain the required level of help in Hong Kong if the BN(O) Status Holder or the partner of the BN(O) Status Holder or the BN(O) Household Member or the partner of the BN(O) Household Member moves to the UK either because the help:
- is not available and there is no person in Hong Kong who can reasonably provide it; or
- is not affordable.

Financial Requirement For BNO adult dependent relative Visa

If the BN(O) Adult Dependent Relative is applying for entry clearance, or is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, or where the applicant’s previous grant of permission was for 12 months Leave Outside the Rules following an unsuccessful application for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route, the decision maker must be satisfied that the BN(O) Status Holder or their partner or the BN(O) Household Member or their partner is able to and will maintain and accommodate the BN(O) Adult Dependent Relative adequately in the UK without recourse to public funds for at least 6 months.

The accommodation will not be regarded as adequate if:

it is or will be overcrowded; or
it contravenes public health regulations.

The BN(O) Status Holder or their partner, or the BN(O) Household Member or their partner, may rely on credible promises of future third-party support. The BN(O) Status Holder or their partner, or the BN(O) Household Member or their partner, must show that they have the required funds as specified in Appendix Finance.

In-Country Tuberculosis Certificate Requirement

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and:

their last grant of permission was for 6 months or less; and
the applicant was present in a country listed in Appendix Tuberculosis (TB) of the immigration rules for more than six months immediately prior to their last grant of permission,

the applicant must provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them. A valid medical certificate is one issued by an approved centre within the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application.

The in-country tuberculosis requirement is met if the applicant has provided a medical certificate as part of a successful application for entry clearance within the 12 months prior to the date of application.

The list of approved centres in the UK, updated from time to time, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-tuberculosis-test-clinics-for-hong-kong-bno.

Period and Conditions of Grant

If the applicant does not have permission on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route on the date of application, they will be granted permission, which ends on the same date as the permission of the BN(O) Status Holder or the BN(O) Household Member who is part of the same household as the applicant, depending on who they applied with.

The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:

no access to public funds; and
work (including self-employment and voluntary work) permitted except for employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of BN(O) visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed-fee basis for your application to switch to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK. The immigration casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application will entail the following:

Our immigration solicitors will assess your eligibility to switch to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK, taking into account all relevant requirements.
Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant documents to be submitted in support of your application for switching into a BNO adult dependent relative visa.
Our immigration solicitors will assess the documentary evidence to ensure it meets the Home Office UKVI requirements for switching to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK.
Our immigration solicitors will complete an online application form to switch to a BNO adult dependent relative visa from inside the UK.
Our immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application to explain how all the relevant requirements for switching to a BNO adult dependent relative visa have been satisfied by the applicant.
Our immigration solicitors will submit the application online, pay the Home Office UKVI fees, and book the applicant's appointment with the application centre.
Our immigration solicitors will upload all the supporting documents online in support of the application.
Our immigration solicitors will do all the follow-up work, including responding to any queries raised by the Home Office UKVI, until a decision is reached on your application.

Specialist Immigration Solicitors for a BNO Adult Dependent Relative

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in UK visa applications for BNO Adult Dependent Relatives. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain UK visas as a BNO Adult Dependent Relative. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your UK visa as a BNO Adult Dependent Relative.

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