PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(18 June 2025)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of extending the settlement qualifying period from five to ten years on the community integration of British National (Overseas) visa holders.

Asked by:
Blair McDougall (Labour)

The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route was launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s passing of the National Security Law. The route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

Answered by:
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