Number of Hongkongers applying for BN(O) scheme rises 25 per cent in first quarter of 2022, likely from families applying before new school year
- Some 123,400 Hongkongers have applied for pathway to British citizenship since January 31 last year, with 92 per cent of them successful
- Canada, Australia have offered alternative routes, but immigration experts say BN(O) and Canadian programmes will remain most popular
The number of Hongkongers applying for a new pathway to British citizenship jumped 25 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the three months that preceded it, with immigration consultants attributing the rise to families applying ahead of the new school year.
There were 19,500 applications for the British National (Overseas) visa scheme between January and March, up from the 15,600 from October to December last year, according to figures released by the British government on Thursday.
Ninety-five per cent of those applications were filed from outside Britain, while the rest were made inside the country.
This figure, however, is down from the peak of 34,300 Hongkongers who rushed to sign up in the first two months of the scheme. The BN(O) programme launched on January 31 last year.
13:02
A Hong Kong journalist’s difficult decision to leave the city
Since then, up to the end of March this year, 123,400 Hongkongers have applied and 92 per cent of them – or 113,742 – have gained approval.