Hong Kong residents in possession of British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passports will no longer be required to secure an electronic travel authorization (ETA) prior to traveling to the United Kingdom. This policy change expands the previous exemption that was limited to holders of BN(O) visas.
This update was communicated in a letter from the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, who emphasized that the decision was informed by substantial evidence and the strong connections that the BN(O) community maintains with the UK. She articulated that the exemption reflects the historical commitments made to this group and, importantly, acknowledged that the UK government issues their travel documents, similar to British citizens.
In her correspondence dated March 3 to David Alton, a member of the House of Lords, Malhotra noted that the issuance of the BN(O) passport provides a “higher degree of certainty” regarding individual identities.
The Minister indicated that the Home Office would amend the relevant immigration regulations “at the earliest opportunity” and stated that the exemption would be subject to ongoing review to monitor for any potential misuse.
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