UK Special Visa Scheme for Hong Kong Residents

 The UK is opening a special visa scheme that will allow lakhs of Hong Kong residents the opportunity to immigrate and eventually apply for British citizenship.

Highlights:

♦ Visas will be issued to Hong Kong citizens and their immediate family members holding British National (Overseas) passports, and provide fast-track access to UK citizenship.

♦ Applicants who have obtained a visa can live and work in the UK for 5 years, after which they can apply for settlement. After twelve months, they can apply for citizenship.

♦ This move is considered the UK’s most generous welcoming of foreign workers since the entry of new EU citizens in 2004.

♦ The move came a few months after China implemented comprehensive national security laws on Hong Kong, and is aimed at targeting pro-democracy protests that have attracted global attention since 2019.