Challenges of moving from the Hong Kong to the UK involve complex immigration laws and visa applications. Just one misstep — delay or even denial of entry could affect your personal and professional plans. Let an expert team of immigration solicitors help you with your relocation. Leave all your worries behind and rest assured regarding having every aspect of your move managed efficiently and in compliance with UK regulations. From securing an appropriate visa to enter the country to understanding the minutiae of residency in the UK, our services help you to move seamlessly.
The Success Story: Read about how A Y & J Solicitors helped this Hong Kong client relocate to the UK and made the process easy, ensuring timely entry into the UK.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we've helped thousands of new and experienced business owners move to the UK from around the world. We understand the typical challenges that come along with your visa application for self-sponsorship UK and know how to mitigate them. We walk you through step by step, showing you how to self-sponsor a work visa in the UK. Instead of going it alone, let our lawyers take the weight off your shoulders, so you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to bring your business (and family) to the UK.
Kate Corey, Founder of 6 Degrees
We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the British system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. And we work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality and more. We also handle complex cases of appeal, administrative reviews, judicial reviews and the many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
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As a place to relocate to, the UK offers a wide range of benefits for Hong Kongers, including:
Many HK nationals are in a fortunate position to have access to the British National (Overseas) visa (BNO visa), which makes it much easier to move to the UK. Other options include the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa, which is open to young Hong Kong citizens with a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport, and the Ancestry visa. Those who are not eligible for a BNO, YMS or Ancestry visa can choose from a wide range of other UK visas, as explained below.
The British National (Overseas) visa allows holders to live, work, and study in the UK and is for nationals of Hong Kong who are classed as British nationals (overseas) or are the child of a British national (overseas) born on or after 1st July 1997. Applicants must have their permanent home in Hong Kong or in the UK. It is also possible for dependants of applicants to come to the UK (i.e. partner, children, and adult dependant relative) under this visa. If granted a BNO visa, holders can stay in the UK for 30 months or 60 months. The visa can be further extended, or after 60 months, it is possible to apply for permanent residence in the UK.
The UK Ancestry visa enables HK nationals with strong ancestral connections to the UK to live in the UK for up to five years and later gain a permanent settlement. Applicants must be aged 17 or over and have a grandparent who was born in one of the following circumstances:
You can still apply for an Ancestry visa if you or your parent were adopted or your parents or grandparents were not married.
The UK Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa enables citizens of Hong Kong aged between 18 and 30 to live in the UK for up to two years. You must have at least £2,350 in savings to support yourself while in the UK. It is not possible to extend the YMS visa or acquire the right to settle permanently, but you can switch to a different visa type when in the UK.
To apply for a YMS visa, Hong Kongers must first express their interest in the scheme and have their name drawn from a ballot.
The UK Skilled Worker visa enables HK nationals who are not eligible for a BNO visa to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years. Before the 5 years expires, it is then possible to apply for permanent residence in the UK, and after a further 1 year, British citizenship.
To apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa as an HK national, you must have a job offer from a licenced employer in the UK and receive a salary of at least £38,700 per year (or the ‘going rate’ for your occupation) for your new job. The salary threshold may be lower if you have a PhD, a job on the UK government’s immigration salary list, or you are a new entrant to the job market. If you are not sure, please speak to an immigration Solicitor.
You will also be able to read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the CEFR scale. This is typically demonstrated by passing a secure English language test (SELT) with an approved test provider.
If you would like to move from Hong Kong to the UK to study at a British school, college or university, you will need to apply for a study visa. Applicants must be 16 years or older and have been offered a place on a course with an approved educational provider in the UK. They must also have funds to support themselves and to pay for their course. Applicants must also be able to read, write, speak, and understand English to at least level B1 or B2 on the CEFR scale (B2 is required for degree level or higher).
Student visa holders who wish to stay in the UK once their course ends can then apply for a graduate visa, which will allow them to stay here for a further two years to find employment. If you secure a job, you can then switch to a work visa, or if you get married or enter into a civil partnership, you can apply for a family visa.
The UK Innovator Founder visa enables business people and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong to set up a new UK business. Holders of this type of visa can settle permanently after just three years compared to the standard requirement of five years.
UK Innovator Founder visa applicants from Hong Kong must be aged 18 years or over and have a business idea that is unique, viable, scalable and endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
This is just a small selection of the many UK visas available to HK nationals. To better understand all of the immigration routes available to you, including self-sponsorship, it is advisable to speak to an experienced immigration specialist based in the UK.
In 2021, there were 117,714 Hong Kong (HK) nationals living in the UK. Since then, it is estimated that a further 125,000 Hong Kongers have arrived in the UK under the new British National (Overseas) visa. Many Hong Kong nationals have chosen to come to the UK following the introduction of the National Security Law in January 2021, which placed restrictions on the freedoms of citizens. As a result of the new security laws in Hong Kong, the British government decided to make it easier for Hong Kong nationals to come to the UK as British Nationals (overseas). If you are a Hong Kong citizen considering moving to the UK in 2024 or beyond, this guide is for you. Here, we will explain everything you need to know about moving from Hong Kong to the UK, including the legal requirements, the cost of living in the UK (and how this compares to HK), the actions to take before moving, and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on moving as a Hong Kong citizen to the UK.
Prices are around 12% higher in London compared to HK. According to the price comparison website Numbeo, this means that a person would need in the region of around HK$60,887.50 (£6,211.0) in London to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with HK$53,000.00 in Hong Kong (assuming you rent in both cities). Grocery prices are around 20% cheaper, however. That said, the cost of living in the UK is much lower outside of London and the South of England. This is why it is vital to research where you would like to live and the costs in each area before you move to the UK.
Making the move from Hong Kong to the UK can be daunting, especially if you are relocating your whole family. However, by taking the following pragmatic steps first, you can make the whole process of moving to the UK as simple and straightforward as possible:
The Self-sponsorship route offers a new and innovative way for foreign nationals, including those from Hong Kong, to relocate to the UK without the worry and stress of applying for a job. Taking this route means you can set up and run your own business in the UK and essentially sponsor yourself. At AY&J, our immigration specialists can handle your application and advise on the requirements for an endorsed business idea. With self-sponsorship, you can settle permanently after a number of continuous years in the UK and later gain British citizenship.
If you are a non-HK national living in Hong Kong, and if you wish to live, work, study, or join your family here, you will most likely need to apply for a visa. To fully understand your visa options as a non-HK national, it is advisable to speak to one of our helpful, friendly and knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors.
If you are a non-HK national living in Hong Kong with plans to join your partner, spouse, parent, or child living here in the UK, you may need to apply for a UK Family visa. To qualify, your UK-based family member must be a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, an EU/EEA national who started living in the UK before 1st January 2021 or has refugee status in the UK.
If your family visa is granted by the Home Office, you will be able to join your family in the UK and gain permanent settlement after 5 years of continuous residence.
The documents that you need to move to the UK from Hong Kong will depend on the type of visa you apply for. To apply for a BNO visa, you will need evidence:
Your documents will need to be translated if not already in English.
If you are eligible for a BNO visa, you can work in the UK without sponsorship. If you are not eligible for a BNO visa, you must be sponsored by a UK employer. Alternatively, you can consider the self-sponsorship route (see above).
If you are a British ex-pat who is moving back to the UK from Hong Kong, we recommend looking into your employment, banking arrangements, and credit rating (you may have lost some of your credit rating if you have been outside the UK for many years). We also advise speaking to an accountant about your tax arrangements. If you have lived in Hong Kong for more than 5 years, you may need to meet different rules for income and capital gains tax. Finally, check whether you will need to ‘top up’ your national insurance contributions so that you are eligible for a UK state pension when you retire.
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Hong Kong to the UK above.
Yes, however, HK citizens and their family members may require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
As a citizen of Hong Kong, you can apply for a visa online through the UK’s Home Office website. You will need to fully complete the application form, pay any required fees, and submit any documents required to support your case. You will also need to meet the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. An immigration law specialist based in the UK can handle all of this on your behalf.
Absolutely, but they require a job offer from a sponsoring employer, a certificate of sponsorship, and a work visa granted by the UK Home Office.
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Hong Kong to the UK above.
The length of time you can spend in the UK will depend on the type of visa you hold:
Remember, most UK visas offer a route to permanent settlement after between 3 and 5 years.
Please see the cost of living section above.
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with all types of visa applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or at contact us today. We’re here to help!
