Can I register as a British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997?

This page provides details of whether you can register as a British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 using application form EM. It also provides details of the type of citizenship you will acquire if your application is successful.

You should read the information in this section before you make an application for registration. You will need to pay a fee when you make your application. If you make an application for registration and it is unsuccessful because you are not eligible, we will not refund your fee.

If you meet the requirements for registration you should go to the applying for registration as a British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 section for details on how to apply.

The requirements you need to meet

There are two requirements you need to meet to be eligible for registration as a British citizen under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997. You must meet both requirements.

The ordinary residence requirement

To meet this requirement you must:

  • be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong on the date of your application; and
  • have been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong on 3 February 1997.

If the applicant is a child born on or after 4 February 1997, he/she must have been ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the time of his/her birth.

To be considered ordinarily resident in a country you must:

  • be living in the country full-time (apart from temporary or occasional absences); and
  • not be in breach of any immigration rules; and
  • have moved to the country voluntarily with the intention of settling there.


The nationality requirement

To meet this requirement, on the relevant date, you must have been:

  • a British dependent territories citizen by virtue only because of a connection with Hong Kong; or
  • a British national (overseas); or
  • a British overseas citizen; or
  • a British subject; or
  • a British protected person; and
  • you must not have held any other non-British nationality.

The relevant date is the 3 February 1997 unless you became a British national after that date by birth, registration or naturalisation, in which case the relevant date is the date on which you became a British national.

It is possible to be a citizen or national of a country even if you have never held a passport issued by the authorities of that country. You should make sure this does not apply to you before you make your application.

If you became a British national through your Hong Kong connections but are ethnically Chinese, you may be considered a Chinese national under Chinese nationality rules. You should contact the immigration department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for advice before you make your application.

See also

Terms explained

  • British citizen

    British citizens have the right to live in the United Kingdom permanently and are free to leave and re-enter the country at any time. British citizenship is given to people who have a close connection with the United Kingdom, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A close connection may be by birth, adoption, descent, marriage, registration or naturalisation.

  • British citizenship

    British citizenship is given to people who have a close connection with the United Kingdom, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A close connection may be by birth, adoption, descent, marriage, registration or naturalisation.

  • British national

    A British national is anyone who has a form of British status. There are six forms of British nationality: British citizenship, British overseas citizenship, British overseas territories citizenship, British protected person, British subject, and British national (overseas).

    Only British citizens have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

  • British nationality

    There are six forms of British nationality: British citizenship, British overseas citizenship, British overseas territories citizenship, British protected person, British subject, and British national (overseas).

    Only British citizens have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

  • Eligible

    You meet the requirements to apply.

All glossary terms

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