British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997

If you think you qualify under this legislation, you may submit an application to register for British citizenship at the Consular Section of the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. The main requirements under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 are:

• You had to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong on 04 February 1997.
• You have to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the time of your application.
• On 4 February 1997, you must have held no other nationality or citizenship except British nationality, either as a British National (Overseas), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person, British Subject or as a former British Dependent Territories Citizen of Hong Kong.
• BN(O)s of Chinese ethnic origin are entitled to Chinese nationality and do not qualify.

The current cost of an adult application to register as a British Citizen under this legislation is £459. All fees are payable in HK$ and the actual cost will differ from day to day depending on the consular exchange rate. This fee includes a £59 Consular Forwarding fee for submitting your application to the Home Office. Please note that the Home Office will NOT accept applications direct from an applicant overseas.

Once an application is accepted, it is forwarded to the Home Office in the United Kingdom for processing. This process can take up to 6 months, or longer. If the Home Office approves your application, you will be required to attend a Citizenship Ceremony at the British Consulate-General. Following this ceremony you will be a British Citizen and will be able to apply for a British Citizen passport.

There is no deadline for making applications.

The documents we require in support of an application differ slightly depending on the ethnic origin and the passports held by the applicant. For all applicants who are not of Indian or Nepalese ethnic origin, please call (852) 2901 3281 for information.  

If you meet the requirements and wish to submit an application, please call (852) 2901 3050 to book an appointment. We will send a letter to confirm the appointment date. The appointment letter will include an application form, a guide to the legislation and a list of documents needed to support the application. The appointment letter will also be needed when making the application.

Any applicant who does not have an appointment will not be able to submit an application.

Adverse weather - Information for ethnic minority citizenship applicants

In the event of the British Consulate-General being closed to the public due to adverse weather conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstance, customers with ethnic minority citizenship appointments for that date should attend our office within the next 5 working days between 0900 and 0945 and present their original appointment letter to ensure admittance to the British Consulate-General. Our staff will process such applications as soon as possible. Should applicants not be able to attend within 5 working days of the original appointment they should make another appointment by calling 2901 3050.