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<p>The Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route is a positive offer
for British National (Overseas) status holders and their dependants. To be eligible
for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route, status holders must prove that they are able to
sustain themselves and their families in the UK for six months.</p><p>Those on the
BN(O) visa route will have a ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition attached
to their leave, which prevents them from accessing local authority-allocated social
housing allocations and homelessness assistance.</p><p>After 5 years, Hong Kong BN(O)
status holders will be able to apply for settled status, and if granted settled status
will then be eligible for both social housing and homelessness assistance on the same
basis as British citizens. We will keep the position in relation to social housing
allocations under review.</p><p>We recognise that local authorities may be expected
to provide some form of housing support, for example, in managing tenancies, assessing
any eligibility for local deposit schemes and understanding rights and entitlements
to housing and welfare support, where it is appropriate. That is why the Government
is making over £30 million available to local authorities in England to provide targeted
support to Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders who need additional
English for Speakers of Other Languages and/or destitution support including support
with housing costs. This targeted support funding factors in the potential impacts
on homelessness, housing and translation services demands.</p>
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