BNO Advisory: New ETA regulations between UK and Hong Kong begin today

From today, most Hong Kongers planning to travel to the United Kingdom will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before their journey. Those with British National (Overseas) (BNO) visas are exempt from the ETA requirement, while those with a BNO passport but no visa will be required to apply for an ETA.

Individuals from Hong Kong with other visas that allow them to reside, work, or study in the UK are also exempt from the ETA requirement. All other travelers, including infants and children, must apply for an ETA even for simple transit.

Once obtained an ETA will be valid for two years, allowing multiple entries into the UK, with a maximum stay of six months within its validity period. The application costs £10 and takes approximately 10 minutes. Applicants are required to provide contact and passport details, as well as a valid photo ID.

Some BNO visa holders are concerned that proving their exemption from ETA requirements may compromise their privacy and security when transiting or travelling through Hong Kong airports, by having details of their BNO visa exposed to Hong Kong security forces. Furthermore, attempts to avoid this by applying for an ETA with a separate HKSAR passport may lead to confusion in their records with the UK Home Office regarding their status to remain in the UK. 

Hong Kong Watch will continue to engage with the UK government to advocate that relevant guidelines and safeguards are introduced ensuring BNO visa holders are able to board flights from Hong Kong without compromising their privacy and security, and without compromising their migration records with the UK Home Office. 

If any BNO visa holders encounter issues with the ETA system, including denial of boarding, security issues, or technical difficulties with the online application system, please contact us at info@hongkongwatch.org.