Britain defends legitimacy of British National (Overseas) passports

Britain said that British National (Overseas) passports were a legitimate international travel document, responding to China’s foreign ministry which said it would consider not recognising them, Reuters reports.

The BN(O) passports were issued to eligible Hong Kong citizens when Britain handed back the region to Chinese control. BN(O) eligible citizens have been offered a path to British citizenship following a row over new security laws imposed on Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said British National (Overseas) passport holders and their immediate dependants will have the right to apply for a special UK visa from January.

BNO holders already have the right to visit the UK visa-free for six months.

However, this will now allow them to apply for two periods of 30 months' leave or five years' leave to remain in the UK, and then eventually become full British citizens.

BNO holders are able to bring immediate dependants, including a spouse who does not have the passport, along with children under the age of 18.

No one born after 1997 is entitled to a BNO passport, and it does not pass down through the generations. However, holders' children who were born in 1997 or later and are older than 18 will be able to apply if they are part of a family unit.-Reuters/BBC