Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a path to permanent UK residency for Hong Kong citizens who have studied at and graduated from UK universities.

International students, including those from Hong Kong, who successfully complete a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance and hold valid permission in the UK as a Student (or Tier 4) may qualify for the Graduate route.

The Graduate route does not count towards settlement rights, although graduates are able to switch to the Skilled Worker route if they meet the relevant requirements, which allows them to stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer and contributes to settlement rights. Given the much wider range of professions which qualify for the current Skilled Worker Visa compared to its predecessor, there are many more opportunities to do this than in the past.

In addition, the BN(O) route which was launched on 31 January 2021 enables BN(O) status holders and their eligible family members to live, work and study in the UK on a pathway to citizenship should they decide it is the right choice for them.

On 24 February 2022, the Government announced changes to the BN(O) route to allow eligible adult children of a BN(O) status holder to apply for the route independently of their parents, provided they meet all other eligibility and suitability requirements for the route. This change will be implemented from the Autumn with further detail to be published in due course. Those who are eligible and already in the UK on a student visa can switch into the BN(O) route from within the UK.