Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding eligibility for British National (Overseas) Passports to British National (Overseas) visa holders who do not hold such passports, in order to allow them to receive British consular support when abroad and to be considered as Commonwealth citizens.

A person is eligible for a British passport if HMPO can confirm their nationality and identity. Only British nationals are eligible for British passports.

Registrations for BN(O) status closed on 1 July 1997 and, as such, no new applications can now be made.

We have no plans to allow BN(O) status to be acquired by descendants of BN(O) status holders or people who have BN(O) visas. BN(O) status cannot be passed on to children.

British National (Overseas) visa holders are eligible to apply for British citizenship if they can meet the requirements, including having resided in the UK for a minimum period and being free from immigration control at the time of their application.