Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government after how many years of residence in the UK Hong Kong citizens admitted to the UK on a British National Overseas visa qualify for home fee status at English higher education institutions.

To qualify for automatic home fee status in England, a person must have settled status or ‘a recognised connection’ to the UK. In the case of persons with settled status, they must be ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course.

Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong British National Overseas status holders will be able to qualify for home fee status and student finance once they have acquired settled status in the UK, usually after five years. Most persons who acquire settled status will automatically meet the three-year ordinary residence requirement for home fee status and student finance.