Smit wrote:Edward,
Your child will be eligible for a UK birth certificate if born in the UK.
I am not sure what the specific rules are with regard to children of BNO's but as far as I know, the UK born child can only acquire British Citizenship if either of his parents are settled in the UK or are British Citizens.
I think your child will also get a BNO passport (without ILR) and you may have to find another way of setting up a business in the UK without relying on your child.
Any other comments from others are welcome as usual.
Another old thread but with an interesting topic.
As the original posters are of Chinese ethnicity then they are citizens of the Peoples Republic of China as well as BNO:
1. Any child they have will not be a BNO (whether born in HK, UK or anywhere else). There is no provision for acquisition of BNO now, under any circumstances.
2. There are no special concessions for children of BNOs born in the UK unless otherwise stateless. Where parents are Chinese as well as BNO the child will only be a British citizen if one or both parents holds ILR (or British citizenship).
3. BNOs who hold Chinese citizenship generally cannot benefit from the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en ... tion2.html
4. The benefits to BNOs if they become settled in the UK through normal channels are:
- entitlement to the same rights as Commonwealth citizens (eg voting)
- After 5 years in the UK (including 12 months with ILR) then they can apply for registration as a British citizen under section 4 of the 1981 Act. Similar to naturalisation, except quicker, simpler and a little cheaper.
