| Last
update: 12 August 2005
First issued: 17 June 2003
UK
Residence Permit (UKRP) Scheme
New
entry requirements have been phased in over the last two years as part
of the United Kingdom Residence Permit (UKRP) scheme, aimed at harmonising
documentation and immigration procedures across the European Union. These
new entry clearance requirements will eventually affect all non-European
Economic Area (EEA) passport holders entering the UK for more than six
months.
The first phase of the scheme came into force on 13 November 2003, and
affected Hong Kong SAR passport holders as well as nationals of Australia,
Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea,
and the United States. From 13 November 2005, all nationals
from non-EEA member states who wish to come to the UK for more than six
months will need to obtain an entry clearance from a British diplomatic
mission before travelling. Click here for
a list of countries that will need entry clearance from 13 November 2005.
A
one-off cost of £85.00
will enable the traveller, once entry clearance has been obtained, to
stay for the full period without having to apply for a residence permit
(unless they wish to change or extend their stay).
Entry
Clearances will be issued by the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong,
and by most British diplomatic missions worldwide.
The new arrangements do not apply to non-visa nationals visiting the UK
for less than six months. Students and work permit holders are the two
categories most likely to be affected by the new measures.
The UKRP scheme will mean faster arrival procedures at immigration checkpoints
in the UK and a streamlined entry clearance certificate issuing service
overseas, where most routine applications will be dealt with within 24
hours. For students and work permit holders the fee for the service is
£85
or HK$1235 at the current consular exchange rate.
Entry clearance certificates will normally be valid for the full-intended
period of stay in the UK, for example for three years for a student accepted
on a degree course. But if the holder is in the UK when it expires, they
will need to obtain an extension from the Home Office. This will cost
£250
for postal student applications and £335
for other postal applications. A premium same-day service will be available
for £500.
British National (Overseas) passport holders who intend to go to the UK
for more than six months to study will get this service FREE
if they apply in Hong Kong. The British Consulate-General has set up a
special unit to provide a fast-track service, and aim to offer a same
or next-day service to personal callers.
Students
who hold BN(O) passports do not need to obtain an entry clearance certificate
or a UKRP before they travel to the UK for more than six months. It is
entirely optional. But if they choose to travel without one or if their
conditions of leave expire while they are in the UK they would be charged
the standard Home Office fee. It makes sense, therefore, for students
who hold BN(O) passports to get a free UKRP from the British Consulate-General
before they travel.
The
UK Residence Permit and Entry Clearance Unit is open
to receive applications from 8.45am to 11.00am, and for collection from
3.30pm to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Address: Level 2 (Justice Drive entrance), British Consulate-General,
1 Supreme Court Road, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2901 3231
Fax: (852) 2901 3274
Email enquiries: UKRP@britishconsulate.org.hk
KEY
FACTS
-
Visitors and those staying for less than six months will NOT
be affected.
-
All non-EEA nationals entering the UK on or after 13 November 2005 for
more than six months MUST obtain an entry clearance certificate before
travelling.
-
BN(O) passport holders who intend to go to the UK for more than six
months to study do NOT need to obtain an entry clearance certificate
before travelling, but they can if they choose apply for a UKRP to be
issued by the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong free of charge.
-
An entry clearance certificate or a UKRP issued in Hong Kong will mean
swifter processing on arrival.
-
If your current conditions of stay in the UK are about to expire and
you are returning to the UK, please click here to download the leaflet
on new charges
for leave to remain (pdf, 20.8KB).
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
How does the UK Residence Permit Scheme affect Hong Kong SAR passport
holders?
Hong Kong SAR passport holders entering the UK for more than six months
MUST obtain an entry clearance certificate before travelling.
What
are these new entry requirements?
New entry requirements are being phased in over the next two years as
part of the United Kingdom Residence Permit (UKRP) scheme, a new program
that aims to harmonise documentation and immigration procedures across
the European Union. Phase two of the entry requirements will come into
effect on 13 November 2005, when all non-EEA nationals
will be required to obtain prior entry clearance for stays in the UK of
longer than six months.
What
are the benefits?
The UKRP scheme will mean faster arrival procedures at immigration checkpoints
in the UK and a streamlined entry clearance certificate issuing service
outside of the UK.
When
does it start?
The first phase of the scheme begins on 13 November 2003. Phase two will
begin on 13 November 2005.
Who
will need one?
Hong Kong SAR passport holders as well as nationals of Australia, Canada,
Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and
the United States are included in the first phase of the scheme. All other
non-EEA nationals, including Macao SAR passport holders, are included
in phase two. (Click here for a
list of countries that will need entry clearance from 13 November 2005).
When
will I need it?
These passport holders must obtain an entry clearance certificate before
they travel to the UK if they intend to stay for more than six months.
What
is an entry clearance certificate?
This is a document issued to travellers who have been granted leave to
enter the UK. It is in the form of a vignette (sticker) placed in a passport.
What
type of long-term travellers will be most affected by the new requirements
under the UK Residence Permit scheme?
Students and work permit holders will be most affected.
Where
do I get one?
These entry clearance certificates are issued by the British Consulate-General
in Hong Kong, which is above Pacific Place at 1 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty.
They will also be issued at other British diplomatic missions world-wide.
Where
do I go exactly?
A special unit issues these entry clearance certificates and UK Residence
Permits (UKRPs) - a special document available only to BN(O) passport
holders - from Level 2 of the British Consulate-General Hong Kong. The
entrance to this unit is on Justice Drive. It is open for applications
from 8.45am to 11am, and for collections from 3.30pm to 4.30pm Monday
to Friday. The unit opened in November 2003.
What
documentation do I need to bring to the British Consulate-General to apply
for an entry clearance certificate?
Students will need to bring documentary proof of their acceptance into
the course of study and proof of their ability to fund their studies in
the UK. Work permit holders will need to bring proof of their ability
to adequately maintain and accommodate themselves for the duration of
their stay in the UK. (Full details can be found on the UKvisas website
at www.ukvisas.gov.uk)
What
if I intend to stay in the UK for less than six months?
The scheme does not apply to non-visa nationals visiting the UK for less
than six months.
How
long will it take to get one?
Most routine applications are dealt with within 24-hours although we urge
you to apply two weeks before you are due to depart.
How
much do they cost?
For students and work permit holders the fee for the service is £85
or HK$1235 at the current consular exchange rate.
How
long do they last?
Entry clearance certificates and UK Residence Permits will normally be
valid for the intended period of stay in the UK, for example for three
years for a student accepted on a degree course.
Will
I need to renew my entry clearance certificate or UKRP if I travel to
another country or back to Hong Kong while my conditions of stay in the
UK are still valid?
No. Multiple journeys to the UK are allowed during the validity of the
document.
What
if the entry clearance certificate or UK Residence Permit expires while
I am in the UK?
If the holder is in the UK when this document expires, they will need
to obtain an extension from the Home Office. This will cost
£250
for postal student applications and £335
for other postal applications. A premium same day service will cost
£500
and is available for personal callers at Home Office premises in Croydon,
Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool. In the UK, these will only be issued
in the form of a UK Residence Permit (UKRP).
Do
I need an entry clearance certificate before I travel if I already hold
a work permit?
Yes, if you hold a Hong Kong SAR passport and intend to enter the UK for
more than six months. Work permit holders travelling on BN(O) passports
can obtain a UKRP either in Hong Kong (free of charge) before they leave
or in the UK (for a fee) after arrival. Existing arrangements still apply
to spouses and dependants of work permit holders.
How
does this affect British National (Overseas) passport holders?
BN(O) passport holders and other British Nationals without right of abode
do not need this entry clearance. But if they choose to travel without
one or if their conditions of stay expire while they are in the UK they
will be charged the standard Home Office fee in order to obtain a UK Residence
Permit (UKRP). They can however, get one before they travel from the British
Consulate-General in Hong Kong free of charge.
Why
do BN(O) passport holders get a special deal?
This arrangement recognises the British Government's commitment to the
special status of the 3.44 million people who hold BN(O) passports in
Hong Kong.
If
I get an entry clearance certificate, will I need to obtain a UK Residence
Permit after arrival in the UK?
No. The entry clearance certificate confers leave to enter for the full
period of stay shown on it. While it remains valid you will not need to
apply for a UKRP.
What
about other British Nationals?
British Nationals without right of abode in the UK (British Overseas Citizens,
British Subjects and British Protected Persons) benefit from the same
special arrangement as BN(O)s.
Can
any of the passport holders in phase one or two of this scheme get a UK
Residence Permit in Hong Kong?
No, UK Residence Permits will only be issued in Hong Kong to BN(O) passport
holders and other British nationals without right of abode in the UK,
in recognition of their special status. All other passport holders in
phase one will be required to apply for an entry clearance certificate.
What
about Macao SAR passport holders?
The Macao SAR is included in phase two of the scheme, which will come
into effect on 13 November 2005.
Can
I apply for an entry clearance certificate or a UKRP in Hong Kong when
I am not in Hong Kong?
No, applicants must be present in Hong Kong when their applications are
made.
Can
a UKRP be used in other European Union (EU) countries?
No. It is valid only in the UK.
Does
a UK Residence Permit give me the right to live permanently in the UK?
No. The UKRP only allows the holder to remain in the UK for the duration
stated on the vignette (the sticker in the passport).
Where
can I find out more?
Further details are available on the Home Office website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk,
the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
Who
do I contact for more specific information?
For more information about your case please email UKRP@britishconsulate.org.hk
or call us at 2901 3231.
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List of nationalities need entry clearance from 13 November 2005:
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Chile
Costa Rica
Dominican
East Timor
El Salvador
Faroe Islands
Greenland
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Israel
Kiribati
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Namibia
Nauru
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Samoa Island
San Marino
Seychelles
Solomon Islands
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent & Grenadines
Swaziland
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
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