Path to British citizenship opens for millions of Hong Kongers By Sunday Jan 31, 2021 British National (Overseas) passport holders and their dependents can apply online for a visa allowing them to live and work in the UK Such people can then apply for citizenship after five years China reacts with fury, says it will no longer recognise the passports as a legitimate travel or ID document HONG KONG: Millions of Hong Kongers are being offered a pathway to British citizenship and the chance to escape what is being termed a crackdown on dissent in the city. Anyone with a British National (Overseas) passport and their dependents can now apply online for a visa allowing them to live and work in the United Kingdom. After five years, they can apply for citizenship.