Closed petition: Review and ensure consistent recognition of BN(O) Holders in all systems & forms

Closed on 26 February 2026

Formally review and ensure consistent recognition of BN(O) passport holders as British nationals across all UK Government and public service systems, databases and forms to help ensure fair treatment and eliminate any confusion or exclusion.

Require banks to do the same in their systems and where it is not technically possible to include 'BN(O)' as a selectable nationality, ensure that holders are able to choose 'British' as an alternative."

Although BN(O) holders are legally recognised as British nationals under the British Nationality Act 1981, my experience is that many UK systems continue to treat us inconsistently and that some even misclassify us as “HongKonger,” which we think is both inaccurate and exclusionary. We exercised our right to retain British nationality prior to 1997 and now actively contribute to UK society. We call on the government to formally review and ensure equal recognition and consistent treatment across all their systems and require banks to do the same.