Humanitarian Visas in a Hostile Environment: historical legacies, geopolitical ties and everyday experiences

How do individuals arriving in the UK through the Hong Kong BN(O) and Ukraine visa schemes understand and experience these bespoke humanitarian provisions? Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted with 43 Hong Kongers and Ukrainians, the report ‘Humanitarian Visas in a Hostile Environment’ provides the first comparative analysis to centre the voices and perspectives of those entering the UK via the government’s new suite of ‘safe and legal (humanitarian) routes’. 

It sheds light on the thoughts of Hong Kongers and Ukrainians living in the UK about these schemes. It uncovers how geopolitical factors, historical context and individual circumstances intertwine to influence the decision-making process of those who have relocated to the UK as beneficiaries of these visas.

It considers similarities and differences between these schemes in terms of eligibility criteria, rights and entitlements—notably in respect of settlement, access to health, social care, education and public funds—and how they affect the everyday lives, aspirations and future plans of beneficiaries.The findings reveal the distance between the government’s rhetoric on the humanitarian visas—often portrayed as flagship schemes of the UK’s post-Brexit migration regime and evidence of its continuous commitment to international protection—and the experiences and challenges faced by those entering the UK via these provisions.

In conclusion, the report addresses the similarities and differences between the Hong Kong BN(O) and Ukraine visa schemes and their implications, in the context of the UK’s provisions for humanitarian protection. The key findings come at a particularly timely juncture, given the ongoing policy and legislative development of the UK’s approach to humanitarian issues.