UK immigration schemes for Afghan nationals

There are two immigration routes for people affected by the situation in Afghanistan: the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy. Around 30,000 people had come to the UK under these schemes by the end of September 2024.

People who aren’t eligible and whose circumstances don’t warrant an application for permission outside the immigration rules must apply under one of the general UK visa routes to be able to come to the UK, for example as a worker, student or family member. There aren’t any functioning UK visa application centres in Afghanistan. Afghans can apply for a UK visa from a neighbouring country if it is safe to travel and they have the relevant travel documents and permissions to enter.

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was launched in January 2022 with the aim of resettling up to 20,000 people in the UK over the following few years. Around 12,400 people had arrived under the scheme by the end of September 2024. Most arrived in summer 2021 during the UK’s military-led evacuation exercise, Operation Pitting.

A person must meet the requirements of one of three ‘referral pathways’ to be eligible under the ACRS. Each pathway has distinct criteria and processes.

• Pathway 1 is for Afghans identified for evacuation in summer 2021 and their close family members. 9,706 people had arrived in the UK and been recorded under pathway 1 by 30 September 2024.
• Pathway 2 is for Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries who are referred by the UN refugee agency for resettlement in the UK. 1,225 refugees had been resettled in the UK under the route by 30 September 2024.
• Pathway 3 is for certain at-risk groups currently in Afghanistan or neighbouring countries (initially Garda World and British Council contractors and Chevening alumni). 1,495 people had arrived under pathway 3 by the end of September 2024.

ARAP scheme for former HM Government employees

Some Afghan civilians (and family members) who were previously employed by the British government and fear reprisals may be eligible for relocation in the UK through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)  scheme.

It is open to any current or former staff employed by HM Government in Afghanistan since 2001 who are assessed to be at serious risk of threat to life. Eligibility is regardless of employment status, rank or role, or length of time served. The scheme is open-ended and there is no limit on how many places are available.

17,956 people had been relocated to the UK under the ARAP scheme by the end of September 2024. The Ministry of Defence is reviewing around 2,000 ineligibility decisions relating to former members of Afghan specialist units.

Topical issues and calls for policy change

Issues raised in the last Parliament about the effectiveness of the UK’s immigration provisions for Afghans include:

• The narrow scope of the schemes and Afghans’ continued use of other immigration routes including asylum.
• The slow pace of ARAP decision-making and reviews.
• The low number of arrivals under ACRS pathways 2 and 3 and continued uncertainty over the future scope and timetables for these routes.
• Practical and procedural obstacles to applying to the Afghan schemes or other visa routes, and the absence of automatic flexibility for Afghans such as over the requirement to attend a visa application centre and the level of supporting evidence required.
• Issues arising from reception arrangements for new UK arrivals, particularly difficulties finding suitable long term accommodation.
• Controversy over the handling of ARAP applications made by Afghans who worked in specialist units serving alongside UK forces, notably members of Commando Force 333 and Afghan Territorial Force 444, and the pace of reviewing refusal decisions in those cases.