Helping the resettlement of refugees

Currently, there are five resettlement schemes that allow people to relocate to the UK:

The United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) was introduced in 2021 following the closure of three previous resettlement schemes: the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS), the Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme (VCRS) and the Gateway Protection Programme. These schemes had a geographical scope or focused on specific groups. The launch of the UKRS in 2021 intended to consolidate these three existing schemes into a simplified one that would help refugees globally. The UK government pledged an initial target for UKRS of 5,000 individuals a year being resettled, but this has not been met so far. The UKRS aims to resettle refugees from countries hosting large populations such as those bordering countries with conflicts, where resettlement may be the only durable solution. This is in line with the global protection needs identified by UNHCR.

The Community Sponsorship Scheme enables local communities, civil society organisations, charities and faith groups to directly welcome and support a family into their local community. The scheme was established in response to the desire of the civil society to support refugees and is an example of effective government and civil society collaboration. Community Sponsorship is accessible to refugees under the same criteria as the UKRS (see above). Refugees resettled through the Community Sponsorship Scheme complement those resettled to local authorities. More information on the community sponsorship scheme is available, including the criteria for community sponsor groups.

The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) was launched on 1 April 2021 for or British military in Afghanistan. Under the policy, any former locally employed staff in Afghanistan who are assessed to be under serious threat to life due to the Taliban are eligible to be relocated.

The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which formally opened in January 2022, welcomed 6,300 Afghans to the UK in the first year (under pathway 1) and aims to resettle up to 20,000 people in the coming years (including pathway 1, 2 and 3). Pathway 1 includes those who were evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021. Pathway 2 includes refugees who have fled Afghanistan and have been identified for resettlement by UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) based on their vulnerability. Lastly, under pathway 3 of ACRS the UK government intends to offer protection to at-risk individuals and eligible family members who are in Afghanistan or in the region and were British Council contractors, GardaWorld contractors or Chevening alumni.

The Mandate Resettlement Scheme is a global scheme and resettles recognised refugees with a close family member in the UK who is willing to accommodate them. Those accepted on the Mandate scheme must have been recognised as refugees by UNHCR and assessed to be in need of resettlement. The person must be a child, spouse, parent or grandparent aged over 65 of someone settled in the UK, or who has limited leave to remain in a category leading to settlement, who is willing to accommodate and support them.

Additionally, there are people supported in the UK on other previous resettlement schemes, such as the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and the Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme (VCRS). Although these schemes closed in 2021, local authorities and Community Sponsorship Groups are still engaged in providing support to families still on these programmes. These schemes, introduced in 2014, focused on the resettlement of people fleeing the conflict in Syria (VPRS) and on children at risk and their families within the Middle East & North Africa Region (VCRS).