UK Resettlement Scheme reopens for new referrals
The UK Resettlement Scheme has reopened for new referrals, prioritising Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees, with first arrivals expected by year-end.
The Home Secretary announced the reopening of the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), offering a legal pathway for refugees fleeing war and persecution. Around a quarter of referrals will target Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees, selected through partnerships with UNHCR and IRAP. The scheme resumes immediately, with initial arrivals anticipated before December. This follows previous commitments to refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Hong Kong.
Three additional safe and legal routes will launch in stages, including community, student, and work sponsorships. Community sponsorship applications open in October, with first refugee arrivals expected in autumn 2027. Student sponsorship will allow universities to host refugees, while work sponsorship will enable companies to employ them, both beginning in 2027.
All sponsors must provide accommodation, integration support, and employment assistance, easing pressure on local authorities. The government expects initial arrivals to number in the hundreds, scaling to the low thousands as illegal migration declines. Annual caps will regulate the total number of refugees admitted under these routes.
Refugees arriving through these legal pathways will receive a five-year route to permanent settlement, exceeding the treatment of those arriving illegally. This policy aims to discourage dangerous small boat crossings and prioritise controlled, safe migration. Since the general election, over 48,000 attempted small boat crossings have been prevented, with returns reaching a decade high.