Afghan Londoners

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) provides resettlement for Afghan nationals— and their family members— who worked alongside the UK government in Afghanistan. Working alongside means being locally employed by the UK government (for example, interpreters or staff working on government-led projects).

Under ARAP, family members include:

• a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner living with you for at least two years
• children under 18 years who have not formed an independent family unit

Your family can apply at the same time as you or later.

ARAP remains open to new applicants. You can apply online using the UK government's form, if you believe you or your family qualify.

The government provides further information on eligibility, offer details and how to apply to ARAP, including translations. The Afghan Pro Bono Initiative has also produced a self-help guide for the scheme which is available in Dari and Pashto. 

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) allows certain Afghan nationals to be resettled in the UK. This scheme prioritises:

• people who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan, particularly those who championed values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, or rule of law
• vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of groups at risk (including minority ethnic and religious groups and LGBTQ+).

You cannot directly apply to ACRS. Instead, eligible individuals are referred through one of three pathways:

• Pathway 1: Individuals and families who arrived in the UK under the initial evacuation (August 2021)

• Pathway 2: Individuals and families referred by the UNHCR

• Pathway 3: Individuals at risk who worked for the British Council or GardaWorld, or were Chevening alumni, referred by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

Under ACRS, family members may include:

• a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner (living together for at least two years)
• children under 18 years old who have not formed an independent family unit

For the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), you must include eligible family members in your original application or you apply to bring them later using the UK family visa process.

For the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), eligible family members are covered under the relevant referral pathway.

For the Ex-Gratia Scheme (EGS), no new applications are accepted, but existing applicants can still include immediate family members if they applied in time.

Those resettled under ARAP or ACRS, or who qualified under EGS before it closed, are generally granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.

With ILR, you can:

• work
• study
• rent accommodation
• access certain benefits and other support, if you meet the eligibility requirements.

After living in the UK for five years with ILR, you can normally apply for British citizenship.

If you’re unsure about your immigration status or have a complex case, seeking advice from a qualified lawyer can be helpful.

Free advice may be available through initiatives like the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative. Email the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative at [email protected]. You can also search for a qualified lawyer via the Law Society or the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.

Legal aid may be available for asylum or protection claims, and in some cases, for family reunion applications through Exceptional Case Funding (ECF).

When working with an immigration lawyer, it’s important that they are properly regulated and clearly explain their role, what to expect, and how fees work. Lawyers should act in your best interests and keep your information confidential.

To learn more about accessing immigration advice, finding a lawyer, and working with them effectively, visit the following pages:

• Accessing immigration advice
• Finding an immigration lawyer
• Working with your immigration lawyer