Safe routes include resettlement programmes, humanitarian visas, and community sponsorship schemes, all of which you can read more on in our Guide to Refugee Resettlement: https://www.csan.org.uk/resettlement-toolkit/. Another available route is family reunification[1], which allows eligible individuals in the UK to be reunited with immediate family members who are outside the UK. However, these schemes are limited in scope and not available to everyone in need.
The UK resettled 9,554 people in the year ending 2024, but of that, 95% were Afghans resettled via the Afghan specific schemes. The latter 5% of people were resettled via UKRS, Mandate Schemes and Community Sponsorship. The schemes are highly restricted, nationality-specific and inaccessible to most refugees.
The following lists the current schemes available in the UK:
- UK resettlement scheme (UKRS)
Resettlement schemes are limited to people already registered with the UN refugee agency UNHCR in specific countries and do not help those already on the move.
A person cannot apply to be resettled, and not all registered with UNHCR are eligible for resettlement. Those who are selected for resettlement, do not have a choice as to which country they will be considered for resettlement. Additionally, resettlement is a lengthy process which can take months and sometimes years, leaving the person to wait in their host country despite any vulnerabilities they may have which necessitates their resettlement to third country.
Resettlement is an important programme meant to help the most vulnerable of refugees who are unable to receive the necessary support they require in the host country, but there are narrow eligibility requirements and extremely limited places. Less than 1% of the world’s refugee population can be resettled via the UNHCR resettlement programme and it is dependant upon political will and support from resettlement countries, which can often change depending on the domestic political climate.
The UK has committed to resettle refugees globally, but this is complementary to its asylum system – the two are distinctly separate processes and resettlement programmes do not replace asylum systems.
- The Mandate Scheme
This applies to refugees registered with UNHCR who have close family members residing in the UK. UK based family members can sponsor their minor child, spouse, parent or grandparent over the age of 65, to resettle to the UK where the resident sponsor will provide for them. As such, this scheme is highly restrictive and not open to the majority of refugees.
- Afghan Schemes
The Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was launched in 2022 following the evacuation of Afghans from Afghanistan. The scheme was very specific with regards to eligibility, and the subsequent Communities for Afghans sponsorship scheme expanded on this.
This scheme was introduced specifically to support the resettlement of Afghans, similar to the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) which was introduced in 2014 to support Syrians in need of protection following the mass exodus from Syria. It is a nationality-specific scheme.
- Ukraine visa and extension scheme
The Ukraine sponsorship scheme was introduced following the start of the Ukraine war, with subsequent schemes introduced thereafter as an extension. This scheme is a humanitarian visa scheme introduced in response to the protection needs of Ukrainians.
- Community Sponsorship (CS)
The UK CS scheme was introduced in 2016, and whilst we have seen community sponsorship groups formed across the country, they numbers resettled are few. In 2023, the scheme celebrated welcoming it’s 1000th refugee[2].
The scheme has since faced many issues, with fewer groups partaking in the scheme and charities unable to continue supporting groups as lead sponsor due to lack of funding and support.
It is to be noted that CS is only open to a select few refugees, all of whom are already registered with UNHCR and who fit the UK’s criteria for placement. It is not open to those on the move or those in immediate need of resettlement and is time-specific.
- Family Reunification
Family reunification is only eligible for nuclear family members of those granted refugee status in the UK. Nuclear family members include only spouses and children under 18, thus excluding siblings, parents of child refugees and adult dependant children.
Family reunification laws also fail to take into account the different family models across the globe, as many often reside in large extended families, or may have informal fostering/adoption practices, all of which are not taken into consideration in this scheme and can leave families separated and vulnerable individuals without support. This includes unaccompanied refugee children who find themselves in Europe, unable to reunite with relatives residing in the UK.
Charities and campaigners have been campaigning for a reform of family reunification rules which they argue are restrictive, and the visa process is not simple or accessible. Families are without any formal support when applying and procedural requirements fail to consider the protection risks to individuals who are displaced, vulnerable and possibly living in fear, unable to access the necessary office to complete the application. In order to complete these applications and submit the necessary biometrics and documents, individuals are often required to undertake arduous journeys to reach the appropriate offices, without any guarantee of a positive decision.
If you wish to learn more about the process and its impact on families, the British Red Cross have a number of reports available on their site: https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/we-speak-up-for-change/improving-the-lives-of-refugees/refugee-family-reunion
Families Together is a coalition of over 100 organisations campaigning to change the family reunification rules. Together they are calling for:
- Child refugees to be able to sponsor their parents and siblings
- Adult refugees to be able to sponsor their parents
- The reintroduction of legal aid for refugee family reunion.
You can learn more about the coalition at https://familiestogether.uk/
As outlined, whilst safe routes exist in the UK, they are extremely limited in scope and accessibility, leaving the majority of refugees without a viable way to reach the UK, and forcing them to undertake an ‘irregular’ and often perilous journey.
Politicians and the media often focus on ‘illegal’ journeys, referring to refugees as migrants and failing to recognise why they embark on such dangerous journeys, as well as the right to asylum for all individuals, including via irregular routes.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/settlement-refugee-or-humanitarian-protection/family-reunion
[2] https://www.resetuk.org/2023/08/21/one-thousand-welcomed-lets-celebrate-and-build-on-this-milestone/