UK to Merge and Phase Out Afghan Resettlement Schemes

The government plans to consolidate resettlement pathways and eventually close them, citing efficiency and integration goals.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be merged into a single pathway starting in spring 2025.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the resettlement process 'cannot be an endless process,' though no timeline for closure has been provided.
Afghan arrivals will have a maximum of nine months in transitional accommodations, such as hotels or army bases, before securing permanent housing on their own.
Charities like Safe Passage International have expressed concern over the lack of alternative safe routes for Afghans fleeing the Taliban, warning of increased reliance on smugglers.
Since 2021, over 30,000 Afghans have been resettled in the UK through ARAP and ACRS, with 90 families arriving monthly in the past year.