Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme & Relocation and Assistance Policy (360G-cabinetoffice-G2-GA-202206812735-21-22)

This grant will fund the provision of humanitarian protection to those people who qualify under:The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which provides those put at risk by recent events in Afghanistan with a route to safety. This scheme will prioritise:those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, womens rights and freedom of speech, rule of law (for example, judges, womens rights activists, academics, journalists); and(ii) vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT).This scheme will resettle up to 20,000 people at risk, with 5,000 in the first year. Spouses, partners, and dependent children under the age of 18 of identified eligible individuals will be eligible for the scheme. Other family members may be eligible in exceptional circumstances.The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which went live on 1 April 2021, offers relocation or other assistance to those who served alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan and provided important support to Her Majestys Government defence and security mission there, predominantly those who were employed directly, or in certain special cases via contractors, and who are assessed to be at serious risk as a result of such work. It is available to people regardless of rank or role, or length of time served, and builds on the long-standing support already available. The policy provides for the principal applicant to bring their close family members (spouse and under 18 children) to the UK and significantly expands the eligibility criteria from the previous scheme. Other family members may be eligible in exceptional circumstances.Plus British Nationals and their close family members relocated from Afghanistan to the UK by HM Government.There are currently approximately 15,000 people in the United Kingdom who will qualify under one of these schemes in this current financial year.