Urdu Report Desk
The UK government has reopened its refugee resettlement scheme as part of efforts to provide safe and legal routes to Britain for people affected by war and persecution.
The program is initially expected to bring hundreds of people to the UK.
Safe and Legal Routes
UK Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood announced the move during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, saying that “fairness” would remain central to the government’s immigration policy.
The resettlement process will be carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP).
Afghan Women and Palestinians Among Beneficiaries
According to the UK government, around a quarter of referrals under the reopened scheme are expected to involve Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees.
Mahmood said vulnerable refugees from around the world would be brought to Britain and given an opportunity to start a new life.
New Community Sponsorship Routes
The government is also introducing three new community sponsorship routes. Charities and nonprofit organizations will be able to apply to sponsor refugees in October.
The routes include sponsorship through communities and universities, with the first arrivals under both programs expected in autumn 2027. A route for employment sponsorship by companies is planned to open in spring 2027.
Annual Cap to Be Introduced
The UK government said the number of people arriving through the UK Resettlement Scheme and the three new community sponsorship routes would initially be in the hundreds.
The number could later rise into the low thousands as irregular migration levels decline. The government will also introduce an annual cap.
Further Immigration Policy Changes
The announcement comes as the UK government works on further changes to its immigration system. The proposals include requiring some legal migrants to wait longer than under the current system before they can apply for permanent settlement.
Some Labour Party members have raised concerns about the proposed changes, while Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood has emphasized fairness and control as key elements of the government’s immigration policy.
