The UK Government has published a further update on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), setting out the current status of the programme and plans for its completion within the current parliamentary term.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, the Minister for Defence Industrial Readiness outlined key changes in three areas: eligibility decisions, changes to relocation support and a long-term plan for the program’s end.
The ARP program stopped accepting new applications last year. Since then, the backlog has decreased significantly, from approximately 25,000 in July 2025 to less than 17,000 today. The government aims to complete all outstanding applications by spring next year. Of those found eligible, fewer than 9,000 have not yet been transferred to the UK. This is due to both the speed of processing and the fact that the proportion of applicants meeting the requirements was lower than in earlier stages of the program.
One of the most significant changes confirmed in the statement was an adjustment to the procedure for providing resettlement assistance. Going forward, the government will no longer fund organized travel from Afghanistan for eligible individuals. Instead, applicants will be required to travel independently to a third country, from where they will continue their visa application process. This approach brings the ARP in line with other resettlement routes operating in the UK.
The statement also sets clear deadlines for the program’s completion. The deadline for receiving relocation support is December 2028. Furthermore, the government has indicated its intention to gradually phase out the placement of arriving Afghans in hotels and military infrastructure facilities, moving toward long-term housing arrangements through local authorities.
New source: Electronic Immigration Network
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