Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps people that have escaped from Afghanistan to a third country can take to register with the UNHCR for referral to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme in cases where the UNHCR does not operate in that country.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme commenced on 6th January, providing up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

From Spring 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will refer refugees to the scheme, based on assessments of protection need. The UNHCR has the global mandate to provide international protection and to assist Governments in finding solutions for refugees. UNHCR will refer refugees who are located in various locations, predominantly residing in Asia.

Those referred by UNHCR will be assessed for resettlement by UNHCR using their established process, and in line with their resettlement submission categories.

Further policy guidance will be published in due course.