Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on offering British citizenship to Afghan interpreters who have served the armed forces as a part of the UK withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The UK Government recognises the vital role of interpreters in operations in Afghanistan.

There are two dedicated schemes designed to help them relocate to the UK: the ex-gratia scheme and the new Afghan relocations and assistance policy. Over 1,300 former Afghan interpreters, and their family members, have been relocated to the UK under these schemes since 2014.

There is no fee for the initial application and Afghan interpreters who relocate to the UK under these schemes can apply for settlement free of charge after five years’ residence here.

Afghan interpreters who are granted settlement can stay here permanently and can choose to apply to become British citizens after one year of settlement in the UK.