Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why Ukrainian refugees are able to have their visa biometrics taken upon entry to the UK but Afghan refugees are not; and what steps they are taking to relax this rule for refugees from Afghanistan.

Biometrics, in the form of a facial image and fingerprints, underpin the UK’s immigration system to support identity assurance and suitability checks on foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. They enable us to conduct comprehensive checks to prevent leave being granted to those who pose a threat to national security or are likely to breach our laws. Our approach in terms of both Afghanistan and Ukraine is based on advice relating to national security we have received.

Eligible Ukrainians with valid international Ukrainian passports who apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme, or the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, do not currently need to go to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.

Vital security checks will continue on all cases. This decision was made exceptionally as a temporary arrangement to ensure VACs across Europe could focus their efforts on helping Ukrainians without valid passports. It will be kept under review if the security situation changes and it becomes necessary to make further changes to protect the people of the UK.

We remain committed to supporting Afghan nationals through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to come to the UK, as set out in the Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement published on 13 September 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement