Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan asylum seekers who have been admitted as refugees since August 2021 have not yet received their biometric residence permits.

Over 15,000 people were supported to come to the UK directly following the evacuation of Afghanistan, and in the nine months since Op Pitting, we have helped a further 4,000 people to safety in the UK, via neighbouring countries. Those who arrived in the UK were granted limited leave to enter which allows access to public funds and employment.

We are continuing the process of granting Indefinite Leave to Remain to everyone who arrived during the evacuation, and who is eligible. Biometric Residence Permits are produced automatically, usually within a few weeks of people being granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.

We have made arrangements to ensure prospective employers and landlords can contact the Home Office to confirm individuals’ right to take employment and rented accommodation prior to them receiving a Biometric Residence Permit.

The data on those who have received their Biometrics Residency Permits is internal management data and therefore not suitable for publication at this stage.