On 1st July 2025, the UK Government introduced significant changes to the Immigration Rules. While some of these changes were expected following the White Paper published on 12th May 2025, others came without warning.
One of the most concerning and unexpected changes is the abrupt closure of two key resettlement schemes for Afghans: the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). We previously wrote about these schemes here.
The ARAP Scheme
The ARAP scheme was established in April 2021 following “Operation Pitting,” a UK military-led evacuation operation during the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. Operation Pitting evacuated 15,000 people over two weeks, but many eligible individuals were left behind.
ARAP was designed to offer a safe route to the UK for Afghan citizens who had worked with or for the UK Government in roles that exposed them to risk.
On 1st July 2025, the UK Government announced the immediate closure of ARAP, with only a few hours’ notice. Officials claimed the scheme had fulfilled its original purpose and that resources would now be redirected to national security priorities.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)
Launched in January 2022, the ACRS provided an alternative safe route for Afghans who supported UK efforts in Afghanistan but were not eligible for ARAP. It also covered other vulnerable groups, such as women and children.
The ACRS included different parts, some of which had already closed to new applicants. For example, the Separated Families Route closed on 30th October 2024.
On 1st July 2025, the UK Government also shut down the final part of ACRS, the UNHCR Resettlement Referrals section, again with no prior notice.
Impact of the Closures
Over 34,000 Afghans have been resettled in the UK under ARAP and ACRS. There are 22,000 outstanding applications still waiting for a decision.
However, the security situation in Afghanistan remains dangerous, particularly for those associated with Western forces. Many continue to face persecution or are in hiding. Closing these schemes eliminates safe, legal pathways for those still at risk.
When safe routes are not possible, more people will be forced to travel on unsafe routes. There has been a number of studies that have shown this. As a result, more Afghans are likely to be driven to take dangerous routes, such as crossing the Channel to get to the UK in small boats. Afghan nationals are already the most common group arriving in the UK via small boats.
This move makes little sense, given the Government’s commitment to curbing ‘irregular’ migration, whilst removing the very safe routes that could have prevented it.
Why the Sudden Closure?
The decision to close the schemes without the standard 21 days’ notice that these legal changes normally have, was justified by the Government as a measure to prevent a surge in last-minute ‘unmeritorious’ applications.
What You Need to Know
- Applications submitted under ARAP before the 3pm deadline on 1st July 2025 will still be considered. If allowed, successful applicants will be entitled to bring their immediate family members with them.
- Applications under the Separated Families Route of ACRS submitted before its closure on 30th October 2024 will also still be processed.
- No new applications will be accepted under ARAP or ACRS.
The Bigger Picture
The closures are part of a broader Government agenda to reduce immigration and redirect funding towards defence and national security. However, the way these closures have taken place, lacking transparency and sufficient notice, has just led to more fear and uncertainty among Afghan communities.
While the UK continues to publicly commit to its obligations to those who helped them in Afghanistan, the reality suggests otherwise. The end of ARAP and ACRS leaves many vulnerable individuals with no legal avenue to safety, undermining both humanitarian commitments and public trust.
Immigration Policy and Racism
The abrupt end to these schemes cannot be viewed separately from the broader patterns of UK immigration policy, which has increasingly been about deterring migrants and restricting their rights.
Afghan nationals now face further exclusion despite their direct support of UK efforts in a conflict zone. The decision to end these schemes with no notice—and with little public consultation, reflects an immigration strategy that does not appear to care about racialised communities.
This raises pressing questions about whose lives are deemed worthy of protection and resettlement. At a time when global displacement is at an all-time high, closing safe routes for those at the sharp end of UK foreign policy not only fails humanitarian obligations but deepens racial disparities in access to refuge and rights.
Discussion: