NEW DELHI: The UK has announced three new “safe and legal” sponsorship routes for refugees in India and six other countries to come to the UK and claim asylum.
The new routes are initially targeted at refugees who have sought protection in India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan and Uganda.
According to the UK Home Office, the three refugee sponsorship routes are community sponsorship, refugee study and refugee work. “It is intended for organisations and individuals seeking a high-level understanding of these routes. It explains the purpose of the routes, how they operate, the roles and responsibilities of delivery partners and the policy and legal framework that underpins them,” it said.
The official statement further said, “These routes form part of the Government’s wider approach to safe and legal routes refugees. These routes operate separately from and alongside the existing UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), providing complementary pathways alongside Government-led resettlement”.
“To be eligible, the refugees will need to be outside their country of nationality, to have been verified by the UNHCR as meeting the definition of refugee and to have registered with the UNHCR or relevant authorities in one of these seven countries before October 1. So, in India’s case, it could be Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils, Afghans, Rohingya and others from Myanmar, who could be eligible for these routes, but not Indian nationals residing in India, nor internally displaced people”, it said..
The routes will provide refugees with protection in the UK, and opportunities to study, contribute and rebuild their lives. A separate refugee work route will open for applications in spring 2027.
The routes will provide refugees with protection in the UK, and opportunities to study, contribute and rebuild their lives. A separate refugee work route will open for applications in spring 2027.
“The new routes are modelled on Canada’s long-running private sponsorship programme. Lead sponsors, accredited and overseen by the Home Office, will support local groups, such as community groups, churches and universities, to welcome refugees into their communities, the Home Office said.
To become a lead sponsor, organisations must be a registered UK charity or non-profit, have a good reputation, and have the right safeguards and resources in place.
