Afghans who were separated from their families during the chaotic Western evacuation of Afghanistan can now apply to reunite with their loved ones in the UK under a
new government initiative. This scheme is an extension of the Home Office's Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) for vulnerable and at-risk individuals.
The ACRS, which has already brought 6,469 people to the UK, including women’s rights activists, journalists, and prosecutors, will now allow refugees to apply for family reunification. Eligible family members include spouses, partners, and children under the age of 18 at the time of the evacuation. Additionally, Afghan children evacuated without their parents can apply to bring their parents or siblings to the UK.
Immigration Minister Seema Malhotra announced the scheme’s expansion, emphasizing the moral duty to reunite families: "It is our moral duty to ensure that families who were tragically separated are reunited and are not left at the mercy of the Taliban, which is why I have expanded ACRS so that those who were left behind can be resettled in the UK. Afghans did right by us, and we will do right by them, ensuring our system is fair and supports those most at-risk and vulnerable."
The expansion follows calls from MPs across all major political parties to widen the ACRS scheme. Initially, the UK pledged to accept 20,000 vulnerable Afghans over five years, but the relocation process has been slow.
Ms. Malhotra highlighted the ongoing need for action nearly three years after the Kabul evacuation: "There remains an urgent need to ensure that those who assisted our efforts in Afghanistan by upholding democracy, freedom, and human rights, often at huge personal risk, can be reunited with their families."
Charities have welcomed the announcement. Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, praised the government’s swift action: "Over the last three years, we’ve worked with many families who were torn apart in the chaos of evacuating Kabul. They will now have a way to be safely together again."
Gunes Kalkan, head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, added: "Families have been waiting nearly three years for a long-promised way to reunite. This will be life-changing for the parents and children who have been separated all this time."