Afghan resettlement schemes to close to new applications under rule changes

Thousands of people have been evacuated from Afghanistan to the UK since the Taliban takeover in 2021 (Ministry of Defence/PA) - (PA Media)

Resettlement schemes for Afghans to come to the UK after the Taliban takeover will be closed as ministers seek to focus defence efforts on the nation’s security.

New immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on Tuesday move to end the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), for Afghans who had worked with the UK government and their families, to new applications from July 1.