Sanctuary Seeker Visa Schemes
We are delighted to have been awarded Borough of Sanctuary status by the national City of Sanctuary charity. The award acknowledges the breadth and quality of our work in creating a culture of welcome that values the contribution and strengths of refugees and other sanctuary seekers arriving in the borough.
Ukraine Scheme
The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Information about applying for a visa under the scheme can be found on the government website.
If you are a sponsor or interested in applying to be a sponsor and host a family or individual from Ukraine, you can find information about the scheme here:Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions on gov.uk website
In Newham, we have produced an information sheet for sponsors who have been matched with a family or friend via this scheme. The information lets you know about the checks that we will be carrying out as part of this scheme. Information Sheet for Sponsor and Landlord Consent Form (PDF).
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa - BN(O) Route
The British National (Overseas) Visa allows people from Hong Kong and their family members of BN(O) status holders to live, study and work in the UK. You can apply to stay for either 2 years and 6 months or 5 years. After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you and your family members can apply to live in the UK permanently, and after a further 12 months of residency, you and your family members can apply for British Citizenship.
You can apply for this visa if:
- You are BN(O) status holder; or
- You are a child of a BN(O) status holder, aged 18 or older, and born on or after 1 July 1997.
For details of this visa route, you can visit the UK Government's website here.
The UK Government has published a Welcome Pack for arrivals from Hong Kong on the BN(O) visa. In English, please click here.
In Newham, we support BN(O) visa holders to learn English as a speaker of other languages (ESOL). We also support BN(O) visa holders who are destitute. Please email Welcome.Newham@newham.gov.uk or call 020 3373 3222 for help in these two areas.
In Newham, there is no place for hate. If you are a victim of, or have witnessed, a hate crime or incident, you can report it on the link here. Remember, in emergencies, please immediately call the police on 999.
BN(O) visa holders can also visit our weekly Welcome Newham One Stop Shop for more support. We offer support in Cantonese and Mandarin.
ARAP – Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy & ACRS – Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme
The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer of relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the Ministry of Defence and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office.
Afghan citizens who are eligible for relocation to the UK under the ARAP may relocate with a partner, dependent children and additional family members who are also deemed eligible for relocation under the ARAP by the Ministry of Defence and suitable for relocation by the Home Office.
The ARAP was launched on 1 April 2021 and remains open. Those who believe they are eligible under the ARAP should apply by using the online ARAP application form. This application can be made from any country. Policy and application support can be found here.
The UK formally opened the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) on 6 January 2022.
The scheme will prioritise:
- those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law
- vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+)
The government will resettle more than 5,000 people in the first year and up to 20,000 over the coming years.
Anyone who is resettled through the ACRS will receive indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, and will be able to apply for British citizenship after 5 years in the UK under existing rules. Policy details can be found here.
In Newham, we support refugees settled under either the ARAP or ACRS to learn English as a speaker of other languages (ESOL). We also support refugees who are destitute. Please email Welcome.Newham@newham.gov.uk or call 020 3373 3222 for support.
