AFGH – International Comparison on Afghan Refugee Resettlement Commitments – April 25, 2022

Canada

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

At least 40,000 Afghans

Pathways available for resettlement:

• Special Immigration Measures (SIMs)
• Humanitarian Pathways (GARs & PSRs)
• Extended Family of Afghan Interpreters

Number of Resettled Afghans

More than 10,500 Afghan nationals, including:

• Over 5,600 individuals under the Afghan Special Immigration Measures
• Over 4,900 individuals under humanitarian program

Australia

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

Government has committed 31,500 places for Afghan nationals over the next four years (2021/22 to 2024/25) with potential for more additions in the future (31,500 is a base number).

Pathways available for resettlement:

Applications for resettlement are now closed

• 26,500 places under the Humanitarian Program
• 5,000 places under the Family stream of the Migration Program

Number of Resettled Afghans

As of April 22, 2022, over 5,500 refugees have been evacuated to Australia on humanitarian visas since the fall of Kabul in August.

European Union

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

For 2021-2022, total 37 000 pledges for admissions of Afghans, of which around 1 000 places for resettlement proper and 36 000 for humanitarian admission of Afghan evacuees.

Pathways available for resettlement:

Varies according to Member State: E.g. temporary residence on the basis of a humanitarian visa, rather than refugee status – 3 months initially, then up to 3 years if approved within Germany.

Number of Resettled Afghans

Humanitarian admission to EU are around 27 000 arrivals as of March 2022. France has exceeded its 2021-22 commitment of 2,500 persons. Via three evacuation operations (May/Aug/Sept 2021), approx. 4,000 Afghans had been brought to France. Others are being processed, with the total of 5,700 Afghans who either arrived, or are expected to arrive, in France. In total, just under 19,600 Afghans (including local workers who supported the German military and individuals on the German “human rights list”), have been evacuated to Germany via military and post-military operations.

New Zealand

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

Afghan nationals who helped the NZDF or other New Zealand Government agencies in Afghanistan, and their immediate family (partner and dependent children), were able to apply for resettlement in New Zealand.

Pathways available for resettlement:

Applications for resettlement for Afghan nationals are now closed.

Number of Resettled Afghans

As of 18 April 2022, 1,499 people (other than NZ citizens) have arrived in New Zealand from Afghanistan.

United Kingdom

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

ARAP – unspecified commitment;

ACRS – an additional 20,000 people over the next few years, with 5,000 in the first year

Pathways available for resettlement:

• Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) launched January 2022.
• For vulnerable people, including women, girls and members of minority groups at risk.
• All resettled through the ACRS will receive indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK, and will be able to apply for British citizenship after 5 years in the UK under existing rules.
• Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP) launched April 2021.
• For those previously employed by the British government
• Applicants will have opportunity to apply for indefinite leave to enter the UK.
• Refugee family reunion rules

Number of Resettled Afghans

7,000 landed under ARAP.

No actual landing data for ACRS as the processing had only just started, but the target of 5000 in year one expected to be exceeded as the first cohort are largely already in the UK post-evacuation.

Approx. 15k in total were evacuated but these will fall under various schemes/visas and included British nationals.

United States

Afghan Resettlement Commitments

Global Commitment:

Although a resettlement commitment has not been publicly announced, funding was provided to support the resettlement of up to 95,000.

Pathways available for resettlement:

• Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
• U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
• Family Reunification (Form I-130)

Number of Resettled Afghans

As of February 19, 2022, approximately 84,600 Afghan nationals, American citizens, and lawful Permanent Residents had arrived in the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), including more than 76,000 Afghan nationals who have now joined communities across the country.

Just over 70,000 of the 76,000 evacuees were admitted to the U.S. through humanitarian parole. The clear intent by the U.S. (with public support) is to find pathways to resettle all evacuees as permanent residents. Over half of the paroled evacuees are eligible for the SIV program or other refugee referral streams – which would provide a straightforward path to PR. For the remaining evacuees, recent legislation (PDF, 272 KB) included provisions to ensure prioritized asylum processing for Afghan citizens and nationals.