UK to broaden refugee sponsorship schemes

The UK interior ministry has announced plans to open new legal pathways for asylum seekers, allowing community organisations to sponsor refugees in a system similar to Canada’s.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Friday that the scheme would be introduced later this year, with organisations and “trusted” universities able to sponsor refugees and the first arrivals expected in autumn 2027.

A separate route for employers to sponsor refugees is also slated to launch next year, according to a Home Office press release.

Immigration and asylum remain contentious issues in the UK, where the hard‑right Reform UK party has gained popularity amid rising anti‑immigrant sentiment.

Keir Starmer, who stepped down as prime minister this week but will remain in office until a successor is chosen, has portrayed a tough stance on immigration since taking office two years ago.

His government will introduce legislation next week that will tighten asylum rules, including easing the deportation of unsuccessful asylum seekers and limiting refugee family reunification to immediate family members.

The immigration policies of his likely successor Andy Burnham—who could replace Starmer as early as July—are unclear, though he has highlighted migration concerns in his recent campaign to become an MP.

It is also uncertain whether Mahmood, the outspoken figure behind Starmer’s immigration crackdown, will retain her position under the next prime minister.

“I will open new legal routes for genuine refugees, while closing loopholes that have been too often abused,” Mahmood said in a statement.

The new sponsorship scheme will operate at a much higher capacity than the UK Resettlement Scheme, which brought in around 800 people in the year ending September 2025.

The Home Office did not specify how many refugees could benefit from the scheme, only that it would be “capped.”

Previous sponsorship schemes have targeted countries such as Syria and Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, Mahmood faced criticism from charities and within her own party over strict regulations, including making refugee status temporary and banning education visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sudan.