Policy paper

Policy guidance: refugee sponsorship routes

An overview of the Home Office's three refugee sponsorship routes: named sponsorship, refugee study and refugee work.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office
• Published: 29 October 2026

Documents

Named community sponsorship, refugee study and refugee work routes: policy guidance (accessible version)

HTML

Named community sponsorship, refugee study and refugee work routes: policy guidance

PDF, 1.11 MB, 21 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This document sets out the policy basis of the Home Office’s three refugee sponsorship routes: named community sponsorship, refugee study and refugee work. It is intended for organisations and individuals seeking a high-level understanding of these routes. It explains the purpose of the routes, how they operate, the roles and responsibilities of delivery partners and the policy and legal framework that underpins them.

These routes form part of the government’s wider approach to safe and legal routes refugees. These routes operate separately from and alongside the existing UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), providing complementary pathways alongside government-led resettlement.

This document should be read alongside other Home Office guidance relating to these routes.

Other relevant guidance:

• Lead sponsor guidance, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of lead sponsors and the requirements for sponsors and sponsorship arrangements

Further guidance will be published in due course.