When we talk about migration, it’s important to recognize that not everyone who crosses borders does so under the same circumstances. The international community distinguishes between different groups of people on the move, each with distinct legal statuses and protections. Understanding these categories helps us grasp the complex realities facing millions of people worldwide and the different frameworks that exist to protect them.
Asylum-seeker
An asylum seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn’t yet been legally recognized as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim.
Refugee
People forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country. They are unable to return to their own country because of feared persecution as a result of who they are, what they believe in or say, or because of armed conflict, violence or serious public disorder.
Economic migrant
A person who leaves their country of origin purely for economic reasons that are not in any way related to the refugee definition, in order to seek material improvements in their livelihood.
UNHCR reported in June 2025 that global forced displacement reached 117.3 million people. These individuals left their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or serious public disorder. The total comprises roughly 42.5 million refugees, 67.8 million internally displaced persons, and 8.42 million asylum-seekers.
Most refugees come from Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Palestine.
There are several resettlement schemes in the UK.
Global schemes
UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)
The global resettlement scheme is open to vulnerable refugees around the world. Individuals are assessed and referred by the UNHCR according to their criteria, based on people’s needs and vulnerabilities.
Community Sponsorship
A community-led approach allowing local groups—such as faith communities, schools, neighbourhood organisations, or friends and neighbours—to come together and welcome a refugee family or individual to the UK.
Mandate Resettlement Scheme
Launched in 1995, this global scheme resettles refugees who have a close family member in the UK willing to accommodate them. Since 2008, around 450 individuals have been resettled through this scheme.
Country-specific schemes
Communities for Afghans
A sponsorship scheme for individuals from the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), designed to quickly deliver safe, affordable homes based on a Community Sponsorship model.
Ukraine Visa Schemes
In response to the invasion of Ukraine, the UK launched one of the fastest visa schemes in UK history, including:
Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas)
Launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s National Security Law, which significantly impacts the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
Based on ONS data from June 2025:
Note: Asylum was the only major immigration category that did not decline during this period.
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Read all news and insight from our initiatives
See coverage of Reset UK in the press and media
Find out how Community Sponsorship helps refugee families in need build a new life in the UK with confidence and dignity.
Make an extraordinary difference to the lives of people who have lost everything by signing up to our (free) Landlords for Refugees register.
Not everyone can donate their time, so if you are choosing to donate money today instead or as well as, thank you. Your generosity is vital to the work we do support community-led welcome of refugees.
Help others by sharing your account. Why were you attracted to community-led welcome? What worked, what did you learn, what has the experience been like for you?
Reset empowers volunteers to welcome refugees into communities across the UK. Find out about us and the kinds of programmes we’ve been involved with.
Research, monitoring and evaluation are essential for making evidence-based decisions that will support Community Sponsorship to grow and flourish.
Sponsoring a refugee family is a significant responsibility. We advocate for Community Sponsors to ensure that they are properly supported throughout their journey.
Our advocacy focuses on representing the views of Community Sponsors to the Home Office to support them in implementing the necessary operational changes.
We also represent the views of Community Sponsors to other key stakeholders, including Local Authorities, international organisations, the wider resettlement field, housing providers and financial institutions. We also use our voice to campaign on policies affecting refugees. We are members of the Together With Refugees coalition, campaigning for a more humane approach to people seeking protection in the UK.
