Evacuated UK nationals from Afghanistan - residency criteria changes: equality impact assessment

7. Key Findings

We have identified a negative impact of the proposed policy change on the protected characteristic of race, specifically relating to nationality. The proposed policy change is only open to UK nationals and their family members and therefore it can be argued that this has a negative impact on other nationalities who will not be eligible under this provision but may have come to the UK under similar circumstances.

However, we consider that the negative impact relating to nationality is mitigated by the inclusion within the regulations of a provision for Ukrainian nationals and their family members under the specific home office schemes. This will include other nationalities not specifically provided for within this change as long as they are family members of Ukrainian nationals.

The specific provision for UK nationals and their family members can also be justified by providing support to those with a relevant connection to the UK who are fleeing Ukraine under similar circumstances to Ukrainian nationals and their family members who are already provided for within the student support regulations.