What is the PSAP?

The Principal Sponsor Application Process was introduced by the Home Office in 2020. It is an alternative application route for groups who are applying through a "Principal" Lead Sponsor - a small group of experienced Lead Sponsors who have been identified by the Home Office -including Sponsor Refugees (Citizens UK).

If you apply through the PSAP, you will be matched with a family much earlier in the planning process, and so you can tailor your resettlement plans and application form to meet the needs of a specific family.

We have set out the different application options, and their pros and cons, to help you decide which route to take.

If you decide to go through the Standard Application Route, then return to this Stage of the Portal. Otherwise, keep on this section, and we will guide you through the process.

The Stages of PSAP

The Application Form

Take a look at the Application Form here.

As you can see, a of lot of the questions just require some common sense and local knowledge. The Community Sponsorship team at the Home Office don't expect you to write an essay for each question, and they are not trying to "catch you out". They just want to know that you have thought carefully about how you will support a vulnerable refugee family to adjust to life in the UK. They want to see that you have the relevant support systems in place, have connected with local services, and have clear policies to protect the family from harm. And most importantly, they want you take an empowerment approach to resettlement - always placing the family's needs and wishes at the forefront of everything you do.

As you go through this section, we will guide you through each step of the process.

Get an Application Pack

We have created a Application Pack in Google Drive, with template policies & volunteer guides, and example application forms. You can download a pack here.

If you don't use Google Drive, email us and we can send in a different format (e.g. via email, or Microsoft Sharepoint): [email protected].

Where do I find information for each application question in this portal?

Stage One:

In Stage One, you can apply to the Home Office once you have the following things in place:

• Completing the Stage 1 Application Form.
• Fundraising
• Writing a Housing Strategy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Reset Part 1 Training: Click here to book your training with Reset
• Local authority permission to apply.

Stage Two:

• Completing the Stage 2 Application Form
• Finding & Securing a House
• Reset Part 2 training: contact [email protected] to book Part 2 training