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Visas and immigration for Ukrainian nationals in the UK

Information on Visas and immigration rules, including the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Scheme, eVisa and applying for a family migration visa.

On this page, you can find information for the following (click to jump to the section):


Homes for Ukraine scheme 

The Homes for Ukraine scheme  lets Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members, who  lived in Ukraine before 1 January 2022,  apply to come to the UK and stay with a sponsor. Sponsors can  live anywhere in the UK. Starting 19 February 2024, sponsors must be British or Irish citizens or have settled status in the UK.

From 31 January 2025, a parent or legal guardian with permission under any of the Ukraine Schemes can sponsor their child. Applications submitted after 19 February 2024 will  get an 18-month visa,  which includes access to healthcare, benefits, employment support, education, and English language courses. Applications made before 19 February 2024 will still get a 36-month visa in the UK. 

The application is free of charge and can be completed by either the sponsor or the person seeking sponsorship. Each person must submit a separate application form. Security checks will be conducted for both the Ukrainian applicants and the UK sponsors as part of the visa application process.

Since December 2023, applicants must book an appointment for their photograph and fingerprinting at a visa application centre (VAC) to complete their process. 

If you went to your appointment in Kyiv and your visa application is successful, you’ll need to travel to the VAC in Warsaw with a valid international passport to get a sticker in your passport. This is called a visa vignette. If you had an appointment in another country, you’ll need to collect your visa vignette at the same VAC where you submitted your photograph and fingerprint.  

Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken. Children will still need to book and attend a VAC appointment and have a photograph taken.  

The scheme is also open to unaccompanied children under 18. The sponsor must have parental consent and permission from the local council before applying for a visa.  

For more information: 


Guidelines for Ukrainian visa holders sponsoring their children

Holders of any Ukraine scheme visas (including those with Leave Outside the Rules)  can sponsor their children to join them in the UK, provided all other requirements of the Homes for Ukraine scheme are met. 

Children sponsored by their parents or legal guardians will get permission to live in the UK for up to 18 months, in line with their parents’ or legal guardians’ permission. They will have access to education, healthcare, benefits, and employment.  Parents or legal guardians sponsoring their child will not qualify for thank you payments from the Council. 

Local authorities in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland should check their respective guidance for additional information: the Scotland,  Wales and Northern Ireland.

The parent or legal guardian should complete the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme visa application form on behalf of their child, naming themselves as ‘sponsor’. For further details, see Children being sponsored by a parent or legal guardian: Homes for Ukraine. 

Find out more information about the scheme:


Getting your eVisa

If your application is successful, you’ll need to create an account to get an eVisa. An eVisa isan online record of your immigration status. Your decision email or letter will tell you how to access your eVisa. 

With your eVisa, you can prove your immigration status to others, for example, employers and landlords, using the view and prove service. 

See information and guidance on how to create, link, and access your eVisa in three steps.


Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

On 1 September, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced in the House of Commons that the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme will be extended for a further 24 months. More information about the extension will be made available in due course. You can read the full announcement in the Hansard record – see Column 27. 

People living in the UK who have been given visas under the Ukraine schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Visa Scheme, and Ukraine Extension Scheme), including those granted leave outside the rules in certain circumstances, can apply for an additional 18 months of permission to stay in the UK.

This application is free, and people eligible can apply 28 days or less before their current visa expires. Applicants must be in the UK to apply and must not leave the UK while the application is being processed.

Applications made outside of the UK will not be valid and may be rejected by the Home Office.   


Children born in the UK to Ukraine visa holders 

Ukrainian parents can apply for permission to stay for their children born in the UK after 18 March 2022 under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme.

The UPE does not need a UK-based sponsor and does not currently lead to settlement. This means that time spent in the UK with this visa may not support an application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK in the future.  

 Find out more UPE guidance: 


Other visas you may apply for

You may be eligible to make an application under other immigration routes.  

Check which visas you may be able to apply for. 


Supporting non-British family members in Ukraine

Applying for a family migration visa

Family members of British nationals can apply for a family migration visa to come to the UK.

Some of the normal eligibility criteria has been removed for family members including language requirements and salary.

See guidance on supporting family members of British nationals.


How to claim asylum in the UK

If you are a displaced person from Ukraine and you are already in the UK, you may be able to claim asylum. However, eligibility depends on individual circumstances so It it is important to get immigration advice before making an asylum claim. 

You can learn more about how to seek protection or claim asylum in the UK, including what the process involves. The Home Office provides detailed guidance on the current situation in Ukraine, which may help you understand how your claim will be assessed: 

 

These documents explain the risks people may face in Ukraine and how the UK government evaluates asylum claims from people affected by the conflict. 

Home Office Guidance for Caseworkers:

These resources explain how UK Visas and Immigration staff assess asylum claims, including how they evaluate evidence and determine refugee status:


People are strongly recommended to seek legal advice before applying for visas or seeking asylum. You can access free support through the following services:

  • Settled is a charity that provides immigration advice to Ukrainians who want to travel to UK, and also Ukrainians who are already in the UK and need support. You can contact them via email ukraineadvice@settled.org.uk 
  • You can find a solicitor in the UK on the Law Society website. Search “Legal Issue & Changing Countries”, and enter your postcode, town or city.


Support for Ukrainian family members arriving in Wales

The British Red Cross supports reunited families, including Ukrainian family members arriving in Wales through the Ukraine Family Scheme. Please contact us via email FamilyReunionCymru@redcross.org.uk or phone 01633 720 00, option 3.

Further guidance for Ukrainian nationals in the UK

  • Life in the UK

    Information on schools, health, jobs, and accessing services.

  • Travelling to the UK

    Advice on how to stay safe while travelling, free train travel, bringing your pet to the UK and more.

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