Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions
Questions and answers on how the Homes for Ukraine scheme will work.
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On 14 December 2022 the government announced measures to update the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This scheme has been a significant success and over 100,000 Ukrainian guests are now safe in the United Kingdom. 37,500 more have valid visas and may choose to travel to the United Kingdom if circumstances change.
The government is enormously grateful to all those who have volunteered to share their home with Ukrainian people fleeing war. Government has announced today that the £350 ‘thank you’ payments, will be extended from 12 months to a maximum duration of two years. The UK government will also increase the minimum ‘thank you’ payments for hosts from £350 per month to £500 per month, once a guest has been here in the UK for 12 months. This additional financial support is aimed at helping existing hosts to continue with their sponsorship, as well as new hosts who come forward to offer a home to a Ukrainian individual or family.
The department will also provide £150 million of new UK-wide funding in the 2023 to 2024 financial year to local authorities and devolved governments to help support Ukrainian guests move into their own homes and reduce the risk of homelessness. Local authorities are best placed to understand the support needed for local communities and as is typically the case for various local authority funding, they will also be able to use this funding to support other people at risk of homelessness.
Government is also launching a £500 million Local Authority Housing Fund, which will provide capital funding directly to English councils in areas that are facing the most significant housing pressures as a result of recent Ukrainian arrivals.
The guidance below will be updated shortly to reflect changes to funding arrangements.
Homes for Ukraine scheme
When will sponsors and people from Ukraine be able to apply for the sponsorship scheme?
The scheme opened on 18 March for visa applications from individuals or households fleeing from Ukraine who have named people in the UK willing to sponsor them. Either the applicants coming from Ukraine or the sponsor can complete the application. One application is required per individual coming to the UK.
As of 26 July 2022 119,000 visas have been issued under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. See latest visa statistics.
If applicants do not have a named sponsor in place, they can choose the Scottish Government or Welsh Government to sponsor them through their Devolved Government Sponsorship Schemes. New applications to the Scottish Government and Welsh Government as a sponsor are paused at present but all existing applications to both the Scottish Government and Welsh Government are continuing to be processed and existing visa holders can continue to travel to Scotland and Wales, and will be supported.
How many people from Ukraine are expected to be helped under the sponsorship scheme route?
There will be no limit or cap on the sponsorship route and tens of thousands have already arrived. The UK will welcome as many people fleeing from Ukraine as wish to come and for whom there are sponsors. This is a huge humanitarian crisis, and we are urging the British public to come forward and help where they can.
Which people from Ukraine are eligible to come on this scheme?
The scheme is open to Ukrainian nationals who were residents in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022. It is also open to their immediate family members and family members of such Ukrainian nationals: a spouse, a civil partner, an unmarried partner (must have lived together in a relationship for two years), children under-18, parent if you are under-18, fiancé(e) or a proposed civil partner. These individuals may be of other nationalities.
Children who are currently outside of the UK can use the scheme to reunite with their parent or legal guardian who is currently living in the UK, if they are the child’s sponsor.
The scheme is also open to children under 18 who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian, known as ‘eligible children’ (where sponsor eligibility and parental or legal guardian consent requirements are met). Safeguarding checks on sponsors must be completed prior to new visa applications from eligible children. On 28 July 2022 a new online application form for planned sponsors to complete was launched. This enables planned sponsors to start their application process and begin safeguarding checks. Following this the visa application process for new applications from eligible children will open on 10 August 2022. Further guidance is available on Gov.uk via the following links Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
Applicants can apply from Ukraine or from any other third country.
People or organisations wanting to be sponsors who do not have a named individual to sponsor can record their interest in being a sponsor. They will then be kept updated as the scheme develops.
In Scotland and Wales, potential sponsors who have made an expression of interest in hosting will be contacted to offer them the chance to be matched through the Scottish and Welsh Devolved Government Sponsorship Schemes. Once initially registered, prospective hosts will be contacted to provide further details on the accommodation available.
We know our charities, faith groups, universities, businesses and industry representative bodies will have extensive networks with communities and individuals across Europe. We will be working closely with all of them to ensure people who want to help are matched to people from Ukraine – such as through a charity or social media. Further detail on the support they are able to provide can be found in the guidance for matching organisations.
Can I sponsor my Ukrainian family member under Homes for Ukraine, or do I need to use the Ukraine Family Scheme?
Yes, you can sponsor relatives via the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Are people from Ukraine aged under 18 who are travelling without intention to join a parent or legal guardian eligible to be sponsored for the Homes for Ukraine scheme?
The scheme is open to children who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian, known as ‘eligible children’ (where sponsor eligibility and parental or legal guardian consent requirements are met). Safeguarding checks on sponsors must be completed prior to new visa applications from eligible children. On 28 July 2022 a new online application form for planned sponsors to complete was launched. This enables planned sponsors to start their application process and begin safeguarding checks. Following this the visa application process for new applications from eligible children will open on 10 August 2022. Further guidance is available on Gov.uk via the following links: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
I have offered to sponsor a person from Ukraine who is under 18 and who is not travelling with or intending to join a parent or legal guardian, when will I hear about the next steps?
The Home Office has written to applicants from under 18s who are currently not eligible for the Homes for Ukraine scheme and whose visa applications are currently on hold. This communication will outline plans to expand the scheme to under 18s carefully defined circumstances and will also include information for their prospective sponsors. Please email HFUUpdates-Minors@homeoffice.gov.uk if you have offered to sponsor a person from Ukraine who is under 18 but you have not yet received contact from the Home Office. Please include your name and application reference (sent when you made your application) in the title to the email so we can match your response to your application.
I have offered to sponsor a person from Ukraine who is under 18 and who is not travelling with or intending to join a parent or legal guardian, how long will I be expected to act as a sponsor?
As a sponsor to someone coming from Ukraine aged under 18 who is travelling to the UK and not travelling with or intending to join a parent or legal guardian, you would need to commit to provide accommodation and support, either:
- until they left the UK
- for up to 3 years (the length of their visa)
- until they turned 18 years of age (and sponsorship has lasted for a minimum of 6 months) – whichever is soonest
How is the scheme going to be delivered?
To make this scheme a success we need a national effort with communities, charities, faith groups, businesses, councils and devolved governments all working together to provide much needed support to those arriving in the weeks and months ahead.
We are asking people in the UK to offer accommodation for at least 6 months – we know this is a significant ask.
Alongside the generous offer of accommodation sponsors will be making, we are providing a substantial level of funding to local authorities to enable them to provide much wider support to families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into our communities.
Under this scheme people will have access to public services, work and benefits.
Where do I record my interest?
There is a short form on Homes for Ukraine. You will be kept updated after recording your interest.
If you already have a named contact whom you wish to sponsor you should get in touch with them directly and prepare to fill in a visa application with all of their details and yours. The visa application route opened on 18 March for those with named contacts.
If you don’t currently know anyone whom you wish to sponsor, you may wish to get in touch with charities, faith groups or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals.
In Scotland and Wales, potential sponsors who have made an expression of interest in hosting will be contacted to offer them the chance to be matched through the Scottish and Welsh Devolved Government Sponsorship Schemes. Once initially registered, prospective hosts will be contacted to provide further details on the accommodation available.
I’m part of an organisation what role can I play?
You can in the first instance record your interest.
Charities, businesses and faith and community groups will have a big role to play in connecting individuals with those who wish to sponsor and wish to be sponsored and of course providing an excellent welcome to individuals arriving to the UK.
Will I be charged a fee or asked to provide financial information to become a sponsor?
No – you will not be asked to pay a fee or make a payment of any kind, as part of becoming a sponsor and this includes the visa process. Any requests for you to do so will likely be a scam and should be reported. Read more on how to report scams.
Linking up with a guest
What do I do if I want to sponsor but don’t know someone?
There are several ways you can help support and sponsor an individual over 18 or household coming to the UK from Ukraine if you do not already know anyone in need. A number of charities and non-government organisations are working to offer services to match potential sponsors and Ukrainian households seeking to come to the UK.
Sponsors of children under 18 who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian should, except in exceptional circumstances, be personally known to the parent or legal guardian. More information is available on GOV.UK.
I don’t know the person I’m sponsoring – we met on Facebook – should I give them my passport details?
Whether to share your personal information is always your decision. But if you have concerns about sharing personal details, you may prefer to fill out the visa application form on behalf of the individuals you are sponsoring. To do this, you will need to ask them for their information.
What if I live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Sponsors can apply for the scheme from any part of the UK.
In addition, the Scottish and Welsh Governments are directly sponsoring a number of people coming to the UK from Ukraine themselves.
However, both the Scottish Government and Welsh Government have temporarily paused applications to their schemes. This is to ensure support and sanctuary can be provided to those displaced people who are in Scotland and Wales already or will shortly be arriving, and that focus can be given to embedding the arrangements for next stage accommodation alongside continued delivery of wider wraparound services.
All existing applications will continue to be processed and existing visa holders can travel to Scotland and Wales and will be supported as planned.
Further details can be found on the Scottish Government and Welsh Government websites.
In Northern Ireland, responsibility for provision of support to arrivals and service provision more generally is delivered by different organisations to those mentioned in these FAQs. See information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern ireland for more details.
NI Direct is the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens and aims to make it easier to access government information and services.
What if I live in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man?
If you are based in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Isle of Man or Jersey, you should contact the relevant authority listed below before making an application to check the details of the sponsorship schemes available in those jurisdictions, which may differ from that provided by the UK government.
- Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney and Sark) – ukraine@gov.gg
- Isle of Man – UkraineGuidance@gov.im
- Jersey – ukraine@gov.je
I’m a foster carer, can I offer to care for an unaccompanied child arriving from Ukraine through this scheme?
Sponsors of children under 18 who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian, known as ‘eligible children’ must meet eligibility criteria, including that they should, except in exceptional circumstances, be personally known to the child’s parent or legal guardian. This relationship should pre-date the conflict on 24 February 2022. Further information about the requirements to sponsor an eligible child is available in guidance on GOV.UK via the following links: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
Sponsors
How can I be confirmed as a sponsor?
To be confirmed as a sponsor you must be based in the UK; with at least 6 months permission to be in the UK. You can be of any nationality. You will need to prove your identity using a recognised identity document for ID check. A full list of applicable identity documents is available in the sponsor guidance but a British passport or driving license would suffice. You must also have a spare room, or separate self-contained residential accommodation that is unoccupied. The accommodation must be available for at least six months, be fit for people to live in, and suitable for the number of people to be accommodated.
If you live in Scotland or Wales, you will be required to go through safeguarding and property checks before you are matched with guests arriving under the Devolved Government Sponsorship Schemes.
Additional requirements for sponsors of children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian are set out in GOV.UK guidance here: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
I’m a foster carer, can I apply to be a sponsor?
The decision to become a host family should involve everyone living in the household. The views, wishes and feelings of children in foster care should be taken into account in all aspects of their care.
There will be particular considerations when the household includes children in foster care. Foster carers are required to give written notice to their fostering provider when there is a change in the composition of the household. We would expect foster carers to contact their fostering service provider and also the council for any children already living in their care when considering applying to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme (where the council is not their fostering service provider).
If a foster carer has capacity to take additional children, we would encourage them to approach their council about what support they can provide including to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children already in the country and those who continue to arrive.
What sort of room/accommodation is required?
The most important thing is that you’re able to provide at least 6 months of stable accommodation. This can be anything from an empty room to an unoccupied home, as long as it’s safe, heated and free from health hazards, and gives your guests adequate access to bathroom and kitchen facilities.
What about a sofa bed in my sitting room?
We are asking for sponsors who can at least offer an empty room, to ensure the safety and privacy of guests. A bed in a shared space would not be an appropriate offer of accommodation for 6 months.
Will I be able to state any preferences?
It will be for you as a sponsor to apply with a specific named person and any immediate family members applying with them. You should consider what sort of support you are best able to provide and who you are most comfortable to support. For example, you should consider whether your accommodation is suitable for someone with a young child, the elderly or someone with a disability. You may want to consider if you are able to accommodate someone with pets. Everyone who applies to this scheme will be subject to a range of checks, including those in the sponsoring household and those coming to the UK.
What do I need to do to make sure my home is suitable for my guest?
All accommodation will be different and while there is no set expectation, your accommodation needs to be free from serious health and safety hazards. You should make sure your home is safe for your guests and that it is in a suitable condition.
You should also consider how many people you can accommodate so they have sufficient space. Two people should not be in one room unless they are: adult cohabiting partners; a parent and child; two siblings of the same gender if aged over 10; two siblings regardless of gender if aged under 10. Individuals who didn’t previously know each other should not be given the same room.
Further to this we ask that accommodation:
- be kept clean and in a reasonable state;
- have adequate kitchen and bathroom space;
- have access to drinking water;
- have a working smoke detector on each floor of the property and other fire safety precautions suitable for the building e.g. fire doors or escape routes as appropriate (further information on making a home safe from fire);
- have a working carbon monoxide detector in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. a coal fire, wood burning stove);
- have sufficient heating to keep the property at a comfortable temperature;
- have safe gas appliances, fittings and flues and have undertaken a Gas Safety check within the last year (see more information);
- have safe and working electrics, which a qualified electrician can help with if you are unsure;
- be almost entirely free of damp or mould;
- have doors and windows at entry level that lock properly;
- be easy and safe to move around in, without excessively steep staircases that may cause harm.
How should my guest(s) reach me?
If you are unable to meet your guest, you should provide them with instructions on how to reach you from their chosen point of arrival.
Your guests will be eligible for a single onward journey via national rail, light rail, bus and coach, free of charge to your destination anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. They will only need to show their Ukrainian passport and boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the country within the last 48 hours:
For more information see the Ukrainian Displaced Persons Travel Scheme.
People coming to Northern Ireland from Ukraine are entitled to free public transport as soon as they arrive, for their journey to their final destination.
Eurostar is offering free travel on its network. Passengers with a valid visa to enter the UK and a Ukrainian passport can receive the free ticket by speaking to any Eurostar team member at Paris Nord, Brussels-Midi, Lille Europe, or Amsterdam Central.
Guests will be asked to produce their passport of Ukrainian government ID for free travel on buses or trains.
Where are welcome points?
There are a number of major entry points to the UK, including airports, where there will be Welcome Points for guests to meet you and where guests can seek support, including to arrange their onward travel.
These have been established at the following major port of entry locations:
| Major Ports of Entry | Council |
|---|---|
| Stansted Airport | Essex County Council |
| Luton Airport | Luton Borough Council |
| Heathrow Airport | LB Hillingdon |
| St Pancras International Rail | LB Camden |
| Manchester Airport | Manchester City Council |
| Birmingham Airport | Solihull Council |
| Gatwick Airport | West Sussex Council |
There are also welcome arrangements set up or on standby at the following locations:
Airports
- Bristol
- Liverpool
- East Midlands
- Leeds Bradford
- Doncaster (Robin Hood)
- Southampton
- Bournemouth
- Humberside
- Newcastle
- Teesside International
- Southend
- London City
- Cornwall
- Cardiff
- Belfast International
- Belfast City
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
Ports
- Birkenhead Ferry Port
- Portsmouth International Port
- Dover Port and Folkstone
- Plymouth Port
- Port of Newhaven
- Port of Tyne
- Port of Poole
- Harwich International Port
- Port of Hull
- Holyhead Port
- Fishguard Port
- Pembroke Dock
- Cairnryan
- Lerwick
Rail and coach
- London Victoria Rail and Coach station
- Wrexham General Station
- Cardiff Central Station
What is provided at welcome points?
Staff at welcome points will be able to support guests on their arrival to the UK and resolve any immediate problems. This may be through helping make onward travel arrangements, or through answering any questions they may have until you arrive. The Welcome Points will be able to support guests by providing access to:
- Welcome/rest point, with toilet facilities, telephone, telephone charging facilities and translation capability.
- Provision of any necessary immediate assistance including food, drink, (over the counter) medical supplies and other sundries; and
- Signposting access to public services and advice.
What can I do to help my guest settle in?
Your guest is unlikely to be familiar with the layout of your local area or how to get around easily. Some practical advice on things like getting to and from your home, where the local shops are, and where to catch buses and trains will go a long way. As a sponsor, you’re not expected to provide transport for your guests throughout their stay.
It would be helpful to direct your guests to public services. For example, this could involve helping your guests to contact and register with a local GP and NHS dentist. Additional guidance on how to access public services can be found on the gov.uk website.
As a sponsor, the first thing to do will be to make sure guests are comfortable in their accommodation and setup with the basics. They should have enough food and essential supplies like toiletries and it’s worth checking that they’ve got access to a mobile phone and the internet so they can stay in touch with family and friends.
Will I be paid rent?
No. You should not charge any rent. We appreciate people’s generosity and do know that there will be costs associated with helping out, and so we are offering an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month to people who can accommodate one or more household (subject to the accommodation they have).
The ‘thank you’ payment is limited to one payment per residential address. You will continue to receive payments for as long as you sponsor somebody and for up to 12 months. This payment will be made in arrears.
The UK government is ensuring ‘thank you payments’ do not affect benefit entitlement and will remain tax-free. Prior to payment, checks will be carried out which will include a visit to your home.
Will I receive an upfront payment to assist with set up costs?
The £350 thank you payment will be issued following checks being carried out, which will include a visit to your home.
Every guest will be entitled to a £200 interim payment to help with subsistence costs. This will be provided by the local council.
What happens at the end of the 6-month sponsorship period?
Detailed guidance has been published for sponsors and guests explaining the options available 4 to 6 months into the sponsorship arrangement. Please see these pages for further information:
The expectations regarding the sponsorship duration for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian are different. Please see the GOV.UK guidance here: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
What if sponsorship breaks down?
If for any reason you need to end the sponsorship arrangement early, sponsors should inform the local council as soon as possible.
If my guest decides to move on early or the sponsorship breaks down, can I be rematched with a new guest?
If your initial sponsorship breaks down or your guest moves on early, you should contact your local council in the first instance. If appropriate, your council may decide to offer a rematch with a new guest.
Will the person I am supporting be eligible for benefits and/or to work?
The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. All those from Ukraine coming to the country under the scheme will be able to seek and take up employment.
Your local Jobcentre Plus will be able to help you find out which benefits your guest may be able to access. This may include:
- Universal Credit – a payment for those of working age, to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income. You could be working (including self-employed or part time) or be out of work. A link to the Universal Credit eligibility criteria can be found here: Universal Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). If your guest is in education, they should check the guidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student here: Universal Credit and students - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- Pension Credit - extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age which is 66 in the UK and on a low income;
- Disability benefits – extra money to help with additional costs for those who have a long term physical or mental health condition or disability;
- Carer’s Allowance – extra money if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week.
- Child Benefit – extra money to help with the cost of raising a child.
The UK has a welfare system which is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. Your local Job Centre Plus will be able to help you find out which benefits your guest may be able to access, or you can check online.
You can use these links to find your nearest Job Centre and apply for Universal Credit online.
The National Careers Service provides free, impartial, and personalised information and guidance on careers. It can help you to make decisions on learning, training, and work. Advice is delivered through individual and group face-to-face sessions, over the telephone and online.
What is the entitlement to housing benefit of someone coming to the UK under this scheme?
The sponsorship scheme assumes no rent will be paid.
Where someone wishes to rent privately, or when the sponsorship ends, guests will have access to public funds and will be able to rent a property like anyone else. If they need to, they’ll be able to claim the housing part of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. The UK government has useful information on renting property which is available in the How to Rent Guide.
Will hosting a family from Ukraine affect my own eligibility for government support with childcare costs by changing the number of people in my household?
For the purposes of 30 Hours free childcare and Tax-Free Childcare, a family arriving in the UK through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will be treated as a separate household from the household of their hosts. This means that the income of the host family will not affect the eligibility of the family from Ukraine, and vice versa. See the 30 Hours eligibility criteria and information about Tax-Free Childcare.
Am I expected to provide meals too or just accommodation?
Just accommodation. However, there is nothing stopping sponsors offering meals should they wish. You may offer this philanthropically or ask guests for a contribution to the cost of food. You will not be expected to cover the costs of food and living expenses (although you may wish to offer this philanthropically). Every guest will be entitled to a £200 interim payment to help with subsistence costs which will be provided by the local council. Under this scheme people will also have access to public services, work and benefits. You may ask guests to pay a reasonable and proportionate contribution (according to use) for water, gas and electricity consumed or supplied to the accommodation or to any shared facilities. With self-contained accommodation, you should agree with your guest who will pay Council Tax.
The expectations regarding the sponsorship duration for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian are different. Please see the GOV.UK guidance here: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
How can my guest set up a bank account as a newly-arrived Ukrainian?
Councils and sponsors may need to signpost guests from Ukraine to open a UK bank account for the purposes of receiving Interim payments and Universal Credit or other state benefits.
There are a range of providers, and so guests can choose which provider suits them best. More information, including a list of some providers and their websites can be found in section 2.1 of the welcome guide. Your guest may wish to open an account with other providers that are not listed in the Welcome Pack. The list is in alphabetical order and is not intended to be ranked by order of preference.
To open a bank or building society account, guests will probably need to:
1. Make sure they have an email address set up in their name and a valid phone number, to help the bank or building society communicate with them.
2. Present their identification document (passport or document they entered the UK on) and permission to travel letter from the Home Office.
3. Collect all identification and visa documents.
To open a new bank or building society account, they’ll need to provide some basic personal information. Here’s what the bank or building society may want to know about them: - name - date of birth - nationality - contact details (email address set up in the guest’s name and a valid phone number)
To open a bank or building society account in the UK, guests also need to show proof of ID, and may be asked for things like:
- Passport
- Biometric residency permit
- Driver’s licence
- Recognised identity card.
The quickest way to prove identification is likely to be with a passport and/or Biometric Residence Permit (issued by the UK government). Some UK banks and building societies may ask for proof of address, though this is not required by law to open a bank or building society account. If they don’t have all the identification documents, guests should take all the information they have with them to the bank or building society. Banks and building societies are encouraged to consider alternative ways to identify and verify their customers, and the government has been working closely with the sector to support access for people moving to the UK from Ukraine who may not have standard identification documentation.
3. Apply for an account either in person at a bank or building society branch (guests may need to make an appointment), over the phone, online or via a bank or building society’s mobile app. If going into a branch, guests should take all relevant identification documents with them. Guests may need to download and fill in an application form from the bank or building society’s website. Guests might want to ask their sponsor to help them complete the form and go with them to the bank or building society.
Is there any requirement for Ukrainians coming under this scheme to have a particular level of English?
There is no minimum English level. Those arriving from Ukraine may want to access English as a second language classes.
Local councils can support with signposting to advice and support.
Libraries often also offer free access to materials to learn English, and access to physical and online resources in other languages.
Will I be expected to provide any other support?
You should help your guest(s), adjust to life in the UK as much as you can. You should make sure they are comfortable in their accommodation, and that they have access to basics such as food, bedding and toiletries.
Your guest will be able to access support from your local council for instance for helping children access school places, as well as from Jobcentre Plus. It would be helpful if you could assist them in registering with a GP.
There may also be local voluntary groups who can offer support.
Public libraries are another useful source of support. They can help guests with access to information and resources, provide free access to computers and Wi-Fi, and can help with signposting to local services. You can find your local library service using this local library services page.
The expectations regarding the sponsorship duration for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian are different. Please see the GOV.UK guidance here: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
What checks need to be done?
HM Government has published Guidance for councils which provides more information on safeguarding checks.
- In addition to checks prior to visas being issued, all households receiving guests from Ukraine will receive checks by your local council on the property and household. All households will be visited to ensure the accommodation is fit for purpose and suitable to receive guests.
- If you are applying to host a child who is not travelling with or joining their parents/legal guardian, enhanced DBS checks and accommodation checks will be carried out before their arrival into the UK. The sponsor will also need to undergo a sponsor suitability assessment. More information is set out in the GOV.UK guidance: Guidance for Councils (Children and minors applying without parents), Guidance for Sponsors (Children and minors applying without parents) and Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (Children and minors applying without parents).
- If the accommodation is self-contained or only adults without specific vulnerabilities (see below) are coming into the property then basic DBS checks are undertaken on all adult members in the sponsor household.
- If children under the age of 18 are going to be accommodated in the household, then an Enhanced DBS check (including a check of the children’s barred list) will be undertaken on all people in the sponsor’s household over 16. If the sponsor is related to the guest, basic DBS checks will be undertaken.
- Councils will follow existing guidance for regulated activity with vulnerable adults. Where the local authority officials know that there is an adult guest arriving in the household, who is vulnerable (due to illness, disability or age) and has particular needs for which the sponsor is to provide support, a request for an enhanced DBS check with check of the adults’ barred list can be made.
- If, after their checks, councils consider a sponsor to be unsuitable, and this takes place after a visa has been issued, the sponsor will not be able to receive the £350 ‘thank you’ payment, and any guests will be supported to find a new sponsor as soon as possible.
The Scottish Government and Welsh Government has published guidance for safeguarding and property checks in Scotland and Wales.
What checks need to be done in the case of a rematch?
There are some differences to the checks process for rematches as these checks are happening outside of the visa system, when beneficiaries are already safely in the country and in contact with councils, and without the security and criminality checks applied to sponsors for safeguarding at the initial visa application point. When rematching people on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, safeguarding checks will be the responsibility of councils.
In the instance of a rematch, councils will be required to undertake relevant DBS checks and accommodation checks in advance of move in. Due to the disruption guests will have experienced due to the breakdown of a previous sponsorship, it is recommended that a further wellbeing check is conducted after the guests have arrived.
How will the DBS checks be carried out?
The council and/or registered body will provide the sponsor (and any adults, 16 or over, in the sponsor’s household) with the appropriate form, basic or enhanced, which will need to be completed by the individual. The council will need to check the identity of each applicant and, for the enhanced check, countersign the application form.
DBS checks are completed prior to or as soon as possible after the guest’s arrival. Visa approval is not dependent on the completion of a DBS check. If the DBS checks raise an issue then the guests are removed by the local authority. In the instance of a rematch, councils will be required to undertake relevant DBS check and accommodation checks in advance of move in.
Councils should be aware that:
a) DBS is required to charge a fee for checks. Councils will be required to cover the cost of DBS checks from the £10,500 funding that is being provided to enable them to provide support to families to settle in. Guests or sponsors will not be charged.
b) To facilitate processing, councils or registered bodies must include the word “Ukraine” in the ‘position applied for’ field in the form for enhanced checks.
c) To ensure that the relevant Enhanced DBS checks are delivered as efficiently as possible the council or registered body submitting the check must not tick the box on the application form (field x66) which indicates that the applicant will be working at their home address.
Can a guest move in prior to the accommodation checks being carried out?
Yes, where the guests are over 18 or with their parent or legal guardian. Where it is possible, however, we have asked councils to make at least one in-person visit prior to the arrival of guests. The cost of checks should not be passed to the sponsor or guest.
Following the guest’s arrival, councils should confirm as soon as possible that the guest is well and that there are no serious safeguarding or welfare concerns or needs for care and support.
Where it is suspected that the adult may have care and support needs, a needs assessment should be undertaken during this visit in line with the requirements of the Care Act 2014.
In the instance of a rematch, both DBS and accommodation checks must be completed successfully in advance of the new guest moving into their accommodation.
Sponsor housing
What about my council tax discount?
Council tax discounts will not be affected if you sponsor and host a household from Ukraine in your home. We are offering a £350 a month ‘thank you’ payment to all sponsors – this will not affect any council tax discounts.
What about my mortgage / household insurance?
In some cases, you’ll need to check with your landlord, freeholder or mortgage provider, and insurance company, about whether they’ve got any policies which you need to factor in. It’s important you think through any possible implications for your tenancy, mortgage, lease and insurance before your guest arrives in the UK.
Insurers have agreed that for homeowners accommodating people coming from Ukraine in their home there is no need to contact your insurer on the basis that they are accommodated as non-paying guests. Please refer to the Association of British Insurers’ statement for more details. In other situations, including where the sponsor is a landlord or a tenant, you will need to contact your insurer.
Lenders have committed to enable as many borrowers as possible to participate in the scheme. If you have a mortgage on the property you will need to refer to the lender’s website for further instructions. We are working with the mortgage lender sector to standardise and simplify this process as far as possible.
If you are considering applying to be a sponsor you should refer to your mortgage lender’s and insurer’s websites where further guidance will be available as soon as possible.
What if I am a tenant?
If you rent, you may have something in your tenancy agreement that says you should get the permission of your landlord before you host a guest. Any terms in your tenancy agreement that refer to not taking in lodgers or subtenants will also apply to these sponsorship arrangements. The UK Government is also urging landlords to waive any permission fees in these specific cases. If you are uncertain about what your tenancy agreement requires, you can get free advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter.
You can contact Citizens Advice through the national phone service on Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848 or Advicelink (Wales): 0800 702 2020. For Shelter, please refer to their webpage
What if I am a leaseholder?
If you are a leaseholder wishing to host a guest, you will need to check the terms of your lease to see whether you are permitted to have lodgers or subtenants. If you are uncertain about what permissions your lease requires you to secure, you can get free advice from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). Further information can be provided through the website, or via a telephone appointment with one of LEASE’s advisers, which can be booked through the website’s contact page or by calling 020 7832 2500. The UK government urges freeholders and fellow residents to not withhold consent unreasonably.
Will sponsoring a person coming to the UK from Ukraine in a property I own affect Capital Gains Tax or Private Residence Relief on a future sale?
If you host a person coming to the UK from Ukraine in a property you own, it is likely they will be occupying under a bare licence, as opposed to a tenancy or commercial licence. Consequently, no part of the property will cease to be the owner’s residence as a result of that occupation, so there is no impact on Private Residence Relief or Capital Gains Tax.
More information on letting and Private Residence Relief can be found on GOV.UK.
What arrangements / agreements should I put in place with my guests?
It’s best to set a few clear expectations between you and your guests. As a sponsor you may want to draw up an agreement with your guests that sets a few ground rules, such as sharing use of common areas of the house, or concerning things like smoking, alcohol or noise.
When the sponsor wants to bring this arrangement to an end, they can ask their guests to leave by giving reasonable notice. As the sponsor will not be charging rent an assured shorthold tenancy is not created but if the arrangement changes from sponsorship to one where rent is charged, the position will be different.
What model agreement should I use?
There are two kinds of model agreement that could be used; an Excluded Licence Agreement or an Excluded Tenancy Agreement. It is not mandatory to use either kind of agreement as part of the sponsorship scheme. Signing an agreement would be beneficial for the guest and host to ensure that they are clear on the terms of their stay. Some mortgage lenders may ask for an agreement to be signed, you should refer to their websites for instructions.
If your guests are sharing accommodation with you, for example using guest bedrooms and sharing a kitchen with you, the is most suitable.
If your guests are living in self-contained accommodation (such as a holiday let) then the is most suitable.
Education and childcare
Will children arriving from Ukraine have access to schools and are there any special circumstances for providing them with school places?
All children and young people arriving under these schemes have the right to access education and childcare whilst in the UK. The best place for all school-age children to be educated is in schools, and attending school is vital to help newly arrived children integrate as quickly as possible into the communities in which they are living.
Children arriving from Ukraine will have no specific additional priority for admission, but the council is under a duty to offer advice to parents on the school application process and should advise them where vacancies exist and how to apply.
Where there are no vacancies in local schools, the council should use its in-year fair-access protocol to place any children (including children arriving from Ukraine) into schools, above those schools’ normal capacity where necessary, as permitted by the School Admissions Code.
How will families know how to get their children into a school on arrival in the UK?
The Welcome guide for those arriving from Ukraine contains advice on accessing education and childcare, in the section ‘Childcare and Education Services’. See more general advice on school admissions.
For children who are not travelling to the UK with or to join a parent or legal guardian, there is a separate welcome guide that contains the same advice, in the ‘School and Education’ section.
Any families returning to or moving to the UK should speak to the council school admission team in their chosen areas for information on how to apply for a school place. Councils should support parents in choosing schools, which includes providing information on where schools have vacancies and how to apply. As a sponsor you may wish to support them to do this.
Families in England can contact their local council to find:
- state-funded schools in their area
- admission criteria for the schools they’re interested in
The process is different if families live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
How quickly will children arriving from Ukraine be offered a school place?
Across the UK, we would expect that children begin attending school shortly after arriving in an area and councils (the Education Authority in Northern Ireland) should help families arriving from Ukraine to apply for school places and inform parents which schools have places. Schools’ admission arrangements apply in the normal way.
In England, when parents apply for a school place, the School Admissions Code states that admission authorities should aim to notify parents of the outcome of an application for a school within 10 school days and that they must do so within 15 school days.
Where there are no vacancies within a reasonable distance of the child’s home, the local authority must place the child quickly under its in-year Fair Access Protocol.
Fair Access Protocols exist to ensure that vulnerable children who are struggling to secure a school place through the normal admissions routes can access one as quickly as possible. All admission authorities are required to participate in their local Fair Access Protocol, this includes admitting children when asked to do so via the Fair Access Protocol. The School Admissions Code sets out the categories of children that are eligible to be placed via the Fair Access Protocol, which includes children of refugees and asylum seekers.
Please see the following links for further information about school admissions arrangements in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
How can I help the family staying with me find childcare?
Childcare Choices is a useful website to explain parents’ options. For more information, parents can also speak to their council follow the step-by-step guide on how to find childcare, get help paying for it and what to do if your circumstances change.
Government funds early education entitlements (free hours of childcare) for parents of young children:
- All parents of 3- and 4-year-olds can access 15 free hours of childcare per week, regardless of their immigration status or whether they are working.
- Eligible working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds can access an additional 15 hours of childcare, known as the ‘30 Hours’ entitlement.
- Disadvantaged 2-year-olds may be eligible to access 15 free hours of childcare.
You can find more information about the eligibility criteria here: 30 Hours free childcare; free education and childcare for 2 year-olds.
Children arriving in the UK through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will be able to access the Department for Education’s free early education entitlements if they meet the existing eligibility criteria.
Can childminders host people from Ukraine?
The Department for Education has issued guidance for any childminders in England wishing to host people from Ukraine on premises where childminding takes place. This guidance is available via the Foundations Years’ website.
Further questions
Can people bring their pets?
People fleeing from Ukraine can bring their pets with them and we recognise that many people fleeing the conflict will not have been able to complete the full health preparations required for their pets, especially in relation to rabies.
Therefore, to protect our biosecurity, until we know the vaccination status of the pet and therefore the disease risk they pose to humans and other animals, pets must be quarantined. We are covering the costs of any necessary quarantine for pets from Ukraine.
The maximum stay in quarantine for a pet that has received no rabies vaccination is four months. Pets will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with a shortened quarantine period for those that are vaccinated.
The Government has also introduced a new rabies blood test that will be able to detect existing rabies vaccinations. This will help in instances where refugees have travelled without vaccination paperwork and will also reduce the time pets need to spend in quarantine facilities.
Results can be turned around in a minimum of three days and animals can then be moved to an isolation facility. Pets may be eligible for home isolation in England if the blood test proves that the vaccine is working, and the home isolation conditions can be met. This will help maintain our strict biosecurity measures and may allow people to be reunited more quickly with their pets.
If a pet is eligible for home isolation in England, the Animal and Plant Health Agency will contact the owner to discuss this further and provide more information on the next steps. There are a number of conditions that need to be met before a pet can be moved to home isolation. Further details on the home isolation process will be provided to the host to ensure they can make an informed decision on whether they would be content to host a pet animal from Ukraine that requires home isolation.
Guests travelling with pets should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency before arrival at pettravel@apha.gov.uk or should call +44 3000 200 301 and select option 2 to find out what to do.
Why have you offered this scheme for Ukrainians and not for previous refugee groups?
The UK has a long and proud history of welcoming migrants including recent arrivals from Syria, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Every scheme is different and learns from the successes or challenges of those before. There has been a sponsorship route in operation for some years, and Homes for Ukraine is a developed version of that. We will look to see whether there are lessons we can apply from this scheme in future.
Can Ukrainians who have arrived in the UK under the Family Scheme swap onto Homes for Ukraine?
It is currently not possible to switch between schemes after arrival into the UK. However, where the family in the UK cannot offer accommodation and there is a sponsor available who can provide accommodation, they may apply through the Homes for Ukraine scheme before arriving to the UK.
What is the level of support for local authorities for arrivals under the family scheme?
Homes for Ukraine is a unique scheme that has been set up specifically to support those escaping the conflict in Ukraine. As such, the government is providing additional funding to local authorities to enable them to provide support to families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.
The Ukraine Family Scheme is very similar to existing family visa routes, and provision of public services from this route should be managed in the usual way.
Are those accommodating people via the Family Scheme eligible for the £350 thank you payment?
The ‘thank you’ payments are only available to those sponsoring guests via the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Updates to this page
Published 14 March 2022Last updated 29 July 2022 + show all updates
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Minor changes to guidance to reflect changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme for children travelling without a parent or legal guardian.
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Added links to guidance on children and minors applying without parents.
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Updated to reflect a pause on new applicants to Scotland’s Devolved Government Sponsorship Scheme.
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Updated to include further information on sponsorship in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Updated to indicate that further guidance on how the scheme will allow access for children who are not travelling with or to join a parent, will be published in due course.
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Added translation
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Updated to include information on rematching, Universal Credit and amended information on foster care, access to education, opening a bank account and applying for a Biometric Residence Permit.
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Added section on education and childcare, and questions about foster care. Amended sections on eligibility, opening a bank account, accommodation and food, accommodation checks, DBS checks, mortgage and household insurance, and model agreements.
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Ukraine and Russian translations updated.
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Updates include further information on welcome centres, DBS checks and support offered under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
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Updated Ukrainian and Russian translations.
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Updated to include further information for sponsors.
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Added translations in Ukrainian and Russian.
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First published.