Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme

Ukraine Scheme

This Appendix sets out two routes for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine: the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme for those making applications outside of the UK and the Ukraine Extension Scheme for those who are in the UK.

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

A Ukrainian national who is outside the UK may qualify under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme if they have an Approved Sponsor who will provide them with accommodation for at least 6 months.

A child who is not applying with, or intending to join, their parent or legal guardian in the UK must have an Approved Sponsor who was approved for the child by a Local Authority before the application is made, and must have agreed to accommodate the child for at least 18 months or until the child is 18 years old (whichever is soonest), so long as the child is sponsored for at least 6 months .

Immediate family members of a Ukrainian national who are not themselves Ukrainian may also qualify under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

A Ukrainian national in the UK may qualify under the Ukraine Extension Scheme if they held immigration permission on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023, or if their last permission ended after 1 January 2022. Applications to this scheme must be made on or before 16 May 2024.

A person who has immigration permission as a partner or child of a Ukrainian national who qualifies under the Ukraine Extension Scheme, who is not themselves a Ukrainian national, may also qualify under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Children born in the UK to those who have permission under the Ukraine Scheme (and the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme) are eligible to apply under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

The Ukraine Family Scheme (which was available to eligible Ukrainian nationals with an eligible UK based family member sponsor) closed to new applications at 15:00GMT on 19 February 2024.

Further information on immigration issues related to Ukraine is available in the guidance ‘UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals’ which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-family-members-of-british-nationals-in-ukraine-and-ukrainian-nationals-in-ukraine-and-the-uk .

Ukraine Family Scheme

Validity requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 1.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 1.2. DELETED.
  1. UKR 1.3. DELETED.

Suitability requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 2.1. DELETED.

Eligibility requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

Entry requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 3.1. DELETED.

Variation of entry clearance application after arrival for person given letter authorising travel to UK

  1. UKR 4.1. DELETED.

Residence requirement for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 5.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 5.2. DELETED.

Relationship requirement for a family member under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 6.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 6.2. DELETED.
  1. UKR 6.3. DELETED.
  1. UKR 6.4. DELETED.

Suitability of UK based sponsor requirement

  1. UKR 6A.1. DELETED.

Nationality requirement for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 7.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 8.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 8.2. DELETED.

Decision under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 9.1. DELETED.

Period and conditions of grant under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 10.1. DELETED.
  1. UKR 10.2. DELETED.

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

Validity requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 11.1. A person applying for entry clearance under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form: “Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme”.
  1. UKR 11.2. An application for entry clearance under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme must meet all the following requirements:
    1. (a) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and
    2. (b) the applicant must have provided a passport or other document which satisfactorily established their identity and nationality; and
    3. (c) the applicant must be outside the UK on the date of application: and
    4. (d) the applicant must have provided the name of a UK sponsor who has offered them accommodation in the UK.
  1. UKR 11.3. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application they must either:
    1. (a) be applying with, or to join in the UK, their parent or legal guardian; or
    2. (b) their sponsor must have been approved as a sponsor for that applicant under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme under the guidance: “Homes for Ukraine - Applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling or reuniting with their parent or legal guardian: Guidance for Councils” before the date of application and the applicant must provide evidence of that approval in the form of a reference number.
  1. UKR 11.3A. If an application for entry clearance under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme is varied to permission to stay under paragraph UKR 14.1, the applicant must meet all the following requirements:
    1. (a) they must have provided biometrics when required; and
    2. (b) they must have provided a passport or other document which satisfactorily established their identity and nationality; and
    3. (c) they must be in the UK on the date of application.
  1. UKR 11.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 12.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under any of the following paragraphs of Part 9: grounds for refusal:
    1. (a) 9.2.1 to 9.2.2 (exclusion or deportation orders); or
    2. (b) 9.3.1 to 9.3.2 (non-conducive); or
    3. (c) 9.4.1 to 9.4.5 (criminality); or
    4. (d) 9.5.1 to 9.5.2 (exclusion from asylum or humanitarian protection); or
    5. (e) 9.6.1 to 9.6.2 (involvement in sham marriage or sham civil partnership); or
    6. (f) 9.7.1 to 9.7.3 (false representations and deception); or
    7. (g) 9.8.1. to 9.8.8. (previous breach of immigration laws); or
    8. (h) 9.9.1. to 9.9.2. (failure to provide required information); or
    9. (i) 9.10.1. to 9.10.2. (admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries); or
    10. (j) 9.14.1. to 9.20.2. and 9.23.1. to 9.24.1. (grounds for refusal and cancellation on arrival).

Eligibility requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

Entry requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 13.1. A person seeking to come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme must apply for entry clearance and must have been:
    1. (a) granted entry clearance; or
    2. (b) given a letter from the Home Office confirming the applicant can travel to the UK,
  2. under the Ukraine Scheme before they arrive in the UK.

Variation of entry clearance application after arrival for person holding permission to travel on arrival

  1. UKR 14.1. The Secretary of State may vary an application for entry clearance to an application for permission to stay if the applicant meets the following requirements:
    1. (a) has made an application for entry clearance which has not been decided; and
    2. (b) has been given a letter from the Home Office confirming the applicant can travel to the UK under a Ukraine Scheme; and
    3. (c) is granted permission to enter on arrival in the UK; and
    4. (d) provides biometrics when required after arrival in the UK.

UKR 14.2. For the purpose of the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme “parent” includes a step-parent.

Approved sponsor requirement for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 15.1. An applicant under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme must have an Approved sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
  1. UKR 15.2. If a family group is applying under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, the Ukrainian national and their immediate family members (meaning an individual set out in UKR 18.1.) must have the same Approved sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
  1. UKR 15.3. If the applicant is a child, the Approved sponsor must not previously have failed to meet the requirements for approval as a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme under the guidance: “Homes for Ukraine - Applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling or reuniting with their parent or legal guardian: Guidance for Councils”.
  1. UKR 15.4. If a child is not applying with or to join their parent or legal guardian, but they are applying with or to join an adult relative (meaning a grandparent, uncle, aunt or sibling aged 18 or older) who qualifies under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, the child and the adult relative must have the same Approved sponsor.

Residence requirement for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 16.1. An applicant applying for entry clearance under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme must have been ordinarily resident in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022, unless they are a child born on or after that date.

Nationality requirement for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 17.1. The applicant must be either:
    1. (a) a Ukrainian national; or
    2. (b) part of an immediate family group (meaning the group set out in UKR 18.1.) which includes an immediate family member who is a Ukrainian national who has been granted under or is applying under and qualifies under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Relationship requirement for a family member under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 18.1. If the applicant is not a Ukrainian national, they must be the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who has been granted under or is applying under and qualifies under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, meaning a:
    1. (a) partner of the Ukrainian national; or
    2. (b) child aged under 18 on the date of application of the Ukrainian national or of their partner; or
    3. (c) parent of a Ukrainian national child aged under 18 on the date of application (if the child is applying under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme); or
    4. (d) fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of the Ukrainian national.
  1. UKR 18.2. If applying as a partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, the applicant must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with the Ukrainian national which commenced before 1 January 2022.
  1. UKR 18.3. If applying as a partner, the requirements of Appendix Relationship with Partner must be met.

UKR 19A.1. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application and they are joining (and not accompanying) a parent or legal guardian in the UK, they must have written consent from the parent or legal guardian in the UK who they are joining, unless the decision maker is satisfied it is reasonable in the circumstances to grant the child entry clearance without that consent.

  1. UKR 19A.2 The written consent must confirm support for all of the following:
    1. (a) the application; and
    2. (b) that the applicant will live with the parent or legal guardian in the UK; and
    3. (c) the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.
  1. UKR 19B.1. If a child is not applying with, or to join in the UK, a parent or legal guardian the applicant must have provided written consent from a parent or legal guardian to the child coming to live in the UK with the named sponsor (who was approved under UKR 11.3(b)) and any adult relative who is applying with the child. The consent must be signed by at least one parent or the child’s legal guardian, and notarised or approved by:
    1. (a) the notary authorities or Guardianship service of the city/regional council in Ukraine; or
    2. (b) if the applicant is outside Ukraine, notary authorities in the country the applicant is residing in or a Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate.

Decision on an application under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 19.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme are met, the application will be granted; otherwise, the application will be refused.

Period of grant for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 20.1. The applicant will be granted permission for a period of up to 18 months.

Conditions of grant for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 20.2. The permission will be granted subject to the following conditions:
    1. (a) access to public funds permitted; and
    2. (b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) permitted; and
    3. (c) study permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

Validity requirements for the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 21.1. A person applying for permission to stay under the Ukraine Extension Scheme must apply pursuant to UKR 21.2 online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows: “Ukraine Scheme”.
  1. UKR 21.2. An application for permission to stay under the Ukraine Extension Scheme must meet all the following requirements:
    1. (a) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
    2. (b) the applicant must have provided a passport or other document which satisfactorily established their identity and nationality; and
    3. (c) the applicant must be in the UK; and
    4. (d) the applicant must have made the application on or before 23:59 on 16 May 2024, unless the applicant is born in the UK to a parent who has permission under Appendix Ukraine Scheme (and the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme).
  1. UKR 21.3. The applicant must have had permission to enter or stay in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 (but the permission does not need to cover the whole of that period), unless:
    1. (a) they had permission to enter or stay in the UK immediately before 1 January 2022, but that permission has since expired; or
    2. (b) they are a child born in the UK to a parent who qualifies under this paragraph; or
    3. (c) they are a child born in the UK to a parent who was granted permission under Appendix Ukraine Scheme (and the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme) after 16 November 2023.
  1. UKR 21.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Ukraine Extension Scheme may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 22.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under any of the following paragraphs of Part 9: grounds for refusal:
    1. (a) 9.2.1 to 9.2.2 (exclusion or deportation orders); or
    2. (b) 9.3.1 to 9.3.2 (non-conducive); or
    3. (c) 9.4.1 to 9.4.5 (criminality); or
    4. (d) 9.5.1 to 9.5.2 (exclusion from asylum or humanitarian protection); or
    5. (e) 9.6.1 to 9.6.2 (involvement in sham marriage or sham civil partnership); or
    6. (f) 9.7.1 to 9.7.3 (false representations and deception); or
    7. (g) 9.8.1. to 9.8.8. (previous breach of immigration laws); or
    8. (h) 9.9.1. to 9.9.2. (failure to provide required information); or
    9. (i) 9.10.1. to 9.10.2. (admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries); or
    10. (j) 9.14.1. to 9.20.2. and 9.23.1. to 9.24.1. (grounds for refusal and cancellation on arrival).

Eligibility requirements for the Ukraine Extension Scheme

Nationality requirement for the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 23.1. The applicant must be either:
    1. (a) a Ukrainian national; or
    2. (b) a person who has or last had permission as:
      1. (i) a partner of a Ukrainian national; or
      2. (ii) a child of a Ukrainian national; or
    3. (c) a child of a Ukrainian national born in the UK after 18 March 2022.

UKR 23A.1. For the purpose of this Appendix “parent” includes a step-parent.

Relationship requirement for a partner or child under the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 24.1. An applicant who is a partner must meet the requirements in Appendix Relationship with Partner.
  1. UKR 24.2. A child born in the UK must provide a full UK birth certificate.
  1. UKR 25.1. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application and they are not applying with their parent or parents or a legal guardian, they must have written consent from:
    1. (a) both parents; or
    2. (b) one parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the applicant; or
    3. (c) the applicant’s legal guardian,
  2. unless the decision-maker is satisfied it is reasonable in the circumstances to grant the child permission without such consent.
  1. UKR 25.2. The written consent must confirm support for:
    1. (a) the application; and
    2. (b) the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK.

Care requirement for a child under the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 26.1. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK, which must comply with relevant UK legislation and regulations.

Decision under the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 27.1. If the decision-maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements under the Ukraine Extension Scheme are met, the application will be granted; otherwise, the application will be refused.

Period and conditions of grant under the Ukraine Extension Scheme

  1. UKR 28.1. The applicant will be granted permission to stay for whatever is the shorter of either:
    1. (a) 36 months; or
    2. (b) a period which would mean the applicant has been granted a maximum of 36 months under this Appendix, unless;
    3. (c) where the applicant is a child born in the UK to a parent who qualifies under UKR 21.3 and is granted permission at the same time as the applicant, the applicant will be granted permission in line with that parent; or
    4. (d) where the applicant is a child born in the UK to a parent who has permission under the Ukraine Scheme (and the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme) the applicant will be granted permission in line with that parent; or
    5. (e) where the applicant is a child born in the UK where both parents are in the UK and either qualify under UKR 21.3 and are granted permission at the same time as the applicant or have permission granted under the Ukraine Scheme (and the now closed the Ukraine Family Scheme), the applicant will be granted permission in line with the parent whose permission expires last.
  1. UKR 28.2. The permission will be granted subject to the following conditions:
    1. (a) access to public funds permitted; and
    2. (b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) permitted; and
    3. (c) study permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.