Guidance

UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals

Guidance on support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office
Published
17 February 2022
Last updated
16 December 2024 — See all updates

You must not travel to the UK before you have submitted an entry clearance application and received permission from the Home Office.

Apply to come to the UK

Ukraine Family Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme closed at 3pm on 19 February 2024. You can no longer apply under this scheme. You will still receive a decision if you had applied before it closed.

If you were previously eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme, you may be eligible to apply to the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

The scheme enables people to sponsor Ukrainians and their family members to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

If your application is successful, you will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.

Read more information about applying to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Find out how people can record their interest in becoming a sponsor.

Other visas may can apply for

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

Check which visas are available.

Proving your identity and providing your documents

You’ll need to book an appointment to have your photo and fingerprints (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Children under 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to have their photo taken.

At your appointment, you’ll need to prove your identity with a valid international passport.

Where you do not have a valid international passport, you may use either:

  • a recently expired international passport
  • a valid or recently expired Ukrainian national identity card
  • a combination of official documents which states your identity and nationality – for example, a photo driving licence and birth certificate
  • an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022

For more information, including opening hours and appointment booking, visit the VFS website.

Travelling with a permission to travel letter

If you did not use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app or attend a visa application centre, you may have been issued with a permission to travel letter to allow you to travel to the UK.

Permission to travel letters issued without accompanying digital status are valid for travel to the UK until 12:01am UK time on 13 February 2025. If you arrive after this date with a permission to travel letter, you may be refused entry to the UK and removed.

If you travel before 12:01am UK time on 13 February 2025, you must present your permission to travel letter and passport to a UK Immigration Officer on arrival at the UK border. They will then decide whether to allow you into the UK to stay for 6 months.

Once you arrive in the UK, you must submit a further application to remain and arrange an appointment to provide your biometrics within 6 months of your arrival. You may then be allowed to stay in the UK up to 3 years from the date of your arrival.

If you’re already in the UK on a visa

If you’re Ukrainian you may be able to stay longer. You can apply:

  • to extend your current visa
  • to switch to a different visa

Biometric residence permit

If you have previously been issued a Ukraine Scheme visa you may have been issued a biometric residence permit (BRP).

If you have a BRP, please ensure you keep hold of this as it will be requested as part of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme application process.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

On 16 May 2024 the Ukraine Extension Scheme closed to most new applications.

However, the scheme continues to remain open for children who are born in the UK.  

You can apply for your child to have permission under the Ukraine Extension Scheme if both of the following is true: 

  • you have permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes (including the Ukraine Family Scheme) 
  • your child was born in the UK

Extend your visa or switch to a different visa

If you’re Ukrainian, you can also stay in the UK by extending your current visa or switching to another one if you meet the eligibility requirements. You can extend or switch even if your current visa does not usually let you do this.

Check what Ukrainians in the UK on a visa can do.

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. The scheme will open to applications on 4 February 2025.

If you’re travelling with pets

Read guidance on bringing pets to the UK from Ukraine.

Contact UK Visas and Immigration

You can phone the free Ukraine helpline if you need help:

Telephone: + 44 808 164 8810

Telephone: +44 (0)175 390 7510 (if you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers)

Operating hours

Updates to this page

Published 17 February 2022
Last updated 16 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Linked to Christmas opening hours.

  2. Updated to let applicants know that the the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme will open on 4 February 2025.

  3. Updated with information about travelling to the UK with a permission to travel letter.

  4. Updated to tell Ukrainians with a biometric resident permit (BRP) to keep hold of the document, as it is needed to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.

  5. Updated information on the Ukraine Extension Scheme. The scheme closed for most new applicants on 16 May 2024.

  6. Updated information to reflect that people with a sponsor can come to the UK for up to 18 months under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

  7. Updated information on the closing of the Ukraine Family Scheme on 19 February 2024, and the upcoming closure of the Ukrainian Extension Scheme on 16 May 2024.

  8. The helpline is closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.

  9. Updated the way you book an appointment at a visa application centre. Also clarified eligibility for the Ukraine Extension Scheme if you apply for your child born in the UK.

  10. Updated helpline operating hours to include information on bank holidays.

  11. Updated helpline opening hours.

  12. Removal of redundant 'Stay up to date' call out.

  13. Updated information for the reopening of the visa application centre.

  14. Updated helpline information.

  15. Amended opening times over the holiday period.

  16. Added a concession to introduce a new eligibility period for the Ukraine Extension Scheme. Eligibility for the Ukraine Extension Scheme has now been extended to allow those who have and continue to arrive after 18 March 2022, until 16 May 2023, to apply.

  17. Russian and Ukrainian translations updated.

  18. Condensed information so it’s clearer and focused on visa support for Ukrainian nationals: - removed links to information that’s included in the Ukraine foreign travel advice section - added links to indefinite leave to remain and EU settled or pre-settled status pages - clarified what you can do if you have a sponsor - added more information about visa application centres - clarified information about staying longer if you’re already in the UK - removed chapter about travelling to the UK urgently as it’s no longer needed

  19. Monday to Friday opening hours for call to the contact centre about the Ukraine Family Scheme have changed to 8am to 8pm.

  20. Updated phone line opening hours.

  21. Added link to Ukraine Extension Scheme guidance.

  22. Changed helpline opening hours.

  23. Ukrainian and Russian translations updated to include information about the Ukraine Extension Scheme (information published in English on 29 March).

  24. Added information about the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

  25. Added link to information about travelling with pets.

  26. Added Ukrainian and Russian translations.

  27. Updated information about the Ukraine Family Scheme.

  28. Added alternative phone number for people who cannot use UK 0808 numbers.

  29. The temporary VAC in Lviv is no longer operating.

  30. Guidance updated.

  31. Added link to Ukraine Family Scheme.

  32. Updated page title and summary. Updated coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance.

  33. Updated guidance to reflect announcement by the Home Secretary on 1 March 2022.

  34. Updated information on family migration visas.

  35. Updated information on visa application centres.

  36. Guidance updated to reflect concessions for Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK.

  37. Guidance updated to reflect the closure of the VAC and suspension of UK visa services in Kyiv.

  38. First published.

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