Ukraine visa schemes
On the 24th of February 2022, Russian military forces launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, a European democracy of 44 million people. We stand with all those affected by the war, in the region and here in the UK. If you or someone you know needs help, this guide provides some resources.
Ukrainians need to have a visa to travel to and enter the UK. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK government introduced three bespoke visa schemes for Ukrainians and their family members.
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme
The Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme was established to enable people in the UK to sponsor a Ukrainian person to come to the UK. This is the only scheme currently accepting applications from Ukrainians inside and outside of the UK.
Only people with permanent residency (British or Irish citizenship or Settled status) can sponsor Ukrainians, however the government has made an exception for Ukrainian parents and legal guardians who can be sponsors for their minor children.
The Ukraine Family Scheme
This was established to enable Ukrainian nationals and their family members to apply to join relatives in the UK. This scheme closed to new applications at 3pm on 19 February 2024.
If you submitted an online application under the Ukraine Family Scheme before this time, your application should continue to be processed as before. People who were granted status under the Ukraine Family Scheme have the right to live, work, and claim benefits in the UK for up to three years.
The Ukraine Extension Scheme (now closed)
This scheme was opened in May 2022 for Ukrainians who already had permission to stay in the UK (such as on a seasonal worker visa) when the full-scale invasion happened. It granted permission to stay in the UK for up to 3 years. This scheme closed on 16 May 2024 for most new applications, with the exception of UK-born children of Ukraine Scheme visa holders. The Ukraine Extension Scheme closed on 04 February 2025.
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
The government announced the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme for people who obtained status under one of the Ukraine Schemes and wish to remain in the UK after it expired. On 1 September 2025, the government announced a further 24-month extension, building on top of the initial 18-month extension previously available under the scheme.