Before you book travel to the UK: Homes for Ukraine
What you need to know and do before you book any travel to the UK.
Finding a sponsor
You will need a sponsor to come to the UK on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. You sponsor will need to meet specific criteria to be suitable to host you. Read more about how to find a sponsor. You can also find out more about the eligibility criteria and security checks your sponsor will need to have.
Free Eurostar travel
Eurostar is offering free travel from any Eurostar train station to London St Pancras.
Passengers with a valid visa to enter the UK and a Ukrainian passport can get a free ticket by speaking to any Eurostar team member at Paris Nord, Brussels-Midi, Lille Europe, or Amsterdam Central.
Meeting your sponsor
When you have arranged your travel to the UK, let your sponsor know when you will arrive and where. Your sponsor should be able to help you to arrange travel to your accommodation or meet you when you arrive.
If your sponsor can’t meet you, they should be able to tell you how to get to your accommodation.
Checks on sponsors before arrival and support offered if suitable
Your host and all adults in their home will have security and criminal checks. This includes checks on government databases such as the Police National Computer, or its equivalent in Ireland.
These checks are necessary to make sure you and your sponsor are kept safe.
If your sponsor did not pass these checks before your visa was granted, you will have been contacted by the government to tell you that your sponsor is unsuitable. You should not travel to meet them because it might not be safe or the accommodation might not be suitable for you.
You will be given the option to withdraw your application or to be supported to find a new sponsor. This also applies if a sponsor experiences a change in circumstance and is no longer able to offer sponsorship.
If your sponsor withdraws after your visa has been issued, you can find a new host. There are many other organisations that may be able to help, including recognised providers, and other charities.
Bring medical devices and medication
If you use a medical device to manage an existing medical condition, you can bring this with you to the UK as your personal property.
You can also bring up to 3 months’ supply of any prescribed medication. If this medication is normally treated as a controlled drug (a controlled drug can be medication like very strong painkillers), special rules may apply.
You can read more information about bringing medicine containing a controlled drug into the UK.
Health checks before you enter the UK
You do not need any health checks before you are allowed to enter the UK.
Deposit money before you arrive
We recommend that you don’t take out money (Hryvnia) from your bank account before you leave Ukraine. If you already have money (notes and coins), we also recommend that you deposit it into your bank.
You can do this:
- at a bank branch by presenting a passport
- through self-service payment devices and ATMs that accept cash
When you are in the UK, you can make payments, or take money out in GBP, using payment cards issued by Ukrainian banks.
You can read more information from the Ukraine central bank.
Bringing personal items from Ukraine to UK
If you want to bring personal items, make sure you read the guidance first so you are aware of the rules.
You need to be aware of the rules if you want to bring:
- a personal vehicle
- a pet
- prohibited or restricted goods
- £10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in another currency)
Bringing pets from Ukraine to UK
You can bring your pets from Ukraine to the UK as long as you meet the criteria.
Apply here to bring your pet from Ukraine.
Read this information if you are bringing your pet to Northern Ireland.
Scotland: before you arrive
Read this information before you travel to Scotland
Wales: before you arrive
Read this information before you travel to Wales.
Northern Ireland: before you arrive
Read this information before you travel to Northern Ireland.
You can travel to your accommodation for free on public transport as soon as you arrive in Northern Ireland. Read more about travelling when you arrive in Northern Ireland.