Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme

Ukraine Scheme

This Appendix sets out 3 routes for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine – the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Where the applicant is outside the UK:

The applicant must have been living in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022.

A Ukrainian national can qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme if they are a family member (as defined) of a UK-based sponsor who is a British citizen, person settled in the UK, refugee, person with humanitarian protection, or EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (where based on residence in the UK before the end of the transition period).

Family members for the purpose of this Scheme are immediate family members (meaning a partner, child under 18, parent of a child aged under 18, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner), and extended family members of the UK-based sponsor or their partner (meaning parent, grandparent, grandchild, adult child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, and cousin) and the immediate family members of extended family members of the UK-based sponsor or their partner.

A Ukrainian national may also qualify under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme if they have an Approved sponsor who will provide 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 3 years or until the child is 18 so long as they are sponsored for at least 6 months (whichever is soonest).

Family members of a UK-based sponsor who are not Ukrainian nationals may also qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme so long as at least one member of the UK- based sponsor’s immediate family is a Ukrainian national

Immediate family members of a Ukrainian who are not themselves Ukrainian nationals may also qualify under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. Grandparents, uncles, aunts and adult siblings who are applying with a child who is not either applying with their parent or legal guardian or applying to join their parent or legal guardian may also qualify under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Where the applicant is in the UK:

The applicant must have immigration permission unless their last permission expired after 1 January 2022.

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

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, can also qualify under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

A Ukrainian national may also qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme if they are a family member of a UK- based sponsor as described above.

Family members who are not Ukrainian nationals may also qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme so long as at least one member of the UK-based sponsor’s immediate family is a Ukrainian national.

Further information on immigration issues related to Ukraine is available 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. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay under the Ukraine Family Scheme must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows: “Ukraine Scheme”.
  1. UKR 1.2. An application for entry clearance or permission to stay under the Ukraine Family 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.
  1. UKR 1.3. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.

Suitability requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 2.1. 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) 9.10.1 to 9.10.2 (admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries); or
    8. (h) 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 Family Scheme

Entry requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme must apply for entry clearance and must have been:
    1. (a) granted entry clearance under the Ukraine Scheme; or
    2. (b) given a letter from the Home Office confirming the applicant can travel to the UK under the Ukraine Scheme,
  2. before they arrive in the UK.

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

  1. UKR 4.1. A person who:
    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; and
    3. (c) is granted permission to enter on arrival in the UK; and
    4. (d) provides their biometrics after arrival in the UK,
  2. may have their application for entry clearance varied by the Secretary of State to an application for permission to stay.

Residence requirement for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 5.1. An applicant applying for entry clearance under the Ukraine Family Scheme must have been ordinarily resident in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022, unless they are a child born on or after that date.
  1. UKR 5.2. An applicant applying for permission to stay under the Ukraine Family Scheme must be in the UK and either:
    1. (a) have permission; or
    2. (b) have had permission immediately before 1 January 2022 which has since expired,
  2. but permission as a visitor granted after 18 March 2022 does not count as permission for the purpose of this requirement.

Relationship requirement for a family member under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 6.1. The applicant must be the family member (as set out at UKR 6.2.) of a UK-based sponsor who is one of the following:
    1. (a) a British citizen; or
    2. (b) a person who is settled in the UK; or
    3. (c) a person in the UK with limited permission as a refugee or person granted humanitarian protection; or
    4. (d) an EEA national in the UK with limited permission granted under paragraph EU3 of Appendix EU on the basis of meeting condition 1 in paragraph EU14 of that Appendix (that is with pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme on the basis they were living in the UK before 2300 GMT on 31 December 2020).
  1. UKR 6.2. Where applying as a family member under UKR 6.1., the applicant must be a family member in one of the following relationships (and, if the applicant is not Ukrainian, at least one of the immediate family members under (a) must be a Ukrainian national as in UKR 7.1.):
    1. (a) an immediate family member meaning the:
      1. (i) partner of the UK-based sponsor; or
      2. (ii) child aged under 18 on the date of application of the UK-based sponsor or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner; or
      3. (iii) parent of a child (who is under 18 on the date of application), where the child is the UK-based sponsor; or
      4. (iv) fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of the UK-based sponsor; or
    2. (b) extended family member, meaning a:
      1. (i) parent of a UK-based sponsor, or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner (where the sponsor or partner is aged 18 or over on the date of application); or
      2. (ii) parent of the UK-based sponsor’s child or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner’s child (where the child is under 18 on the date of application); or
      3. (iii) grandparent of the UK-based sponsor or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner; or
      4. (iv) grandchild of the UK-based sponsor or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner; or
      5. (v) sibling of the UK-based sponsor or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner; or
      6. (vi) adult child (aged 18 or over on the date of application) of the UK- based sponsor or of the UK-based sponsor’s partner; or
      7. (vii) aunt or uncle of the UK-based sponsor; or
      8. (viii)cousin of the UK-based sponsor; or
      9. (ix) niece or nephew of the UK-based sponsor; or
    3. (c) an immediate family member of an extended family member, meaning a:
      1. (i) partner of an extended family member; or
      2. (ii) child aged under 18 on the date of application of an extended family member; or
      3. (iii) parent of a child aged under 18 on the date of application, where the child is the extended family member; or
      4. (iv)fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member.
  1. UKR 6.3. An applicant applying as a partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with the UK-based sponsor or extended family member which commenced before 1 January 2022.
  1. UKR 6.4. An applicant who is applying as a partner must meet the requirements in Appendix Relationship with Partner.

Suitability of UK based sponsor requirement

  1. UKR 6A.1. Where an applicant is a child, the UK-based sponsor (under UKR 6.1) must not previously have failed to meet the requirements for approval as a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine 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”.

Nationality requirement for the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 7.1. The applicant must be either:
    1. (a) a Ukrainian national; or
    2. (b) part of a family group (meaning a group of people as set in UKR 6.2.) which includes an immediate family member of the UK-based sponsor who is a Ukrainian national who would qualify under the scheme (whether or not applying at the same time as the applicant).
  1. UKR 8.1. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application and they are not accompanying a parent to, or joining a parent in, the UK, 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 entry clearance or permission without such consent.
  1. UKR 8.2. The written consent must confirm support for all the following:
    1. (a) the application; and
    2. (b) the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK; and
    3. (c) if the application is for entry clearance, the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.

Decision under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 9.1. If the decision-maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements under the Ukraine Family Scheme are met, the application will be granted otherwise the application will be refused.

Period and conditions of grant under the Ukraine Family Scheme

  1. UKR 10.1. The applicant will be granted permission 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 the Ukraine Scheme.
  1. UKR 10.2. 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.

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 as follows: “Ukraine 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 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 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. Where 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 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 Where an application under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme is varied to permission to stay under paragraph UKR 14.1, they 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.
  1. UKR 11.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme is invalid and may be rejected 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) 9.10.1 to 9.10.2 (admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries); or
    8. (h) 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. A person who:
    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 any required biometrics after arrival in the UK,
  2. may have their application for entry clearance varied by the Secretary of State to an application for permission to stay.

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. Where a family group is applying under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, the Ukrainian national and their immediate family members (as described in UKR 18.1.) must have the same Approved sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
  1. UKR 15.3. Where an 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 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. Where 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 over) 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 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 (where 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. An applicant applying as a partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with the Ukrainian national which commenced before 1 January 2022.
  1. UKR 18.3. An applicant who is applying as a partner must meet the requirements in Appendix Relationship with Partner.

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 to 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 applicant will live with the parent in the UK; and
    3. (c) the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.”.
  1. UKR 19B.1. Where a child is not applying with, or to join in the UK, a parent or legal guardian the applicant must have provided written parental consent 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) where the applicant is outside Ukraine, notary authorities or a Ukrainian consul.

Decision 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 and conditions of grant under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

  1. UKR 20.1. The applicant will be granted permission for a period of up to 36 months.
  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 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 be made on or before 16 November 2023 and 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.
  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 May 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, 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.
  1. UKR 21.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Ukraine Extension Scheme is invalid and may be rejected 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) 9.10.1 to 9.10.2 (admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries); or
    8. (h) 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.

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, 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 the Ukraine Scheme.
  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.