Visa routes for Ukrainian nationals
On the 11th March, the Home Office updated their guidance in respect to visa routes available for Ukrainian nationals. In their guidance, the Home Office have expanded and provided further detail on the Ukraine Family Scheme as well as provided additional visa routes for Ukrainian nationals that do not have family in the UK.
Ukraine Family Scheme
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
Eligibility
To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme you must:
- be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member; and
- be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme; and
- have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine)
You can make both an in-person and out of country application.
Who is classified as a UK-based family member?
Your family member must be one of the following:
- a British national
- someone settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
- someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
- someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
How close of a relative, must the UK-based family member be?
The family member can be one of the following:
- An immediate family member
- Spouse or civil partner
- Unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least two years)
- Child who is under 18
- Parent (if the family member is under 18)
- Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
- An extended family member
- Parent (if UK-based family member is over 18)
- Child who is over 18
- Grandparent
- Grandchild or your partner’s grandchild
- Brother or sister
- Aunt or uncle
- Niece or nephew
- Cousin
- Mother-in-law or father-in-law
- Grandparent-in-law
- Brother or sister-in law
- An immediate family member of an extended family member
- spouse or civil partner of an extended family member
- child under 18 of an extended family member
- parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member
If your UK-based family member is your (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.
Other family members will be considered where there are exceptional circumstances
You must be able to evidence the familial connection with the UK-based family member.
How much is the application?
It is free to apply.
You do not need to pay for the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee.
How long will you be able to stay in the UK?
If successful, you will initially be granted leave for a period of 3 years.
Applying from inside the UK
The Home Office have now created an online application form for the Ukraine Family Scheme. From inside the UK, you must complete the online form and then book and attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.
Applying from outside the UK
You will need to apply online and then book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC).
From 15th March, if you hold a valid Ukrainian international passport, you will still need to complete an application online, but you will not need to attend an in-person appointment at a VAC.
Those without a valid passport are still required to attend an in-person appointment.
What happens at a VAC?
You will need to have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a VAC as part of your application.
Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to attend the VAC and have a digital photograph taken.
When you attend the VAC you will need to provide your passport which will be scanned. If you do not have a passport you can still apply but will need to explain why you are unable to provide it.
Where to attend a VAC?
The VACs in Ukraine are currently closed. You are able to apply to a VAC in any country, in which you are able to travel too safely.
There is a temporary VAC for people applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme in Rzeszow, Poland. You’ll need to complete your online application and book an appointment before attending the Rzeszow VAC – walk-in appointments are no longer accepted.
VACs are currently operating throughout Europe including:
- Budapest, Hungary
- Chisinau, Moldova
- Warsaw, Poland
- Bucharest, Romania
- Paris, France
How long is the application process?
In their updated guidance, the Home Office did not publish a time frame. However, they state that they will prioritise your application and aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.
You will be contacted when a decision has been made.
If you have a family member from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
You might also be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit if you are the family member of someone who is living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme who is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
You can choose which scheme you apply for, however the Home Office ask that you do not apply to both schemes.
To initially apply for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit, you must apply from outside the UK.
However, if you arrive to the UK on the Ukraine Family Scheme and are eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme Family permit, you will be able to switch your visa route and vice versa.
If you are Ukrainian and you don’t have family in the UK
Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine
The government has announced plans for a new sponsorship scheme for Ukrainians without any family ties to the UK.
The scheme will allow sponsors, such as communities, private sponsors, or local authorities, to bring those forced to flee Ukraine to the UK.
There will be no limit on this scheme and the Home Office state that they will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors.
Those who come under this scheme will also be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months and able to work and access public services.
The government will work closely with international partners and neighbouring countries on the scheme to ensure that displaced Ukrainians are supported to apply.
The Home Office will also make sure that those who want to sponsor an individual or family can volunteer and be matched quickly with Ukrainians in need, working closely with the devolved administrations and local authorities across the country.
At present, this is all the information published in regard to this scheme. More information is due to be published in due course including information on how people and organisations in the UK can apply to be sponsors.
Other visa routes
You can make an application to visit, work, study or join family in the UK in the normal way.
Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Ukraine are currently closed. You can apply at a VAC in any country if you are able to travel safely.
VACs are currently operating throughout Europe including:
- Budapest, Hungary
- Chisinau, Moldova
- Warsaw, Poland
- Bucharest, Romania
- Paris, France
Before attending a VAC you must complete your online application form and have a GWF reference number.
Contact UKVI
If you need assistance, contact UKVI:
Telephone: + 44 808 164 8810 – select option 1 (0808 164 8810 if you’re in the UK – select option 1)
Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This is a free phone number.
If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.
If you’re Ukrainian and are already in the UK
Ukrainians already in the UK with a visa will be able to extend their stay by extending their visa or switching to another immigration route, where eligible, even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so.
If you are in the UK on:
- Visitor visa
- You can apply to switch to another visa, provided you meet the requirements under that route
- Skilled workers
- You can apply to extend your leave or apply for settlement if you meet the immigration rules
- Students
- You can apply to extend your leave, switch to a Graduate visa or switch to another type of visa provided you meet the immigration rules
- Seasonal workers
- Seasonal Worker visa
- You can extend your visa to 31st December 2022. You must continue working in a job permitted by the Seasonal Worker rote, with the same Scheme Operator (your sponsor)
- You do not need to do anything. UKVI will work with your Immigration Sponsor to progress your visa extension. You’ll receive a notification from the Home Office that this concession applies to you.
- HGV driver visa (on the seasonal work route)
- You can extend your visa to 31 December 2022 if you cannot return to Ukraine. You must continue working in your current occupation with the same sponsor.
- You do not need to do anything. UKVI will work with your Immigration Sponsor to progress your visa extension. You’ll receive a notification from the Home Office that this concession applies to you.
- Pork Butcher visa (on the seasonal work route)
- You can request a temporary extension in the seasonal worker route until 31 December 2022.
- If you request a temporary extension in the seasonal worker route you do not need to do anything. UKVI will work with your Immigration Sponsor to progress your visa extension. You’ll receive a notification from the Home Office that this concession applies to you.
- You may, however, be eligible for the Skilled Worker route, subject to meeting the Immigration Rules. You should discuss with your employer.
- Seasonal Worker visa
If you need to travel to the UK urgently – Compelling and Compassionate reasons
If you need to travel to the UK urgently for compassionate reasons you should apply for a visa in the usual way at the nearest VAC if you can travel safely and include clear compelling or compassionate reasons for your visit in your application. You should also tell staff at the VAC about these reasons during your appointment.
You can upload supporting documents for your application online before attending your VAC appointment or you can have your documents uploaded at your appointment. There is a fee for uploading your documents at the VAC.