GovWire

If you have family in the UK

The Ukraine Family Scheme enables you to come to the UK or to stay longer if youre a family member of:

• a British citizen
• someone with permission to settle in the UK, for example they have indefinite leave to remain or EU settled or pre-settled status
• someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

It is free to apply.

Youll be able to live, work, study and claim benefits in the UK.

Read more information about the Ukraine Family Scheme.

If you do not have family in the UK

You can apply to come to the UK if you have a named sponsor or on any other existing visa youre eligible to apply for.

Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)

If you do not have family in the UK, you can apply for the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

The scheme enables people and organisations in the UK (sponsors) to bring Ukrainians and their family members to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

If you have a sponsor you can:

• come to the UK for up to 3 years
• work in the UK
• access public services and claim benefits

Read more information about applying to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

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

Other visas you can apply for

You can make an application to visit, work, study or join family in the UK. ?Check which visas are available.

Youll need to complete your online application form. Youll get a GWF reference number. You can use this to book an appointment at a visa application centre to have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Visa application centres in Ukraine are currently closed. You can apply at a visa application centre in any country if you are able to travel safely.

Visa application centres are currently operating throughout Europe including:

• Budapest, Hungary
• Chisinau, Moldova
• Warsaw, Poland
• Bucharest, Romania
• Paris, France

Find a visa application centre.

If youre already in the UK on a visa

If youre Ukrainian youll be able to stay longer. You can apply:

• to the Ukraine Extension Scheme
• to extend your current visa
• to switch to a different visa

Ukraine Extension Scheme

You can apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme if youre Ukrainian or you have a Ukrainian family member.

You can apply if:

• you had permission to stay in the UK on or before 18 March 2022
• you had permission to stay that ended on or after 1 January 2022

Read more information about applying to the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Extend your visa or switch to a different visa

If youre 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.

If you have a Ukrainian family member, you can apply to extend your current visa or switch to another one if your visa allows that.

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

If youre travelling with pets

Read guidance on bringing pets to the UK from Ukraine.

Contact UK Visas and Immigration

You can phone the free 24 hour helpline if you need help:

The helpline is open 7 days a week.

Stay up to date

Use the Get emails about this page button to create a GOV.UK account and subscribe to updates about this page. You need a UK mobile number to create an account.

If you do not have a UK mobile number, you can still subscribe to updates on all pages about Russian invasion of Ukraine: UK government response.