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The UK government has announced three schemes to offer safety in the UK to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine:

  • Homes for Ukraine
  • Ukraine Family Scheme
  • Ukraine Extension Scheme

Government has published the following guidance and information in relation to the schemes:

Guidance for Councils For Primary Care For Sponsors For Landlords and Employers For Ukrainians Unaccompanied minors from Ukraine Ukraine Family Scheme Homes for Ukraine Scheme Ukraine Extension Scheme Local Authority Housing Fund

 

The Government’s announcement on 22 June confirmed that children and minors under the age of 18 who have already applied through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will be allowed to come to the UK without a parent or guardian in carefully defined circumstances.

As of 15 July, the Homes for Ukraine scheme began processing existing applications from children under 18 not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.

To support this process and to ensure local authorities are fully aware of the requirements of the scheme, the Government has published detailed guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians

  • The Ukraine Family Scheme allows immediate and extended family members of British nationals, people settled in the UK, and certain others resident here, to come to, or remain in the UK.
  • Individuals arriving under this scheme are able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and other support.
  • The scheme is free and does not include any salary or language requirements.
  • Those applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme:
    • must be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member.
    • must be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme. A definition of immediate family members is available on GOV.UK.
    • must have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine).
  • Individuals with a valid Ukrainian international passport can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app when applying for their visa, to prove their identity and provide their biometric information. As part of this digital application process, they will be granted with an eVisa to evidence their immigration status in the UK.
  • UK Visa Support for Ukrainian Nationals
  • Home Office: Ukraine Scheme(pdf, 11 March 2022)
  • Ukraine Family Scheme: Application Data
  • Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • The Homes for Ukraine scheme allows people seeking sanctuary with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home, such as a spare room or unoccupied residential self-contained unit.
  • There is no limit on this scheme, it is open to Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members of Ukrainian nationals, and we will welcome as many Ukrainians that wish to come and that have matched sponsors.
  • Individuals with a valid Ukrainian international passport can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app when applying for their visa, to prove their identity and provide their biometric information. As part of this digital application process, they will be granted with an eVisa to evidence their immigration status in the UK.
  • Further information about the next steps individuals need to take once they are in the UK and how to evidence their immigration status is available on GOV.UK
  • Individuals arriving under this scheme are able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and other support.

 

  • Ukrainian nationals in the UK who have temporary visas, including work, study or visit visas can apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme free of charge.
  • Any Ukrainian who holds permission to stay in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 will be eligible to apply for three year’s leave through the Ukraine Extension Scheme. The permission does not need to cover the whole period of time, and Ukrainians whose permission to stay in the UK expired on or after 1 January 2022 may qualify for three year’s leave. Their partner and children can also apply if they are already in the UK as ‘dependants’.
  • Under the Ukraine Extension Scheme, individuals will get three years leave to remain in the UK and will have the right to work, study and access public funds.

The Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) is an innovative capital fund that supports local authorities in England to obtain housing for those who are unable to find settled accommodation on resettlement schemes.

Round 1 provides £500 million of funding for local authorities to obtain accommodation for families with housing needs who have arrived in the UK via Ukrainian and Afghan resettlement and relocation schemes.

Round 2 provides £250 million of funding with the majority of the funding used to house those on Afghan resettlement schemes currently in bridging accommodation and the rest used to ease wider homelessness pressures.

For more information on the scheme, please refer to the government website:

Local Authority Housing Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

The Government’s announcement on 22 June confirmed that children and minors under the age of 18 who have already applied through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will be allowed to come to the UK without a parent or guardian in carefully defined circumstances.

As of 15 July, the Homes for Ukraine scheme began processing existing applications from children under 18 not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.

To support this process and to ensure local authorities are fully aware of the requirements of the scheme, the Government has published detailed guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians

  • The Ukraine Family Scheme allows immediate and extended family members of British nationals, people settled in the UK, and certain others resident here, to come to, or remain in the UK.
  • Individuals arriving under this scheme are able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and other support.
  • The scheme is free and does not include any salary or language requirements.
  • Those applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme:
    • must be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member.
    • must be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme. A definition of immediate family members is available on GOV.UK.
    • must have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine).
  • Individuals with a valid Ukrainian international passport can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app when applying for their visa, to prove their identity and provide their biometric information. As part of this digital application process, they will be granted with an eVisa to evidence their immigration status in the UK.
  • UK Visa Support for Ukrainian Nationals
  • Home Office: Ukraine Scheme(pdf, 11 March 2022)
  • Ukraine Family Scheme: Application Data
  • Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  • The Homes for Ukraine scheme allows people seeking sanctuary with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home, such as a spare room or unoccupied residential self-contained unit.
  • There is no limit on this scheme, it is open to Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members of Ukrainian nationals, and we will welcome as many Ukrainians that wish to come and that have matched sponsors.
  • Individuals with a valid Ukrainian international passport can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app when applying for their visa, to prove their identity and provide their biometric information. As part of this digital application process, they will be granted with an eVisa to evidence their immigration status in the UK.
  • Further information about the next steps individuals need to take once they are in the UK and how to evidence their immigration status is available on GOV.UK
  • Individuals arriving under this scheme are able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and other support.

 

  • Ukrainian nationals in the UK who have temporary visas, including work, study or visit visas can apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme free of charge.
  • Any Ukrainian who holds permission to stay in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 will be eligible to apply for three year’s leave through the Ukraine Extension Scheme. The permission does not need to cover the whole period of time, and Ukrainians whose permission to stay in the UK expired on or after 1 January 2022 may qualify for three year’s leave. Their partner and children can also apply if they are already in the UK as ‘dependants’.
  • Under the Ukraine Extension Scheme, individuals will get three years leave to remain in the UK and will have the right to work, study and access public funds.

The Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) is an innovative capital fund that supports local authorities in England to obtain housing for those who are unable to find settled accommodation on resettlement schemes.

Round 1 provides £500 million of funding for local authorities to obtain accommodation for families with housing needs who have arrived in the UK via Ukrainian and Afghan resettlement and relocation schemes.

Round 2 provides £250 million of funding with the majority of the funding used to house those on Afghan resettlement schemes currently in bridging accommodation and the rest used to ease wider homelessness pressures.

For more information on the scheme, please refer to the government website:

Local Authority Housing Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)