Ukraine Family Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals, UK- settled persons and certain others to join their family members in the UK.

Eligible applicants must:

1. be Ukrainian or an immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen applying to the scheme;
2. have been residing in Ukraine before 1 January 2022 (there is no requirement to be currently living in Ukraine); and
3. be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member.

The UK-based family member must be:

1. a British national; or
2. someone permanently settled in the UK, i.e. has settled status, indefinite leave to remain, or proof of permanent residence; or
3. someone who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, has pre-settled status- and is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland; or
4. someone with humanitarian protection or refugee status in the UK.

An official document, such as marriage or birth certificate, must be provided as proof of the relationship with the UK-based family member, to evidence they fit into one of the eligible relationship categories.

An application can still be made where such evidence is not available, providing an explanation is given as to why it is unavailable.

Relationships classed as immediate family members are:

• spouse or civil partner;
• unmarried partner (where the couple have been living together for at least two years);
• child who is under 18;
• parent (if the UK- based sponsor is under 18); or
• fiancé/(e) or proposed civil partner.

Relationships classed as extended family members are:

• parent (if you are over 18);
• child who is over 18;
• grandparent;
• grandchild or partner’s grandchild;
• brother or sister;
• aunt or uncle;
• niece or nephew;
• cousin;
• mother-in-law or father-in-law;
• grandparent-in-law; or
• brother or sister-in-law.

An immediate family member of an extended family member is:

• 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; or
• fiancé/(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member.

In cases where the UK-based family member is a, or an extended family member’s spouse, civil partner, fiancé/(e) or proposed civil partner, there is a requirement for the relationship to have started before 1 January 2022.

Eligible applicants will be given visas of up to three years and will be able to live, work and study in the UK, and access public funds. All applications under the scheme are free and there is no need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The initial arrangement required applications to be done online and for applicants to attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in any of the following countries:

• Poland (Warsaw);
• Romania (Bucharest);
• Hungary (Budapest);
• Moldova (Chisinau);
• France (Paris).

However, the home secretary, Priti Patel has now confirmed that from Tuesday 15 March 2022 Ukrainian nationals with passports or ID cards will be able to apply for a UK visa entirely online. This will remove the need to visit a VAC before an application can be approved, and allow for successful applicants to provide their biometric data once they arrive in the UK. The VAC will still be used for those with complex cases and those without passports.

The UKVI update states that applications under the scheme will be prioritised with the aim to make decisions as quickly as possible.

The guidance also highlights that applicants with family members from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland may be eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit if their UK-based family member has settled or pre-settled status. Such applicants should apply to only one of the two schemes, and eligible applicants can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once they are in the UK. It may be beneficial for those who qualify under this route to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit instead as this route leads to settlement. Currently there is no guidance on whether the Ukrainian Family Permit will lead to settlement.

Local sponsorship scheme for Ukrainian nationals, called the Homes for Ukraine programme

This scheme is intended for any Ukrainian nationals who wishes to come to the UK. The scheme will allow individuals, charities, businesses and community groups to sponsor Ukrainians. Those sponsoring refugees through this new route will be required to commit to the scheme for a minimum of six months. Sponsored Ukrainian's will be granted three years leave to remain in the UK and work and access to public funds will be permitted. The scheme will open on Monday 14 March and it is expected for the first people to arrive the following week.

Guidance on switching to the above mentioned routes within the UK is not yet available.

Other available routes

Ukrainian citizens are able to make an application under any other UK immigration category that is normally available, as well as concession to switch from a visitor visa to any of the routes under which they may qualify.

Help and guidance 

A 24/7 free Home Office helpline has been made available to call from abroad on +44 808 164 8810 or 0808 164 8810 for calls in the UK, or +44 175 390 7510 if 0808 numbers cannot be called.