Guidance

UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals

Guidance on support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office
Published
17 February 2022
Last updated
304 MarchApril 2022 — See all updates

See the latest foreign travel advice for Ukraine.

Please check the travel advice issued by your carrier and check what you need to do before entering the UK.

Please do not attempt to travel to the UK without apermission validto visa.enter.

If you’re Ukrainian and you have family in the UK

Ukraine Family Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come to or stay in the UK.

Read more information about the Ukraine Family Scheme.

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If you’re Ukrainian and you don’t have family in the UK

Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Read more information about applying to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Read more information about becoming a sponsor.

Other visas

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

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:

Before attending a VAC you must complete your online application form and have a GWF reference number.

Find a visa application centre.

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.

Check what you need to do.

From 3 May 2022, you will be able to apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme if you’re a Ukrainian national who had permission to stay in the UK on or before 18 March 2022. Your partner and children can also apply if they’re already in the UK as your ‘dependants’.

If you previously had permission to stay in the UK but it has expired since 1 January 2022, you’ll also be eligible to apply.

Please do not attempt to travel to the UK without permission to enter.

If you need to travel to the UK urgently

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.

If you’re travelling with pets

Read guidance on bringing pets to the UK from Ukraine.

If you’re British and in Ukraine

There’s separate advice for British nationals in Ukraine. Check the latest Ukraine foreign travel advice.

If you need to get a British passport

There’s separate advice for British nationals in Ukraine who need a passport or emergency travel document.

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’.

Published 17 February 2022
Last updated 304 MarchApril 2022 + show all updates

  1. Changed helpline opening hours.

  2. Ukrainian and Russian translations updated to include information about the Ukraine Extension Scheme (information published in English on 29 March).

  3. Added information about the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

  4. Added link to information about travelling with pets.

  5. Added Ukrainian and Russian translations.

  6. Updated information about the Ukraine Family Scheme.

  7. Added alternative phone number for people who cannot use UK 0808 numbers.

  8. The temporary VAC in Lviv is no longer operating.

  9. Guidance updated.

  10. Added link to Ukraine Family Scheme.

  11. Updated page title and summary. Updated coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance.

  12. Updated guidance to reflect announcement by the Home Secretary on 1 March 2022.

  13. Updated information on family migration visas.

  14. Updated information on visa application centres.

  15. Guidance updated to reflect concessions for Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK.

  16. Guidance updated to reflect the closure of the VAC and suspension of UK visa services in Kyiv.

  17. First published.

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