Guidance

Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa

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

Overview

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family membersmembers, or extend their staystay, in the UK. Everyone must make a separate application, even children travelling with a family member.

It is free to apply.

You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.

If you need any assistance, pleasecontact callUK theVisas 24/7and freeImmigration.

Telephone: helpline+ +4444 808 164 8810 (0808 164select 8810option if1
7 you’redays ina theweek, UK).24 hours a day
Calls are free of charge

If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, pleaseyou can use another number instead. You may have to pay check with your phone provider if you’re not sure.

Telephone: +44 (0)175175 390 7510.7510 select option 1
7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Eligibility

To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme you must:

  • be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member; andmember

  • be UkrainianUkrainian, or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme;scheme andto join a UK-based immediate family member

  • have been residingliving in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including(even thoseif whoyou have now left Ukraine)

You can apply if you’ve already arrived in the UK and meet the requirements above.

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

dependants.

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

Your application will be subject to security checks.

UK-based family member

Your familyUK-based 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 under the EU Settlement Scheme and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

  • someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

YouYour must provide evidence that your UK-based family member ismust be one of the following:

  • anyour immediate family member

  • anyour extended family member

  • anthe immediatespouse familyor membercivil partner, unmarried partner, child, parent, or fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of anyour extended family member

You willshould be asked to provide a copy of an official document that confirms your relationshipfamily torelationships yourif UK-basedyou familyare member.able Forto - for example, a marriage or birth certificate if you have one.certificate.

PleaseYou note you can still apply if you are unable to provide thisthese document,documents. explainingYou should explain why you are unable to doprovide so.them when you apply - for example, if you had to leave all your documents behind when you left.

Immediate family members

An immediate family member is your or your UK-based family member’s:

  • spouse or civil partner

  • unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least two2 years)

  • child who is under 18

  • parent (if you are under 18)

  • fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner

Extended family members

An extended family member is your UK-based family member’s:

  • parent (if you are 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-in-law or sister-in-law

Immediate family member of an extended family member

An immediate family member of an extended family is the:

  • 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 partnerpartner, the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.

Other family members will be considered where there are exceptional circumstances.

If you have a family member from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

You might also be eligible for thean 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 must be outside of the UK to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

You can choose which schemeapplication you applymake for but please do not apply to both the Ukraine Family Scheme and thefor an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

YouPermit mustas beit outsidemay ofcause thea UKdelay toin applygetting foryour an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.decision.

Regardless of whichwhat scheme you apply to,for to enter the UK, if you’re eligible you’ll be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you’re in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

Fees

It is free to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme.

You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee for this scheme.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply onlineto for the Ukraine Family Scheme online if you are outside the UK.

To supportStart now

Prove your identity

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During your application you must upload copies of both:

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You can upload yourthese documents using our commercial partner document upload app. This will be either TLS or VFS depending on which country you are applying in. You can download the app from the TLS or VFS website when you make your application.

If you need support to upload imagescopies of your documents, you can still book an appointment at a VAC.

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After you’ve applied

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Visa

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If you applied using the travel‘UK process.Immigration: ID check’ app, you’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once you’re in the UK.

If you aredidn’t granteduse permissionthe under‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app you’ll need to submit your biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UkraineUK Familyto Schemeextend youyour stay for up to 3 years and be given a biometric residence permit. You will receivebe either:told how to do this in your decision letter.

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Contact

You UKVI

will then be able to stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

You cando callnot need to do this as soon as you reach the freeUK, 24/7but helplineyou ondo +44need 808to 164make 8810sure ifthat you arehave outsideapplied to give your biometrics before the UK6 formonths helpends. withYou anywill questionsbe abouttold thehow scheme.to do this in your decision letter.

Apply fromto insideextend your stay in the UK

You mustcan applystart onlinethe forapplication theto Ukrainegive Familyyour Schemebiometrics ifby youcompleting arethe online inform.

theStart UK.now

You will then book and attend an appointment at UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

You’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once this process is complete.

UKVCASUK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) service points

You will need to give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UKVCAS service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit.

Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to attend the UKVCAS service point and have a digital photograph taken.

Some services at UKVCAS service points have a fee. You do not need to use these services, such as document scanning, to complete your application and you should not pay for them in advance.application.

If you needwant to use of any of these services at a UKVCAS service point during your appointment, you will not need to pay a fee for them.them and you should not pay for them in advance.

How

Apply longfrom itinside takesthe UK

You must apply online to the Ukraine Family Scheme if you are in the UK.

You will then book and attend an appointment at UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

After you apply

We will prioritise your application and aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.

You will be contacted when a decision has been made.

Contact UKVI

UK Visas and Immigration

YouIf canyou callneed theany freeassistance, 24/7contact helplineUK onVisas 0808and Immigration

Telephone: + 44 808 164 8810 if youselect areoption in1
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Stay up to date

UseIf theyou ‘Getcannot emailscontact aboutUK this0808 page’numbers, buttonyou tocan createuse aanother GOV.UKnumber accountinstead. andYou subscribemay have to updatespay about thischeck page.with Youyour needphone aprovider UKif mobileyou’re numbernot to create an account.sure.

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7 youdays cana stillweek, subscribe24 tohours updatesa on all pages about ‘Russian invasion of Ukraine: UK government response’.day

Published 4 March 2022
Last updated 2811 AprilMay 2022 + show all updates
  1. You can now apply online and use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app to prove your identity if you have a valid Ukrainian international passport.

  2. Added a link to the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme application screens translated into Russian and Ukrainian.

  3. Changed helpline opening hours.

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

  5. Added information about the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

  6. Added Ukrainian and Russian translations.

  7. Updated the 'Uploading your documents' section to clarify the information about the document upload app commercial partner. This will be either TLS or VFS depending on which country you are applying in.

  8. Updated guidance to reflect changes to the out of country application process from 15 March 2022.

  9. Updated information for people applying from inside the UK.

  10. Added information about changes to the application process from 15 March.

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

  12. Updated guidance on extended family members.

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

  14. First published.