Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
Guidance for Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
Applications are normally processed in date order from when your documents were uploaded, or after your appointment at a visa application centre. We are working 7 days a week, but it will take some time before we can issue decisions to everyone who has applied.
We know that some applicants have been waiting for nearly 3 weeks for their application to be processed. We are working to resolve this and speed up the processing of applications.
Overview
The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor who can provide accommodation.accommodation for a minimum of 6 months.
It is free to apply.
You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
If you areneed Ukrainianany assistance, contact UK Visas and needImmigration.
Telephone: assistance+44 completing808 this164 application,8810
7 pleasedays calla theweek, 24/7Monday freeto helplineFriday +448am 808to 1648pm 8810and (0808Saturday 164and 8810Sunday if9am you’reto in5:30pm
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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
7 days a week, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5:30pm
Eligibility
To apply to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme you must be Ukrainian, or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national, and either:
- 18 or older on the date of application
- under 18 years old and applying with your parent or legal guardian, or to join them in the UK
You must also:
- have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine)
- be outside of the UK
- have an eligible UK-based sponsor
Your UK-based sponsor does not need to register with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme if you’re already in contact with them.
An immediate family member is your:
- spouse or civil partner
- unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years)
- child who is under 18
- parent (if you are under 18)
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
You and your sponsor will be subject to security and safeguarding checks.
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- Isle of Man: ukraineguidance@gov.im
- Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney and Sark): ukraine@gov.gg
IsleofMan:ukraineguidance@gov.imJersey:ukraine@gov.je
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.
Fees
It is free to apply.
You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee.
Apply
You must apply online.online.
To supportStart younow in applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), we have translated the application screens to Ukrainian and Russian.
You and your sponsor can fill in the form together.
The form is aimed at the person applying to the scheme. If you are a sponsor applying on behalf of a person coming from Ukraine, you should provide their details first. The section for providing your details as a sponsor comes later on in the form.
This application is also an application for a biometric immigration document.
By completing this application, you confirm that both the applicant and the sponsor have given permission for their data to be shared and contact details used for the purpose of checks and supporting the sponsor arrangement.
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If your sponsor has a UKVI account, they can use the online View and prove service to show their identity.
It is not mandatory to provide these documents but it may help support your application if you are able to.
You can upload your 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 images of your documents, you can book an appointment at a VAC.
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Some services at UKVCAS service points have a fee. You do not need to collectuse these services, such as document scanning, to complete your visaapplication.
If untilyou want to use of any of these services at a UKVCAS service point during your appointment, you havewill beennot contacted.need to pay a fee for them and you should not pay for them in advance.
Contact UK Visas and Immigration
YouIf canyou callneed theany freeassistance, 24/7contact helplineUK onVisas and Immigration.
Telephone: +44 808 164 8810
7 ifdays youa week, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5:30pm
Calls are outsidefree theof charge
If you cannot contact UK for0808 helpnumbers, you can use another number instead. You may have to pay – check with anyyour questionsphone aboutprovider theif scheme.you’re not sure.
Telephone: +44 175 390 7510
7 days a week, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5:30pm
Last updated
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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.
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Added a link to the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme application screens translated into Russian and Ukrainian.
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Ukrainian and Russian translations updated.
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Updated guidance about whether your sponsor needs to register their interest with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Updated guidance for sponsors applying on behalf of someone coming from Ukraine.
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The process to submit your biometrics once you arrive in the UK has opened. Link to the form added.
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Information added about visa application processing times.
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Changed helpline opening hours.
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Added Ukrainian and Russian translations.
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First published.