Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)

Overview

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK. Everyone must make a separate application, even children travelling with a family member.

Your sponsor must be either:

• a named sponsor who can provide accommodation for a minimum of 6 months
• the Scottish Government
• the Welsh Government

Applicants to Scotland and Wales may previously have been considered under the super sponsor schemes, in which the governments of these nations act directly as sponsors. However, these super sponsor schemes are currently paused, so applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant authorities.

It is free to apply.

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

Eligibility

To apply to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme you must be Ukrainian, or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who has been granted permission under, or is applying to and qualifies for, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

You must also:

• have been livingresiding 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, or you can choose the Scottish or Welsh Government as your sponsor

Applicants aged under 18

Children under 18 years old must either:

• apply with their parent or legal guardian
• apply to join their parent or legal guardian if they’re already in the UK
• apply with the consent of their parent or legal guardian to travel to the UK to join an approved sponsor

Children applying with their parent or legal guardian

If the child is applying with their parent or legal guardian, they should travel together.

Children applying to join their parent or legal guardian

If the child is applying to join their parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian should either:

• travel to meet the child before they depart, and then travel together to the UK
• collect the child from the airport, port, train station or other point of entry into the UK

We advise that children do not travel via Calais, Coquelles or Dunkerque without a parent or legal guardian.

Children who are not applying to travel with or join their parent or legal guardian

To be eligible, the child must have:

• proof of consent by their parent or legal guardian notarised or certified by the Guardianship Service of the city or regional council in Ukraine; or, where the child is in another country, notary authorities in that country or by the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate.

• proof of consent from their parent or legal guardianship to the sponsorship arrangement

• a commitment to sponsorship for 3 years or until the child turns 18 (so long as the sponsorship lasts at least 6 months)

• approval of the sponsorship arrangement by the local council where the child will live.

If the child applied before 10 August 2022, they will have received a letter with instructions on what to do next.

New applications can now be made by children applying who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian in the UK.

You can also read detailed information on GOV.UK if you are a:

• parent, legal guardian or child
• sponsor

If you’re applying as the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national

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.

Crown dependencies

If you applied to the Isle of Man or Guernsey’s Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, you must finalise your application through that Crown Dependency’s process. If you need information or support, contact the relevant Crown Dependency:

• Isle of Man: ukraineguidance@gov.im
• Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney and Sark): ukraine@gov.gg

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.

Family members can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. They’ll need to complete separate applications.

Start now

If you have a named sponsor, you or your sponsor can fill in the form, or you can fill it in together.

This application is also an application for a biometric immigration document.

By completing this application, you confirm that both the applicant and the sponsor (if you have a named sponsor) have given permission for their data to be shared and contact details used for the purpose of checks and supporting the sponsor arrangement.

If you are a sponsor applying on behalf of the applicant

You’ll need to fill in the form online as if you’re the applicant coming from Ukraine.

Add the applicant’s contact details so that they have access the application form and all the decision letters.

If the applicant has a valid Ukrainian international passport they can uploaduse a copy of the photograph‘UK pageImmigration: ofID theircheck’ passportapp duringto theprove application.their identity. They will need to complete this part of the application themselves.

Read the whole guide to make sure you have everything prepared that you need before you apply.

Prove your identity

If andyou providinghave youra documents

valid Ukrainian international passport

You’llYou can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app to prove your identity if you have a valid Ukrainian international passport. You do not need to bookattend a visa application centre to give your biometric information, or apply to extend your stay once your arrive in the UK.

If your sponsor is making an appointmentapplication on your behalf, you will still need to haveuse the app to prove your photographidentity. Once your sponsor has created your account details online, they will get instructions for you to start using the app.

Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app

The ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app checks your identity and fingerprintsverifies takenthat the passport you’re using belongs to you. You’ll be told when to download the app once you begin your application online at GOV.UK - you can download the app at any time, but it will not work before this point.

Find out how to use the app.

You don’t need to give your biometric information in the UK if you use the app

Top Tips on applying to the Ukraine Schemes for a UK visa

If you can’t use the app

If you can’t use the app and you have a valid Ukrainian international passport you don’t need to attend a visa application centre (VAC)to asgive partyour ofbiometric information. Instead, you must give your application.biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

ChildrenDuring underyour application you must upload a copy of the agephotograph page of 5your willpassport

You notcan haveupload theirthese fingerprintsdocuments takenusing butour commercial partner document upload app. This will stillbe 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 copies of your documents, you can still book andan attendappointment at a VACvisa appointmentapplication andcentre.

If you have an expired Ukrainian international passport with a digitalformal photographextension taken.stamp

You can’t use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app if your passport has expired even if it has a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government. You don’t need to attend a visa application centre to give your biometric information. Instead, you must give your biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

AtDuring your appointment,application you’llyou must upload copies of both:

• the photograph page of your expired passport
• the page of your expired passport with the formal extension stamp

You can upload these documents using our commercial partner document upload app once you’ve completed your application. 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 proveupload copies of your identitydocuments, you can still book an appointment at a visa application centre.

If you don’t have a valid Ukrainian international passport, or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp

If you do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport, or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government, you will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC). This also applies to child applicants.

During the online application process you’ll be asked to upload copies of any identity documents you may have such as:

• a valid passport
• a Ukrainian national identity card
• a combination of official documents – for example, a photo driving licence and birth certificate -*
• an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022

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.

Visa application centres

You will need to have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a visa application centre (VAC) as part of your application. Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to book and attend a VAC appointment and have a digital photograph taken.

The Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Kyiv, Ukraine is now open for biometric enrolments and document scanning for UK visa applications. Biometric enrolment appointments will be limited.

If your visa application is successful you will need to travel to the VAC in Warsaw with a valid international passport to collect your visa vignette.

For more information including opening hours and appointment booking,booking , please visit the the TLS website.

Provide evidence that you’re eligible for the scheme

If you have a named sponsor you must also provide documents that show their identity.

This can be a:

• UK or Irish passport or Irish passport card
• biometric residence permit or biometric residence card
• refugee travel document
• a photo driving licence issued by the UK, Ireland, or the Crown Dependencies

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.

You will also be asked to provide your sponsor’s residential address. You do not need to provide a residential address for your sponsor if your sponsor is the Scottish or Welsh Government.

After you’ve applied

You will need to wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration on your application before travelling to the UK.

IfWe yourare applicationprioritising isUkraine approved,Sponsorship you’llScheme needapplications toand returnaim to collectmake youra visadecision beforeas youquickly travelas topossible.

You will be contacted when a decision has been made with more guidance on the UK.travel Thisprocess.

Your visadecision letter will allowtell you if you need to boardcollect a planebiometric orresidence otherpermit formwhen ofyou transportarrive toin the UK.UK, or if you need to give your biometric information first.

If you attended youra biometricsvisa appointmentapplication incentre Kyivas andpart of your visa application

Once isyour successful,application you’llhas needbeen toprocessed, travelyou’ll tobe the VACgiven ina Warsaw withvisa.

This avisa validwill internationalallow passportyou to collectboard youra visaplane vignette.or Ifother youform hadof antransport appointmentto inthe anotherUK.

You country,will you’ll need to collect your visa vignettefrom at the samevisa VACapplication centre before you submittedtravel yourto biometrics.the UK.

Do not go to the visa application centre to collect your visa until you have been contacted.

You’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once you’re in the UK. Your biometric residence permit can be used to confirm your status and rights in the UK.

If youryou visadid application is refused because your sponsor does not meetattend thea eligibilityvisa requirementsapplication forcentre theas Homespart forof Ukraineyour Sponsorshipapplication

Once Scheme,your andapplication youhas stillbeen wantprocessed to come to the UK, you will needreceive toan findofficial apermission newletter sponsorfrom UK Visas and submitImmigration a(UKVI) newconfirming application.

Ifthat you attendedcan atravel visato applicationthe centre as part of your application

Once your application has been processed, you’ll be given a visa.UK.

ThisThe visapermission letter will allow you to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

You willshould neednot travel to collect your visa from the visaUK applicationuntil centreyou beforehave youreceived travelan toofficial thepermission UK.letter.

DoIf notyou goapplied tousing the visa‘UK applicationImmigration: centreID tocheck’ collectapp youryou’ll visa until you have been contacted.

You’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once you’re in the UK.

If Youryou biometricdidn’t residenceuse permitthe can‘UK beImmigration: usedID check’ app you’ll need to confirmsubmit your statusbiometrics andwithin rights6 inmonths theof UK.

Howarriving longin itthe takesUK to getextend ayour decision

Westay willfor startup processingto your3 applicationyears onceand you’vebe appliedgiven online,a provedbiometric yourresidence identity,permit. andYou providedwill yourbe documents.told Wehow aim to makedo athis decisionin asyour quicklydecision as possible.letter.

Extending your stay in the UK

You need to apply to give your biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UK if you didreceived nota usestamp thein ‘UKyour immigration:passport IDwhen check’ app or if you didentered notthe attend a visa application centre.UK.

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

You do not need to do this as soon as you reach the UK, but you do need to make sure that you have applied to give your biometrics before the 6 months ends. You will be told how to do this in your decision letter.

Apply to extend your stay in the UK

You can start the application to give your biometrics by completing the online form.

Start now

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

Your biometric residence permit will be sent to the address you gave in your application. You do not need to collect it.

UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS)(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.

If you want 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 and you should not pay for them in advance.

Booking appointments for you and your family members

If you would like to book appointments for you and your family members on the same date you will first need to set up individual accounts for all your family members, including children. You can use your own email address when setting up accounts for children.

You should then log in to your UKVCAS accounts and book your appointments together.

If there is more than one application linked to the same email address, you will need to provide the unique application number (UAN) for each application you want to book an appointment for.

A UAN is a unique 16-digit code (format xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx) that each person gets once they have made their online application to extend their stay in the UK.

We cannot guarantee that appointments will be available for all family members on the same date.

Contact UK Visas and Immigration

If you need help,any assistance, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, you can use thisanother number:number +44instead. (0)175 390 7510. You may have to pay – check with your phone provider if you’re not sure.