Guidance for Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who wish to come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
There are different schemes in place to support those Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who wish to either come to or remain in the UK.
Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
If you have an approved sponsor, you may be able to apply under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme to come to the UK.
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the original Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to apply for further permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE).
Other visas you may apply for
You may be eligible to make an application under other immigration routes.
Check which visas you may be able to apply for.
The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to come to the UK, if they have an approved sponsor. Everyone must make a separate application, even children travelling with a family member.
Your sponsor must be:
If you are a parent or legal guardian intending to sponsor your child only (who should be under 18 on the date of application under the scheme), then you:
The Scottish and Welsh governments previously operated their own Super Sponsor routes, in which they acted directly as sponsors for Homes for Ukraine applicants. These schemes were paused in 2022 and remain paused for new applications.
Applications made under the two Super Sponsor routes before they were paused will be processed and visas issued under the scheme will still be valid.
It is free to apply.
If your application is successful, you will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
To apply to the Homes for 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 and qualifies under, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
You must also:
Your UK-based sponsor does not need to register with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme if you’re already in contact with them.
Children under 18 years old must either:
If the child is applying with their parent or legal guardian, they should travel together.
If the child is applying to join their parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian should either:
To be eligible, the child must have:
written consent from their parent or legal guardian for the child to leave Ukraine, 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.
written consent from their parent or legal guardian to the sponsorship arrangement, including the UK sponsorship consent form
a commitment to sponsorship for 18 months or until the child turns 18, whichever is sooner (so long as the sponsorship lasts at least 6 months)
approval of the sponsorship arrangement by the local council where the child will live
For evidence that is not in English, you must upload a translation.
If the child applied before 10 August 2022, they will have received a letter with instructions on what to do next.
You can also read detailed information on GOV.UK if you are a:
An immediate family member is your:
If your application is successful, you can stay in the UK for up to 18 months.
If you are a child joining your parent who is also your sponsor and they have less than 18 months permission remaining, your permission to stay will be aligned with your parent’s.
It is free to apply.
You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee.
You must apply online.
Family members can also apply to join you or stay in the UK if they meet the eligibility requirements above. 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.
If you are a child applying to join their parent or legal guardian who is also your sponsor under the scheme, the parent or legal guardian should:
The form is aimed at the person applying to the scheme.
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.
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 upload a copy of the photograph page of their passport during the application. 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.
You’ll need to book an appointment to have your photograph and fingerprints (biometric information) 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.
At your appointment, you’ll need to prove your identity and nationality with a valid international passport.
Where you do not have a valid international passport, you may use either:
For more information including opening hours and appointment booking, please visit the VFS website.
You must also provide documents that show your sponsor’s identity.
This can be a:
British or Irish citizen sponsors are asked to provide a copy of the biodata page of their passport. Sponsors can use a recently expired passport if it has not been replaced.
British or Irish citizens who do not hold a valid UK or Irish passport can provide a UK or Irish birth certificate (if born before 1 January 1983), or a registration or naturalisation certificate with a photo document, such as:
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. You can download the app from the 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.
You will also be asked to provide your sponsor’s residential address.
You must attend an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity by having your fingerprints and photograph taken (biometric information).
You will need to wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration on your application before travelling to the UK.
If you applied before the 30 October 2025 and your application is approved, you’ll need to return to the visa application centre to collect your visa before you travel to the UK. This visa will allow you to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK you may get a sticker in your passport (a vignette). The sticker will be for either 90 days or the full length of your stay.
You will also create a UKVI account to access your eVisa, that can also be used to travel to the UK.
You may not get a vignette (visa sticker) if you apply on or after 30 October 2025. Instead, you will need to access your eVisa through your UKVI account before you travel to the UK. You’ll be told what to do when you get your decision.
Once your application has been granted, your UKVI account will show your digital status. This can be used to share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service.
If your visa application is refused because your sponsor does not meet the eligibility requirements for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, and you still want to come to the UK, you will need to find a new sponsor and submit a new application.
Once your application has been processed and approved, you’ll be given a visa.
We will start processing your application once you’ve applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents. We aim to make a decision within 3 weeks.
You’ll need to create an account to get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status) before you travel to the UK. Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa.
You’ll be able to prove your immigration status and conditions to others, for example employers and landlords, using the view and prove service.
If you did not use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app or attend a visa application centre, you may have been issued with a permission to travel letter to allow you to travel to the UK.
Permission to travel letters are no longer valid and cannot be used for travel or entry to the UK.
You must not travel to the UK before you have submitted an application and received permission to travel from the Home Office.
If you attempt to travel or enter the UK with a permission to travel letter, you may be refused entry to the UK and removed.
If you have been issued a permission to travel letter and still wish to come to the UK under the Ukraine schemes, you will need to make a new application to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
If you did not use the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ app or if you did not attend a visa application centre but were granted a permission to travel letter, you had to apply to provide your biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK. You would then have been able to stay in the UK for up to 3 years.
If you travelled to the UK using a permission to travel letter and did not apply to stay in the UK before 9:00am UK time on 13 August 2025, you cannot apply to stay in the UK under the Ukraine schemes. You can find out how to get immigration advice on GOV.UK.
If you applied to stay in the UK before 9:00am UK time on 13 August 2025 under the Ukraine schemes, your application will be processed. You will be invited to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (known as biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) point.
If you need help, contact UK Visas and Immigration.
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:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme