Home Office
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 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 need any assistance, contact UK Visas and Immigration.
Telephone: +44 808 164 8810
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5:30pm
Calls are free of charge
If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, you can use another number instead. You may have to pay check with your phone provider if youre not sure.
Telephone: +44 175 390 7510
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
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 youre 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)
- fianc(e) or proposed civil partner
You and your sponsor will be subject to security and safeguarding checks.
If you applied to the Isle of Man or Guernseys Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, you must finalise your application through that Crown Dependencys 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.
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.
To support you in applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), we have translated the application screens into Ukrainian and Russian.
Prove your identity
If you have a valid Ukrainian international passport
You 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 attend a visa application centre to give your biometric information.
Using the UK Immigration: ID check app
The UK Immigration: ID check app checks your identity and verifies that the passport youre using belongs to you. Youll 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.
Youll use the app to scan your passport or take a photo if you cant use the scanner.
Top Tips on applying to the Ukraine Schemes for a UK visa
There is detailed information about how to use the app if you need help.
If you cant use the app
If you cant use the app and you have a valid Ukrainian international passport you dont 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.
During your application you 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. 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 copies of your documents, you can still book an appointment at a visa application centre.
If you have an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp
You cant 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 dont 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.
During your application you 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. 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 copies of your documents, you can still book an appointment at a visa application centre.
If you dont 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 youll be asked to upload copies of any identity documents you may have such as:
- 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 att