People arriving from Ukraine - risk and need: public protection guidance

Arrival pathways for people travelling from Ukraine

Ukraine Family Visa Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applicants on Monday 19 February 2024. If a displaced person wishes to join a settled family member in the UK, they can apply for a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

The UK Government introduced the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme on 18 March 2022 that allowed people displaced from Ukraine to come to the UK where they had a UK-based sponsor.

Successful visa applications made prior to 19 February 2024 will be granted for a 36 month period. Applications made after 19 February 2024 will be granted for 18 months.

For applications submitted after 15:00 on 19 February 2024, the sponsor will need to be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK (for more information on sponsor eligibility, please see the UK Government guidance: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine).

The Scottish Government took the decision to also act as ‘Super Sponsor’ in its own right from 18 March 2022. This allowed applicants to select the Scottish Government as their sponsor, receive a visa and travel immediately without the need for individual sponsorship arrangements to be found. This visa route was paused on 13 July 2022. Those who have been granted super sponsor visas may still come to the UK until the expiry date of their visa.

The UK Government have announced the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme that will allow current visa holders to extend their permission to stay in the UK. Further information on the scheme will be shared by the UK Government.

Other arrival pathways from Ukraine

Adults and children fleeing the conflict in Ukraine may also have arrived in Scotland independently of the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, for instance with no visa or on a holiday visa. The Home Office is dealing with these individuals on a case-by-case basis and as such, those uncertain of their immigration status or right to public funds should be advised to seek legal advice.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme is open to some Ukrainian nationals and their family members who have, or previously had, permission to be in the UK. This scheme will close on 16 May 2024. It will remain open only for children born in the UK. Further information can be found here: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals.

The Scottish Government has funded Ukraine Advice Scotland to provide free, independent advice for those fleeing the Ukraine conflict and individuals can refer direct.