Scotland for Ukrainians: a guide for displaced people

Getting to Scotland: visas and travel

You must have a valid visa to enter the UK. Scotland is part of the UK. It is free to apply for a visa.

The Scottish Government’s super sponsor scheme - which acts within the Homes for Ukraine scheme - continues to be paused for new applications. This is to ensure we can provide support and sanctuary to displaced people who are in Scotland already or will shortly be arriving.

If you did not apply for a visa through the Scottish super sponsor scheme, you can apply for the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine).

As of 19 February 2024, if you are a Ukrainian national (or immediate family member of a Ukrainian national) and wish to come to the UK, you must have a sponsor who meets the UK Government’s eligibility criteria. You can apply for a visa for a period of 18 months under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme closed on the 16 May 2024. It only remains open for children born in the UK.

The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applications on 19 February 2024.

The UK Government has announced that those with a valid visa under one of the Ukraine schemes may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. 

After you apply for your visa

You will need to wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on your application before travelling to the UK. If you have chosen the Scottish Government as your sponsor, the UK Government will tell the Scottish Government if they approve your visa application. The Scottish Government will then contact you with information about coming to Scotland.

Your decision letter will tell you if you need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) when you arrive in the UK, or if you need to give your biometric information first before getting your permit.

How long you have to travel to the UK after getting your visa

If the issue-date of your Homes for Ukraine visa is 7 December 2023 or later, you must travel to the UK within 90 days after you have provided your biometric information at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

If you hold a Permission to Travel letter and have not yet travelled to the UK

Permission to travel letters will not be valid for travel or entry to the UK from 00:01 GMT on 13 February 2025. For further information, please refer to the UK Government website.

If you intend to travel to Scotland with a permission to travel letter before 13 February 2025, you must contact NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) helpline in advance on +3808 0050 4582 or +44 808 175 7230.

How the Scottish Government will contact you  

If you have applied for a Super Sponsor Scheme visa, Scottish Government will contact you when we know you have a valid visa. We will contact you by either:

• email (from a gov.scot address) 
• text message (SMS) 

The email or text will be a ‘welcome’ message. It will include a phone number you can call to: 

• get travel advice 
• tell us when and where you will arrive in Scotland 
• find out what do to when you arrive in Scotland 
• let us know if you need any extra help when you arrive  

This Scottish Government welcome message is not a visa or permission to travel. The permission will be issued by UK Visas and Immigration. 

Visa and immigration advice 

Ukraine Advice Scotland

Scottish Refugee Council provides free, confidential legal advice and information to people seeking protection including Ukrainians and their families on legal routes for seeking safety in Scotland.

Advice services operate in English, but can provide legal advice in other languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

You can contact Scottish Refugee Council by calling 0808 1967 274 on:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 09:00 and 17:00 (UK time)
• Wednesday between 13:00 and 17:00 (UK time)

Alternatively, you can contact Scottish Refugee Council by emailing ukraine@scottishrefugeecouncil.co.uk

Travelling to Scotland

You should not arrange travel to Scotland until you have a valid visa or permission to travel letter issued by UK Visas and Immigration.

Flights to Scotland

Many countries around Ukraine have direct flights to Scotland. Check airline operator websites for information and to book tickets. 

Trains to Scotland

You may be entitled to free train travel. More information about eligibility is available for the following countries:

• UK – visit National Rail or call +44 3457 225 333
• Europe – visit Eurostar website or call +44 343 218 6186 
• Germany – visit Deutsche Bahn website or call +49 30 311682904
• France – visit SNCF website or call +33 1 84 94 3635

Travelling with pets

You can bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK without it going into quarantine or isolation if it has:

• been vaccinated against rabies and had a blood test 30 days later to confirm the vaccine worked, and waited 3 months after the blood test to travel to the UK
• been microchipped
• a pet passport or health certificate issued before you left Ukraine
• had tapeworm treatment

You will need a licence to bring your pet to the UK if your pet:

• does not meet all these requirements
• meets these requirements, but you do not have proof that it does
• has been issued with an EU pet passport since leaving Ukraine

You can find out more information on bringing your pet to the UK from Ukraine.

Not all temporary welcome accommodation allow pets. Staff in Welcome Hubs will take pets into account as far as possible when allocating you to temporary welcome accommodation. However, if they are unable to allocate you welcome accommodation that permit pets, it will be your responsibility to arrange for the care and shelter of your animals.

Help while travelling internationally

Whilst travelling, if you have any concerns, contact your nearest UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office:

• Hungary
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• any other country

Also, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has set up hotlines for people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

• Ukraine: 527 (free from mobile phones), 0800 505 501 (free from landline phones), and 527 website
• Poland: +48 22 490 20 44
• Lithuania: +370 525 14352
• Slovakia: from abroad 00421 5263 0023, locally 0850 211 478, Telegram/Signal: 00421 908 767 853
• Moldova: Bureau of Migration and Asylum (BMA): 080001527 (free from Moldova) and +37322820007 (from abroad); La Strada Anti-trafficking and Safe Migration: 080077777 (free from Moldova) and +37322233309 (from abroad)

Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and consulates

• Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Головна | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (mfa.gov.ua)
• In case of emergency phone: +38 (044) 238 16 57

Ukraine representation in other countries

• Ukrainian Embassy in Poland – phone: +48-226-21-39-79
• Ukrainian Embassy in Romania – phone: +40-212-30-36-60
• Ukrainian Embassy in Lithuania – phone: (+370) 6 555 01 94
• Ukrainian Embassy in London, United Kingdom – phone: (+44) 20 7727 6312
• Ukrainian Consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland  – phone: (+44) 131 556 0023 or in cases of emergency or life-threatening situations (+44) 790 905 6906. Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh is also available on Facebook.

When you arrive

If you arrive in England or Wales, you may be entitled to free train travel to Scotland by showing your Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass dated within the previous 48 hours.

When you arrive in Scotland, the largest Scottish bus operators and Glasgow Subway (details below) are currently offering free onward travel if you need it. Show your Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass dated within the previous 48 hours.

• Stagecoach
• FirstBus
• Glasgow Subway

National Rail has published information in Ukrainian on free train travel for the first 48 hours after arrival.

If you qualify, you may be able to apply for free or discounted travel in Scotland. Transport Scotland is the government agency which runs these travel schemes. You can find more information on how to apply at Transport Scotland.