Summary of the changes to immigration rules for Ukrainian visa schemes announced on 19th February 2024.

1. The Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) has closed. Applications submitted to the UFS before 1500 GMT on 19th February 2024 will be considered under the rules in force on 18th February 2024. If you were previously eligible to apply to come to the UK under the UFS, you remain eligible to apply to the Homes for Ukraine (HFU) sponsorship scheme.
2. The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (HFU) is now a single out of country route for all Ukrainians to apply. Visas will be issued for a period of 18 months. If you make an application, your sponsor must be a British or Irish citizen, or settled in the UK (which means they have the right to live permanently in the UK).
3. If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to apply for permission to stay in the UK for a further 18 months under the NEW Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.
This means that if you were granted a visa under one of the Ukraine schemes, you will be able to apply and may be granted permission to stay in the UK for an additional 18 months. You’ll be able to apply three months before your existing visa is due to expire.
4. The Ukrainian Extension Scheme rules are now amended to ensure the scheme remains open beyond the current closure date of 16th May 2024 to allow parents of UK born children to regularise the immigration status of their children.
More information on the updates to the scheme can be found here