Applying for a Visa

Overview

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK. Your sponsor must be either:

• a named sponsor who can provide accommodation for a minimum of 6 months
• the Scottish Government
• the Welsh Government

Applicants to Scotland and Wales may previously have been considered under the super sponsor schemes, in which the governments of these nations act directly as sponsors. However, these super sponsor schemes are currently paused, so applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant authorities.

It is free to apply.

You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.

Eligibility

To apply to the 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 to and qualifies for, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

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, or you can choose the Scottish or Welsh Government as your sponsor

Your UK-based sponsor does not need to register with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme if you’re already in contact with them.

If your sponsor is the Scottish or Welsh Government, you do not need to arrange any accommodation – this will be provided for you.

Find out more about what happens when the Scottish Government sponsors your application.

Applicants aged under 18

Children under 18 years old must either:

• apply with their parent or legal guardian
• apply to join their parent or legal guardian if they’re already in the UK
• apply with the consent of their parent or legal guardian to travel to the UK to join an approved sponsor

Children applying with their parent or legal guardian

If the child is applying with their parent or legal guardian, they should travel together.

Children applying to join their parent or legal guardian

If the child is applying to join their parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian should either:

• travel to meet the child before they depart, and then travel together to the UK
• collect the child from the airport, port, train station or other point of entry into the UK

We advise that children do not travel via Calais, Coquelles or Dunkerque without a parent or legal guardian.

Children who are not applying to travel with or join their parent or legal guardian

To be eligible, the child must have:

• proof of consent by their parent or legal guardian 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.
• proof of consent from their parent or legal guardianship to the sponsorship arrangement
• a commitment to sponsorship for 3 years or until the child turns 18 (so long as the sponsorship lasts at least 6 months)
• approval of the sponsorship arrangement by the local council where the child will live.

If the child applied before 10 August 2022, they will have received a letter with instructions on what to do next.

New applications can now be made by children applying who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian in the UK.

You can also read detailed information on GOV.UK if you are a:

• parent, legal guardian or child
• sponsor

If you’re applying as the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national

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)
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner

You and your sponsor will be subject to security and safeguarding checks.

Crown dependencies

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:

• 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.

If you have a named sponsor, you or your sponsor can fill in the form, or you can fill it in together.

The form is aimed at the person applying to the scheme.

This application is also an application for a biometric immigration document.

By completing this application, you confirm that both the applicant and the sponsor (if you have a named sponsor) have given permission for their data to be shared and contact details used for the purpose of checks and supporting the sponsor arrangement.

If you are a sponsor applying on behalf of the applicant

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 use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app to prove their identity. 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.

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, or apply to extend your stay once your arrive in the UK.

If your sponsor is making an application on your behalf, you will still need to use the app to prove your identity. Once your sponsor has created your account details online, they will get instructions for you to start using the app.

Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app

The ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app checks your identity and verifies that the passport you’re using belongs to you. You’ll 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.

If you can’t use the app

If you can’t use the app and you have a valid Ukrainian international passport you don’t 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 a copy of the photograph page of your passport

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 can’t 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 don’t 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 once you’ve completed your application. 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 don’t 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 you’ll 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 attend a VAC appointment and have a digital photograph taken.

The Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Kyiv, Ukraine is now open for biometric enrolments and document scanning for UK visa applications. Biometric enrolment appointments will be limited.

If your visa application is successful you will need to travel to the VAC in Warsaw with a valid international passport to collect your visa vignette.

For more information including opening hours and appointment booking , please visit the TLS website.

Provide evidence that you’re eligible for the scheme

If you have a named sponsor you must also provide documents that show their identity.

This can be a:

• UK or Irish passport or Irish passport card
• biometric residence permit or biometric residence card
• refugee travel document
• a photo driving licence issued by the UK, Ireland, or the Crown Dependencies

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. 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 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 do not need to provide a residential address for your sponsor if your sponsor is the Scottish or Welsh Government.

After you’ve applied

You will need to wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration on your application before travelling to the UK.

We are prioritising Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme applications and aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.

You will be contacted when a decision has been made with more guidance on the travel process.

Your decision letter will tell you if you need to collect a biometric residence permit when you arrive in the UK, or if you need to give your biometric information first.

If you attended a visa application centre as part of your application

Once your application has been processed, you’ll be given a visa.

This visa will allow you to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

You will need to collect your visa from the visa application centre before you travel to the UK.

Do not go to the visa application centre to collect your visa until you have been contacted.

You’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once you’re in the UK. Your biometric residence permit can be used to confirm your status and rights in the UK.

If you did not attend a visa application centre as part of your application

Once your application has been processed you will receive an official permission letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) confirming that you can travel to the UK.

The permission letter will allow you to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

You should not travel to the UK until you have received an official permission letter.

If you applied using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app you’ll be able to pick up your biometric residence permit once you’re in the UK.

If you didn’t use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app you’ll need to submit your biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UK to extend your stay for up to 3 years and be given a biometric residence permit. You will be told how to do this in your decision letter.

Extending your stay in the UK

You do not need to apply to extend your visa if you were able to use the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ app or if you attended a visa application centre as part of your application to come to the UK.

You need to apply to give your biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UK if you received a stamp in your passport when you entered the UK.

You will then be able to stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

You do not need to do this as soon as you reach the UK, but you do need to make sure that you have applied to give your biometrics before the 6 months ends. You will be told how to do this in your decision letter.

Apply to extend your stay in the UK

You can start the application to give your biometrics by completing the online form.