Ukraine Family Scheme: What It Is & How to Apply

To apply for the Family Scheme, your family member must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• They’re a British national.
• They are considered to be settled in the UK, such as those who have obtained settled status or proof of permanent residence.
• They’re from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and have:
  • Obtained pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and
  • Started living in the United Kingdom before 1st January 2021.
• They have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

Your UK-based family member must also have an eligible relationship with you.

Eligible family members include:

• A member of your immediate family, such as a:
  • Spouse or civil partner
  • Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
  • Unmarried partner, who you have been in a relationship with for at least 2 years
  • Child under the age of 18
  • Parent, where you are under the age of 18
• A member of your extended family, such as a:
  • Parent, where you are over the age of 18
  • Child over the age of 18
  • Grandparent or grandparent-in-law
  • Grandchild or your partner’s grandchild
  • Brother or sister
  • Aunt or uncle
  • Niece or nephew
  • Cousin
  • Mother-in-law or father-in-law
  • Brother-in-law or sister-in-law

• The spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, proposed civil partner, or fiancé(e) of your extended family member
• The child or parent of your extended family member

If you are applying to join a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), or proposed civil partner in the United Kingdom, your relationship must have begun before 1st January 2022 in order to be deemed eligible.
Any family relationships that are not present on the above list may be considered by the UK government if you are able to provide evidence of exceptional circumstances.

Alternatively, if your UK-based family member is from the EU or certain European countries, you may be able to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

This permit would allow you to travel to the UK to join your family for up to 6 months.
To be eligible, your UK-based family member must be:

• Living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and
• From the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

However, it’s important to note that this is an alternative route, and you should not apply for both the Family Scheme and an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit, as your application may be delayed.

For advice about your circumstances, call Newcastle Immigration Lawyers on +441913038965, contact us online, or visit our office in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Applying Outside the UK

If you are currently outside the UK, you should apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme online.

During your application, you will be asked to prove your identity. The process of doing this will vary depending on the identification documents you provide.

If you have a valid Ukrainian international passport, you can either:

• Scan or take a photo of your passport using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, or
• Provide your biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

If you have an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp, you must:

• Provide biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK, and
• Upload copies of both the photograph page of your expired passport and the page of your expired passport with the formal extension stamp during your online application through either the TLS or VFS app.

If you don’t have a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp, you should:

• Arrange and attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC). If you’re applying on behalf of a child, they will also need to attend an appointment. In Ukraine, the VAC is located in Kyiv, however, you will need to travel to the VAC in Warsaw to collect your visa.
  • During your appointment, you will have your photograph and fingerprints taken. Children under the age of 5 will only have their photograph taken.
  • The VAC in Kyiv is open for biometric enrollment and document scanning.
• Where possible, upload copies of any identity documents you have during your application by using either the TLS or VFS app. These documents may include:
  • A Ukrainian national identity card
  • Official documents such as a photo driving licence and birth certificate
  • An emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022

You must wait until you receive a decision about your application before arranging travel to the UK.

When a decision has been made, you will receive a letter confirming the outcome of your application.

You’ll also receive further guidance about the next steps, including whether you need to collect a biometric residence permit or provide biometric information.

Applying Inside the UK

If you are already in the UK, you should first apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme online.

After submitting your application, you should then arrange and attend an appointment at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide biometric information.

You should bring the following documents to your appointment:

• A printed copy of your appointment confirmation
• Your passport or official travel identification
• Other supporting documents, unless you have already uploaded them during your application

If the applicant is under the age of 16, they must attend the appointment with the person named as the ‘responsible adult’ on their application.

The ‘responsible adult’ should bring:

• Photo ID such as a passport, national identity card, a photo driving licence or a UK Biometric Residence Permit.
• Written proof of responsibility for the child from the parent or legal guardian, if they’re not the legal guardian.

You won’t be informed of a decision at the appointment but will be contacted when a decision has been made.

Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

Also known as the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family to travel to the UK and remain for up to 3 years if they are sponsored by a household or organisation in the UK.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have been living in Ukraine on or immediately before 1st January 2022.
• Be currently outside of the UK. You cannot apply for this scheme if you are already in the UK.
• Have an eligible UK-based sponsor. This includes one of the following:
  • A named sponsor who can provide accommodation for at least 6 months
  • The Scottish Government

You will be responsible for finding a sponsor. This can be done through a government portal or a charity. However, if you have already made contact with your sponsor, they do not need to register their interest.

As of September 2023, applications sponsored by the Scottish and Welsh governments have been paused, and application decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Similar to the Family Scheme, you will be able to work, live, study, claim benefits, and access public services while in the UK.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

If you’re Ukrainian or have a Ukrainian family member, you may be eligible to apply for the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

To apply for the Extension Scheme, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You held permission to be in the UK on or during the period between 18th March 2022 and 16th May 2023
• You did hold permission to be in the UK, which expired on or after 1st January 2022

Similar to the Family Scheme, you will be able to work, live, study, claim benefits, and access public services whilst in the UK.

Apply for a Different UK Visa

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for an alternative visa to come to the UK.

Some of the most popular types of visas are:

• Health and Care Worker visa for medical professionals such as qualified doctors and nurses to work in eligible jobs. It is valid for an initial period of 5 years, after which you may be able to extend it or apply for permanent settlement.
• Skilled Worker visa for those sponsored by an employer to undertake a role on the list of eligible occupations. It is valid for an initial period of 5 years, after which you may be able to extend it or apply for permanent settlement.
• Student visa for those who have been accepted on a course by a licenced student sponsor. The duration of this visa will depend on the length of your course. However, generally, a visa for a degree course will be valid for up to 5 years, and a course below a degree level will be valid for up to 2 years.
• Graduate visa for students who have successfully completed an eligible educational course in the UK. It is valid for 2 years, or 3 years if you have completed a doctoral qualification, and cannot be extended.
• Seasonal Worker visa for those wishing to temporarily work in the UK in horticulture or poultry. You will be able to stay in the UK for up to 6 months if you wish to work in horticulture, but you must only stay in the UK between 18th October and 31st December if you wish to work in poultry.

For advice about which UK visas you might be eligible for, call Newcastle Immigration Lawyers on +441913038965, contact us online, or visit our office in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Extend Your Visa or Switch to a Different Visa

If you’re already in the UK, you may be able to extend your existing visa or switch to an alternative if you meet the relevant criteria. This includes Ukrainians who have travelled to the UK on a Visitor visa and are now unable to return to Ukraine.

Depending on the type of UK visa you hold, you may also have other options, including the possibility of applying for settlement.