Advice

Guidance for family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come to or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

Overview

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. It is free to apply. You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds. If you need any assistance, please call the 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 if you’re in the UK). If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.

Eligibility

To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme you must:

be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member; and
be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme; and
have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine)

You can apply if you’ve already arrived in the UK and meet the requirements above.

If you’re a Ukrainian national who had permission to stay in the UK on or before 18 March 2022, you will be able to apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme instead from 3 May 2022. Your partner and children can also apply if they’re already in the UK as your ‘dependants’.

If you previously had permission to stay in the UK but it has expired since 1 January 2022, you’ll also be eligible to apply.

Your application will be subject to security checks.

UK-based family member

Your family member must be one of the following:

a British national
someone settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You must provide evidence that your UK-based family member is one of the following:

an immediate family member
an extended family member
an immediate family member of an extended family member

You will be asked to provide a copy of an official document that confirms your relationship to your UK-based family member. For example, a marriage or birth certificate if you have one.

Please note you can still apply if you are unable to provide this document, explaining why you are unable to do so.

Immediate family members

An immediate family member is your or your UK-based family member’s:

spouse or civil partner
unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least two years)
child who is under 18
parent (if you are under 18)
fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner

Extended family members

An extended family member is your UK-based family member’s:

parent (if you are over 18)
child who is over 18
grandparent
grandchild or your partner’s grandchild
brother or sister
aunt or uncle
niece or nephew
cousin
mother-in-law or father-in-law
grandparent-in-law
brother-in-law or sister-in-law

Immediate family member of an extended family member

An immediate family member of an extended family is the:

spouse or civil partner of an extended family member
child under 18 of an extended family member
parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member

If your UK-based family member is your (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.

Other family members will be considered where there are exceptional circumstances.

If you have a family member from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

You might also be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit if you are the family member of someone who is living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme who is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You can choose which scheme you apply for but please do not apply to both the Ukraine Family Scheme and the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

You must be outside of the UK to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

Regardless of which scheme you apply to, if you’re eligible you’ll be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you’re in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

Fees

It is free to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme.

You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee for this scheme.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for the Ukraine Family Scheme if you are outside the UK.

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

If you hold a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government

If you 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 complete an application online, but you do not need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to give your biometric information.

Uploading your documents

You must upload a copy of the photograph page of your valid or expired Ukrainian international passport.

If you are applying with an expired Ukrainian international passport you must upload a copy of the page where the formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government is shown.

If you have them, you should also provide any documents that show:

your relationship to your UK-based family member
you were residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022

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 still book an appointment at a VAC.

Official permission letter

Once your application has been processed you will receive an official permission letter from UK Visas & 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.

At the UK border

Border Force, airlines and carriers will be informed that customers with valid Ukrainian passports who have been accepted under the Ukraine Family Scheme will be issued with a letter confirming they have permission to travel to the UK without a UK visa in their passport.

When you arrive in the UK, you will need to show your permission letter to Border Force officers who will endorse your passport with a 6-month entry stamp.

The 6-month entry stamp is evidence of your right to work, study and claim benefits in the UK.

Extending your stay in the UK

You will need to submit your biometrics within 6 months of arriving in the UK to extend your stay for up to 3 years and be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP) as evidence of your immigration status.

You can start the process to provide your biometric information by completing the online form.

Once we have received your details, we will tell you how to provide your biometric information.

This might be by providing us with a digitised facial image using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by visiting one of our application centres in the UK to provide a facial photograph and your fingerprints.

You do not need to do this as soon as you reach the UK, but you do need to make sure that you have provided your biometrics before the 6 months ends.

If you do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport

If you do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport you will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.

If you have a Ukrainian domestic passport or ID card, you will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.

Visa application centres

You do not need to book an appointment at a VAC to provide your biometric information if you hold a valid Ukrainian international passport.

You will need to have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a VAC as part of your application. Children under the age of 5 who do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to book and attend a VAC appointment and have a digital photograph taken.

Visa application centre availability

VACs in Ukraine are currently closed. You can apply at a VAC in any country if you are able to travel safely.

There is a temporary VAC for people applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme in Rzeszow, Poland. You’ll need to complete your online application and book an appointment before attending the Rzeszow VAC – walk-in appointments are no longer accepted.

VACs are currently operating throughout Europe including:

How long it takes

You will need to await a decision from UKVI on your application before travelling.

We are prioritising Ukraine Family 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.

If you are granted permission under the Ukraine Family Scheme you will receive either:

an official letter of permission (if you hold a valid Ukrainian international passport)
a visa (if you attended a VAC to give your biometrics)

Please do not attend the VAC to collect your visa until you have been contacted.

Contact UKVI

You can call the free 24/7 helpline on +44 808 164 8810 if you are outside the UK for help with any questions about the scheme.

Apply from inside the UK

You must apply online for the Ukraine Family Scheme if you are in the UK.

You will then book and attend an appointment at UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

UKVCAS service points

You will need to give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UKVCAS service point – this is to get a biometric residence permit.

Children under the age of 5 will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to attend the UKVCAS service point and have a digital photograph taken.

Some services at UKVCAS service points have a fee. You do not need to use these services, such as document scanning, to complete your application and you should not pay for them in advance.

If you need to use of any of these services at a UKVCAS service point during your appointment, you will not need to pay a fee for them.

How long it takes

We will prioritise your application and aim to make a decision as quickly as possible.

You will be contacted when a decision has been made.

Contact UKVI

You can call the free 24/7 helpline on 0808 164 8810 if you are in the UK for help with any questions about the scheme.

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Last updated 30 March 2022