Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
On the 19 February 2024, Government announced a new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE).
The UPE provides a new route for Ukrainians who are here with permission under one of the existing Ukraine schemes to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK on expiry of their current visa. The period of extension will offer the same rights and entitlements to work, benefits, healthcare, and education that Ukrainians currently benefit from. Eligible Minors will be able to apply.
Applications will open from early 2025 and will be open to those holding or having held permission to remain under Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme, the Ukraine Family scheme, and the Ukraine Extension scheme. Individuals will be able to apply within the last three months of their existing visa.
The Government will provide more details on the UPE visa in due course and before the scheme opens. For any immediate query about eligibility for UPE, or any other visa related enquiry, please contact UKVI here: https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk
On 19 February 2024, the Home Office announced changes to the three existing Ukraine visa schemes. These came into effect on 19 February 2024:
- All new visa applications submitted under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme from 15:00 on the 19 February, if granted, now qualify for 18 months permission to stay in the UK instead of 36 months, with eligibility to apply for the UPE once their visas are close to expiring.
- To become a new Homes for Ukraine sponsor from 19 February 2024, the sponsor must be either a British or Irish citizen or be ‘settled in the UK’ (which means having the right to live in the UK permanently). They also need to be able to provide accommodation for a minimum of 6 months. Thank you payments are available to sponsors for the duration of a guest’s Homes for Ukraine visa permission – 36 months as before, or 18 months by the new rules.
- The Ukraine Family scheme is now closed to new applicants. The Ukraine Extension scheme is also closed.
UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system. This means physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) will be replaced with an online record of the immigration status. This is known as an eVisa.
You will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account.
Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK such as the right to work or rent in the UK.
If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024, you can now create a UKVI account and access your eVisa. You should do this before the expiry date of your BRP. If you do not already have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, you will be asked to:
- create a UKVI account and link eVisa to your account
- confirm your identity using the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app available for Android and iPhone. You can use someone else’s phone if you need to.
You will get an email when you can access your eVisa in your account.
Learn more and start here: Get access to your eVisa: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
