In response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian armed forces in February 2022, which saw millions fleeing the country, the UK had introduced immigration options to Ukrainian nationals seeking safety in the UK. These options include the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
The Ukraine Family Scheme allowed eligible Ukrainian nationals to join family members in the UK. The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allowed Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they are being sponsored by a UK household. The Ukraine Extension Scheme has been open to Ukrainian nationals and their family members who had permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023, and those who previously had permission to be in the UK which expired on or after 01 January 2022. The Ukraine Extension Scheme will be closed on 16 May 2024.
The government has recently announced various changes to the above schemes which are outlined below.
The Ukraine Family Scheme is closed
The government has closed the Ukraine Family Scheme to new applicants as of 19 February 2024. Ukrainian nationals who wish to come to the UK can no longer utilise this route to apply. However, even though the scheme has closed, Ukrainian nationals who already have permission to enter or stay under this scheme will continue to have this permission.
Changes to the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
The period of permission granted under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was 3 years. This has been reduced and is now 18 months. The government has stated that the new 18 months permission granted under this scheme “will still provide assurance of a period of sanctuary in the UK and is more closely aligned with the period granted in the EU under the EU Temporary Protection Directive”.
In addition, previously anyone who had at least six months of leave could act as a sponsor under this scheme. This requirement has changed so that sponsors now have to be British, Irish or settled in the UK. This change will exclude many from acting as sponsors including people with a Ukraine Scheme visa. The implication of this change means that despite having adequate accommodation available, people on Ukraine scheme visas cannot be sponsors for family members. It is a given that the tightened criteria will make it difficult for some to find a sponsor that is British, Irish or settled in the UK.
Changes to Ukraine Extension Scheme
A positive change has been made to the Ukraine Extension Scheme, particularly for children who are born in the UK to parents with permission under one of the Ukraine Schemes. The Ukraine Extension Scheme will remain open to such children beyond 16 May 2024.
New Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
The government has also announced a new visa extension scheme and has confirmed that people with leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes will be able to apply for a further 18 months of leave. This renewal route is said to open early next year and will grant leave under the same terms and conditions. Applicants will be able to apply three months before their existing visa is due to expire.
For more information on the above changes, please refer to our Ukraine FAQs here.
Settlement in the UK
Eligible applicants under the above schemes were initially granted permission for a period of 36 months (3 years). As mentioned above under the new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, individuals will be able to apply to extend their initial grant of leave for a further 18 months. This is a total of 4 years and 6 months of leave in the UK. Policy makers are aware of the requirement for 5 years of legal and continuous residence in the UK in order to be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK, under most immigration routes. As the total period of permission Ukrainian nationals can have in the UK falls short of a 5-year period, Ukrainian nationals will not meet the 5-year residence requirement to be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK. The new extension scheme therefore still does not provide any certainty and questions still remain on their ability to settle or stay in the UK long term.
further information
For more information, please see our FAQs on the Ukraine Schemes. If you are affected by any of the changes/comments discussed in this blog and require advice please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the immigration team.
about the authors
Nardos is an immigration advisor (global lead) within the corporate immigration team at Kingsley Napley, having joined in August 2017. She mainly assists corporate clients with sponsor licences, Tier 2, naturalisation and EEA applications, as well as private clients on Appendix FM cases.
Ilda is a partner in the immigration team at Kingsley Napley. She is a South African qualified attorney and a British qualified solicitor who joined the firm in January 2010. Ilda has more than ten years of UK corporate immigration law experience, managing large company clients as well as handling complex matters for individuals, British nationality applications, appeals, judicial reviews and applications under European Law.
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