The United Kingdom

The available options for people wishing to move from Ukraine to the UK have changed significantly since the original schemes (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme, and Ukraine Extension Scheme) were introduced in 2022.

• The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applicants on 19 February 2024, and the Ukraine Extension Scheme ended on 4 February 2025.
• The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme is the sole entry route for Ukrainians seeking to newly arrive in the UK. It remains open to Ukrainians who lived in Ukraine before 1 January 2022, and to their immediate family members, even if those family members hold another nationality. Sponsors must be British or Irish citizens or be settled in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Sponsors must be able to provide accommodation for at least six months.
• Applicants must submit an online application from outside the UK, with one application per individual. After applying, they must attend a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre, provide identity documents, and may upload or submit supporting materials. The scheme is free of charge, and applicants should be alert to fraudulent services charging fees.
• Once approved, applicants receive permission to travel and may come to the UK where they can live, work, study, and access public services. Sponsors and all adults in the household are subject to background and accommodation checks. Successful applicants receive up to 18 months’ permission to stay.
• The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme now provides the extension pathway for those already in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes. UPE applications must be made from within the UK and allow an initial 18‑month extension, followed later by a possible further 24‑month extension.

If you arrive in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, you are generally entitled to access key public services and support, including NHS healthcare, public funds, and other local authority assistance. This includes eligibility to apply for mainstream welfare benefits such as Universal Credit, subject to normal application procedures. Local authorities may offer additional support depending on your needs, as arrivals under Homes for Ukraine can access public services and integration assistance.

The UK Government operates a dedicated, free helpline for Ukrainians: 0808 164 8810.

Organisations such as the Refugee Council also provide support, guidance, and access to advice services for new arrivals.

If you are not eligible for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, then no alternative schemes exists for new arrivals. Your remaining options would be to apply for a standard UK visa through general immigration routes such as work, study, or family visas, each of which involves meeting normal immigration requirements.

As long as the person was resident in Ukraine before 1 January 2022 and has an eligible UK sponsor, they can apply to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, regardless of whether they currently hold EU Temporary Protection. Holding Temporary Protection does not restrict eligibility, though individuals should check whether long absences might affect their status in the EU country where their Temporary Protection was issued.

You cannot currently join family members in the UK. The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applicants on 19 February 2024. Instead, you may need to apply through the UK’s standard family migration routes, which require meeting financial criteria, English‑language rules, and providing more extensive documentation. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme does not serve as a family‑reunion route.

You can return to the UK at any point, provided your UK immigration permission (your eVisa) is still valid. Your eVisa has a natural expiry date, and you do not need to inform the Home Office when you leave the UK. When travelling back, you must ensure that your passport details in your UKVI account are up to date, as your eVisa is linked digitally to the passport you use for travel.

If you were living in the UK with a sponsor, you can go back into a sponsorship arrangement with them, provided they are willing to host you again. They should inform the local council so that they start receiving the ‘Thank you’ payments again. Alternatively, you can find accommodation on your own, for example, you can rent privately, or find a new sponsor to live with.

The UK Government have the following list of organisations that help to match Ukrainians with sponsors. You should then inform the local council where your new sponsor is based, so that they can perform the necessary background checks on the sponsor.

Ukrainian citizens can enter Ukraine with one of the following documents:

1. Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (International passport)
2. Diplomatic passport of Ukraine
3. Service passport of Ukraine
4. Seaman’s identity card
5. Crew member’s certificate

The internal passport (ID card) is not included in this list. Therefore, it cannot be used to return to Ukraine. Instead, it is necessary to issue either an international passport or a certificate for returning to Ukraine. The conditions and deadlines for the production of these documents vary.

A certificate for returning to Ukraine grants the right to enter Ukraine. This document is issued by diplomatic missions or consular institutions of Ukraine abroad. A certificate for returning to Ukraine is issued by a foreign diplomatic institution (embassy/consulate of Ukraine abroad) on the day of application. The production of this document is usually a paid service. Valid for 30 days.

You can contact the Ukraine authorities in the UK at:

Embassy of Ukraine in the UK: +44 (0) 20 7727 6312 and [email protected].

Consular Section in London: + 44 (0) 20 7243 8923, 44 (0) 207 727 35 67, [email protected]

Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh: +44 (0) 131 556 00 23, [email protected]

If you are not a Ukrainian citizen but you previously lived in Ukraine with a valid Ukrainian residence permit, you may generally return to Ukraine using that residence permit. If your residence permit has expired, you should contact the Ukraine authorities in the United Kingdom to check whether renewal or a replacement is required. (Ukraine cannot refuse entry to its citizens, but non‑Ukrainian nationals must meet entry and residence conditions).

Embassy of Ukraine in the UK: +44 (0) 20 7243 8923 and [email protected].

Consular Section in London: + 44 (0) 20 7243 8923, 44 (0) 207 727 35 67, [email protected]

Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh: +44 (0) 131 556 00 23, [email protected]

You should also check whether you need a visa to transit through other countries on your way to Ukraine.

If you have children and need to go back to Ukraine temporarily, it is possible to leave them with your sponsor for up to 28 days. However, sponsors, are not expected to take on the responsibility of caring for your children, so you should make sure that you discuss this with them and have their consent.

If for exceptional circumstances you need to leave your children with your sponsor for longer than 28 days, the Government Services site explains the steps you need to do before leaving them in the care of the sponsor:

• Agree how long the sponsor will be responsible for your children
• Get the consent of the sponsor to take on additional responsibility as a sponsor of a child under 18
• Tell the council and give them written consent. You should use this version of the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form
• Wait for the council to successfully complete any additional safeguarding checks required (including a sponsor suitability assessment)

These rules also apply if you go abroad for less than 4 weeks at a time, but on a regular basis.

While you are in Ukraine, you should stay in frequent contact with your sponsor and your child and keep them updated about any changes to your plans (for example if you need to be away for longer than you originally thought).

Children under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. A Power of Attorney issued by the Ukrainian authorities is needed if the accompanying adult if not a parent.

Children over the age of 16 who are travelling alone are vulnerable to some risks. To keep your child as safe as possible, it is strongly advisable that you arrange travel by air rather than another kind of transport – try to book flights and where possible within busier hours from 08:00 – 20:00. Each airline may set its own rules when it comes to allowing or not unaccompanied minors to travel on their own, including the documentation that parents must provide. Make sure that you have verified this information ahead of booking travel.

You should inform the school that you would like to deregister your child by sending a deregistration letter or email to school. Ask for an official document acknowledging your child’s educational achievement that will facilitate recognition of the qualifications in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

If your child was attending school in the UK, it is recommended to ask the school for an official document acknowledging your child’s studies and educational achievements, which will facilitate the recognition of your child’s education back in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

When planning your return to Ukraine, there are a few steps to consider regarding your financial and social insurance affairs in the UK:

Taxes

• You must tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you’re leaving the UK to live abroad permanently, so that you can settle any tax owed, or get a tax refund if HMRC owes you money. How to tell HMRC depends on whether you fill in a tax return or not, as well as on your employment status. You can find which way you should get in contact with HMRC. If you need help filling in forms or need information in another language, you can request additional support from HMRC here.

Bank account

• It is recommended you keep your UK bank account open for at least a few months in case you are owed any monies from any organisations, or need to make payments. You should also inform your bank of your updated address in Ukraine.

Social benefits

• If you were receiving any benefits, you should inform all the relevant benefits offices (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit) of your intended departure before you leave the country. You can find more information about this and their contact details in the above question: “How long can I stay outside the UK without losing my rights to social benefits?”.

Rental agreements

• If you were still living with a sponsor, your sponsor should inform the local council that you are going to be returning back permanently, so that they can stop the monthly ‘thank you’ payment. This needs to be done immediately you leave, not after 4 weeks.
• If you were renting, make sure that you have not left a tenancy agreement mid-way without any warning, as you are legally bound by its terms. You should also inform utility companies (water, electricity, gas, broadband etc) that you are leaving, and settle your bills, otherwise you may find yourself paying for the next tenant who moves in. You should also inform your local council, so you stop paying Council Tax.

Student loan

• If you have taken out a student loan, you should update the Student Loans company to let them know that you have returned back home. You can do this through the Government Services site.

Pension

• If you have money paid into a UK pension fund during your employment here, you may be able to request for the funds to be transferred to a pension provider in Ukraine. The pension provider should be a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). If it’s not a QROPS, your UK pension scheme may refuse to make the transfer, or you’ll have to pay at least 40% tax on the transfer. You can find more information at UK Government Services site.

If you are going to travel with your pet to Ukraine, you’ll need to get an export health certificate (EHC). This is an official document that confirms your export meets the health requirements of the destination country. To apply, you should:

• search for your animal or product
• download and read the EHC and guidance notes – these explain what you’ll need to do to export your consignment.
• make sure you contact the official vet (OV) or inspector who will certify your EHC before you submit any applications. An OV is someone who’s been authorised by APHA to perform statutory duties (work that is required by law). Use this guidance to find a professional to certify your export health certificate.

More information can be found Government Services page. If you need any help getting an EHC, you can contact the Animal and Plant Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade in Carlisle via email at [email protected] or telephone at: 03000 200 301.

Please visit Available services and support in Ukraine for information on services available in Ukraine.