Ukraine Sponsorship Schemes

The Homes for Ukraine (HfU) scheme allows individual sponsors in the UK — whether individuals, families, businesses, charities, or community organisations — to host Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who are fleeing the war. There is no requirement for the Ukrainian guest to have a pre-existing connection to the sponsor.

Sponsors must provide free accommodation for a minimum of six months. The accommodation must meet minimum standards set by the local council, which is responsible for checking the suitability of sponsor accommodation before the visa is granted. Sponsors receive a monthly thank you payment of £350 per month from the government (paid through the local council) for the first twelve months, falling to £500 per month thereafter for extended sponsors.

To apply under HfU, the Ukrainian guest must have a named UK sponsor and use that sponsor's details in their visa application. The sponsor submits an expression of interest to the council and must pass a DBS (criminal record) check. Both the sponsor and guest complete online applications on GOV.UK. Visas are granted for three years in the first instance.

Children arriving under HfU without an accompanying parent require enhanced safeguarding checks on the sponsor. Sponsors of unaccompanied children must be approved through a more detailed council process before the visa is granted. Local authorities and UNHCR have published guidance on safeguarding arrangements for unaccompanied child refugees.

The Ukraine Family Scheme is for close family members of British citizens, persons settled in the UK (with indefinite leave to remain or EU settled status), and those with limited leave in certain categories who have a Ukrainian national family member they wish to bring to the UK. Unlike HfU, there is no requirement for an independent sponsor — the UK-based family member sponsors the application.

Eligible family relationships include:

• Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (of at least two years)
• Child under 18
• Parent, grandparent, or sibling in specific circumstances
• Extended family members in some cases, subject to discretion

Applications are made online and visas are typically processed quickly — the government has committed to expedited processing for Ukraine scheme applications. There is no application fee for Ukraine scheme visas. As with HfU, leave is granted for three years.

It is also possible for Ukrainian nationals who arrived under the Ukraine Family Scheme to subsequently switch their accommodation sponsor if the family arrangement breaks down, in some cases converting to the HfU route — though the rules on switching between scheme variants are complex and changed over time. Seek advice from a registered immigration adviser if you need to change arrangements.

Both Ukraine scheme routes grant leave with a full range of rights. Those on Ukraine scheme leave have:

• Right to work in any sector and at any skill level, without restriction. They can be employed, self-employed, or run their own business.
• Right to study at any UK educational institution. Children must be enrolled in school; adults can access further and higher education.
• Access to public funds — including Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, and the NHS — from the outset of their leave. This differs from most immigration routes where recourse to public funds is prohibited or restricted.
• NHS healthcare free at the point of use, including primary care (GP), hospital services, and prescriptions subject to standard charges.

Employment rights are the same as for any other worker in the UK — National Minimum Wage, protection against unfair dismissal (after qualifying service), maternity and paternity rights, and so on. Those starting work should provide their employer with their visa documentation and BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) as evidence of right to work. The employer can verify right to work using the Home Office online checking service.

Ukrainian children are entitled to a school place on the same basis as British children. Local councils have a duty to provide school places. Some councils have set up dedicated welcome hubs or education support services for Ukrainian pupils, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) teaching.

The UK government has confirmed that those on Ukraine scheme leave (both HfU and Family Scheme) will be able to extend their leave and remain in the UK beyond the initial three-year period if the conflict in Ukraine continues. Extension applications must typically be submitted before the existing leave expires. Guidance on the extension process and any new conditions is published by the Home Office as arrangements are confirmed.

Those who have lived lawfully in the UK for five continuous years may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) — settlement — if they meet the long residence requirements. Ukraine scheme leave counts towards the five-year qualifying period. To qualify for ILR on long residence grounds, you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in the five-year period, and must pass the Life in the UK test and an English language requirement.

For those who have been in the UK for ten continuous years lawfully, there is also a ten-year long residence route to ILR, which may be relevant for some Ukraine scheme holders who arrived early in 2022 and have lived continuously in the UK since.

Sponsors and guests who have concerns about the ongoing sponsorship arrangement — whether due to accommodation issues, relationship difficulties, or a guest needing to move — should contact their local council's Ukraine support team. Councils have a duty to rehouse guests who can no longer stay with their sponsor, though the housing pressures in many areas mean this process can take time.