People arriving from Ukraine - risk and need: public protection guidance

Arrival pathways for people travelling from Ukraine

Ukraine Family Visa Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applicants on Monday 19 February 2024. If a displaced person wishes to join a settled family member in the UK, they can apply for a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

The UK Government introduced a new visa scheme, called the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (sometimes referred to as ‘Homes for Ukraine or Individual Matching’) on 18 March 2022. For applications submitted after 15:00 on 19 February 2024, the sponsor will need to be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK (for more information on sponsor eligibility, please see here: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine). Ukrainians may still apply to the UK Government for a visa sponsored individually by an eligible UK-based sponsor, including sponsors within Scotland. 

The Scottish Government took the decision to also act as ‘Super Sponsor’ in its own right, so that applicants could select the Scottish Government as their sponsor, receive a visa and travel immediately without the need for individual sponsorship arrangements to be found first.  The option to be sponsored by the Scottish Government was available from 18 March 2022, but it should be noted that this visa route was paused on 13 July 2022.

Other arrival pathways from Ukraine

Adults and children fleeing the conflict in Ukraine may also have arrived in Scotland independently of the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, for instance  with no visa or on a holiday visa. The Home Office is dealing with these individuals on a case-by-case basis and as such, those uncertain of their immigration status or right to public funds should be advised to secure legal advice. . It should be noted that the Ukraine Extension Scheme will close on 16 May 2024. It will remain open only for children born in the UK. Further information can be found here: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals.

The Scottish Government has funded Ukraine Advice Scotland to provide free, independent advice for those fleeing the Ukraine conflict and individuals can refer direct.