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

Arrival pathways for people travelling from Ukraine

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

The UK Government introduced the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme on 18 March 2022 that allowed people displaced from Ukraine to come to the UK where they had a UK-based sponsor.

Successful visa applications are granted for 18 months.

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 the UK Government guidance: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine).

From 31 January 2025, parents and legal guardians can sponsor their children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. If you are a parent or legal guardian applying to sponsor your child, you must hold permission under any of the Ukraine Schemes (or Leave Outside the Rules granted due to the conflict in Ukraine before the Ukraine Schemes were introduced). You also must be able to provide evidence of your relationship with the child. More information on this route can be found on the UK Government website.

The Scottish Government took the decision to act as ‘Super Sponsor’ in its own right from 18 March 2022. This allowed applicants to select the Scottish Government as their sponsor, receive a visa and travel immediately without the need for individual sponsorship arrangements to be found. This visa route was paused on 13 July 2022. Those who have been granted super sponsor visas may still come to the UK until the expiry date of their visa.

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE)

On 4 February 2025, the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme opened for applicants who have 28 days or less remaining of their visa under the existing Ukraine schemes. The UPE scheme grants displaced people from Ukraine a further 18 months to continue living in the UK.

Further information on the UPE scheme, as well as guidance for councils, can be found on the UK Government website.

Other arrival pathways from Ukraine

Adults and children fleeing the conflict in Ukraine may also have arrived in Scotland independently of the Homes for 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 seek legal advice.

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