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 enabling people displaced from Ukraine to come to the UK if they had a UK-based sponsor.

Successful visa applications are granted for 18 months.

The sponsor is required 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).

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 must also 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 needing to secure  individual sponsorship arrangements. 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)

The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme allows people to continue living in the UK for up to 18 months. If this initial 18 month period is coming to an end, you may be able to apply for a further extension of 24 months under the UPE scheme. For both of these, you can apply 90 days before your current Ukraine Scheme permission expires.

Applying at any point within the 90 day window will not reduce the total permission granted. Any remaining valid permission will be added to your new grant.

Further information on the UPE scheme, as well as UPE scheme 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 have arrived in Scotland independently of the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, for instance with no visa or on a visitor visa. The Home Office is dealing with these individuals on a case-by-case basis. Those uncertain of their immigration status or right to public funds should be advised to seek legal advice.

The Scottish Government has funded The Scottish Refugee Council to provide free, independent advice for those fleeing the Ukraine conflict. Individuals can contact the Scottish Refugee Council directly for support.