Scotland for Ukrainians: a guide for displaced people

Getting to Scotland: visas and travel

You must have a valid visa to enter the UK. Scotland is part of the UK. It is free to apply for a visa.

The Scottish Government’s super sponsor scheme - which acts within the Homes for Ukraine scheme - continues to be paused for new applications. This is to ensure we can provide support and sanctuary to displaced people who are in Scotland already or will shortly be arriving.

You can apply for the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine).

As of 19 February 2024, if you are a Ukrainian national (or immediate family member of a Ukrainian national) and wish to come to the UK, you must have a sponsor who meets the UK Government’s eligibility criteria. You can apply for a visa for a period of 18 months under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme.

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 can be found on the UK Government website.

The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applications on 19 February 2024.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme closed to all applications on 4 February 2025.  

The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) opened on 4 February 2025. To apply, you must have already been granted permission to stay in the UK under one of the other Ukraine Schemes (or have been granted permission to stay in the UK in certain circumstances); be in the UK when making an application; and have been living in the UK since you were granted, or arrived in the UK, with permission under the Ukraine Schemes. 

You can only apply for the UPE scheme when your current visa has 28 days, or fewer, remaining until expiry. If you apply after your current permission expires, even if your application for UPE is successful later, you will have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This means you will lose your current entitlements to work, rent and receive benefits. These entitlements may be reinstated if you later receive a positive response to your UPE application.   

You can find out when your current permission ends by accessing your eVisa on your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

Further guidance on the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme can be found on the UK government site.

After you apply for your visa

You will need to wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on your application before travelling to the UK. If you have chosen the Scottish Government as your sponsor, the UK Government will tell the Scottish Government if they approve your visa application. 

Further information relating to eligibility, the application process, and travelling to the UK can be found on the UK government site.

If you need help with your visa

The UK Visas and Immigration team can be contacted online – their online contact tool will help to ensure that you contact the right UKVI team to support you, or will signpost you to online guides and services.

You can also call the UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre on +44 (0)300 790 6268. The English-language helpline is open from Monday to Friday, 24 hours a day, except for UK bank holidays. If you cannot contact UK 0300 numbers, use +44 (0)203 875 4669.

Visa and immigration advice 

Ukraine Advice Scotland

Scottish Refugee Council provides free, confidential legal advice and information to people seeking protection including Ukrainians and their families on legal routes for seeking safety in Scotland.

Advice services operate in English, but can provide legal advice in other languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

You can contact Scottish Refugee Council by calling 0808 1967 274 on:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 09:00 and 17:00 (UK time)
• Wednesday between 13:00 and 17:00 (UK time)

Alternatively, you can contact Scottish Refugee Council by emailing refugeesupport@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk

Travelling to Scotland

You should not arrange travel to Scotland until you have a valid visa issued by UK Visas and Immigration.

Flights to Scotland

Many countries around Ukraine have direct flights to Scotland. Check airline operator websites for information and to book tickets. 

Trains to Scotland

You may be entitled to free train travel. More information about eligibility is available for the following countries:

• UK – visit National Rail or call +44 3457 225 333
• Germany – visit Deutsche Bahn website or call +49 30 311682904
• France – visit SNCF website or call +33 1 84 94 3635

Travelling with pets

You can bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK without it going into quarantine or isolation if it has:

• been vaccinated against rabies and had a blood test 30 days later to confirm the vaccine worked, and waited 3 months after the blood test to travel to the UK
• been microchipped
• a pet passport or health certificate issued before you left Ukraine
• had tapeworm treatment

You will need a licence to bring your pet to the UK if your pet:

• does not meet all these requirements
• meets these requirements, but you do not have proof that it does
• has been issued with an EU pet passport since leaving Ukraine

You can find out more information on bringing your pet to the UK from Ukraine.

Not all temporary welcome accommodation allow pets. Staff in Welcome Hubs will take pets into account as far as possible when allocating you to temporary welcome accommodation. However, if they are unable to allocate you welcome accommodation that permit pets, it will be your responsibility to arrange for the care and shelter of your animals.

Help while travelling internationally

Whilst travelling, if you have any concerns, contact your nearest UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office:

• Hungary
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• any other country

Also, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has set up hotlines for people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

• Ukraine: 527 (free from mobile phones), 0800 505 501 (free from landline phones)
• Poland: +48 22 490 20 44
• Lithuania: +370 525 14352
• Slovakia: from abroad 00421 5263 0023, locally 0850 211 478, Telegram/Signal: 00421 908 767 853
• Moldova: Bureau of Migration and Asylum (BMA): 080001527 (free from Moldova) and +37322820007 (from abroad); La Strada Anti-trafficking and Safe Migration: 080077777 (free from Moldova) and +37322233309 (from abroad)

Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and consulates

• Головна | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (mfa.gov.ua)

• in case of emergency phone: +38 (044) 238 16 57

Ukraine representation in other countries

• Ukrainian Embassy in Poland – phone: +48-226-21-39-79
• Ukrainian Embassy in Romania – phone: +40-212-30-36-60
• Ukrainian Embassy in Lithuania – phone: (+370) 6 555 01 94
• Ukrainian Embassy in London, United Kingdom – phone: (+44) 20 7727 6312
• Ukrainian Consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland  – phone: (+44) 131 556 0023 or in cases of emergency or life-threatening situations (+44) 790 905 6906. Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh is also available on Facebook.

When you arrive

If you arrive in England or Wales, you may be entitled to free train travel to Scotland by showing your Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass dated within the previous 48 hours.

When you arrive in Scotland, some travel operators are currently offering free onward travel if you need it. Show your Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass dated within the previous 48 hours.

• Stagecoach

National Rail has published information in Ukrainian on free train travel for the first 48 hours after arrival.

If you qualify, you may be able to apply for free or discounted travel in Scotland. Transport Scotland is the government agency which runs these travel schemes. You can find more information on how to apply at Transport Scotland.