Ukraine Family Scheme

On this page ▾

• The three Ukraine schemes
• What the scheme was
• Who could qualify
• The UK-based sponsor
• Eligible family members
• Relationship rules
• What it granted
• Evidence
• No appeal or review
• The options now

The three Ukraine schemes

The Ukraine Family Scheme was one of three schemes under Appendix Ukraine Scheme. It helps to see where it sat. (dates from the v6.0 guidance — confirm the current position on GOV.UK.)

The schemes have been consolidated over time. From 19 February 2024, Ukrainians outside the UK who would have used the UFS were directed to Homes for Ukraine once they have an approved sponsor.

What the scheme was

Following the Home Secretary's statement to Parliament on 1 March 2022, the Ukraine Family Scheme was introduced (in the Immigration Rules from 30 March 2022) to allow Ukrainians — and non-Ukrainian nationals who form part of a qualifying family group — who were ordinarily resident in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022, and who had family members in the UK, to come to the UK. People already in the UK with permission (or whose permission had expired on/after 1 January 2022) could apply to stay.

It was free — no application fee and no Immigration Health Surcharge — and there was no tuberculosis (TB) test requirement.

Who could qualify

In summary, to be eligible an applicant had to:

• if coming to the UK, meet the entry requirements and have been ordinarily resident in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who had since left Ukraine) — unless a child born or adopted on or after that date;
• if applying to stay in the UK, be in the UK with permission (or have held permission immediately before 1 January 2022 which had since expired) — visitor permission granted after 18 March 2022 did not count;
• be an eligible family member of a UK-based sponsor; and
• be Ukrainian, or — if not Ukrainian — be part of a family group that includes an immediate family member of the sponsor who is a Ukrainian national who would qualify (for example, a Moldovan child of a Ukrainian national who is the partner of a British citizen).

The UK-based sponsor

The sponsor had to be resident in the UK (though not necessarily physically present on the date of application) and be one of the following:

• a British citizen;
• a person settled in the UK (including settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme);
• a person in the UK with limited permission as a refugee or with humanitarian protection;
• an EEA national with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (limited leave under Appendix EU on the basis of pre-31 December 2020 residence).

Eligible family members

The applicant had to be a family member of the sponsor in one of these relationships (and, if the applicant was not Ukrainian, at least one immediate family member had to be a Ukrainian national):

• Immediate family — partner; child under 18; a parent of the sponsor's child who is under 18; or fiancé(e)/proposed civil partner of the sponsor.
• Extended family — parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, adult child (18+), aunt or uncle, cousin, or niece or nephew of the sponsor (or of the sponsor's partner, where the definition allowed).
• Immediate family of an extended family member — the partner, a child under 18, a parent of that child, or the fiancé(e)/proposed civil partner of an extended family member.

Where an applicant did not meet a listed relationship, caseworkers had discretion to consider other family members where the relationship was evidenced and there were exceptional reasons — for example, where refusal would separate someone who had been living within the family group and had not formed an independent life.

How relationships were defined

The rules set out how each relationship was read. In particular:

• Partner — a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner in a durable relationship of at least 2 years. The relationship had to be genuine and subsisting, the couple must have met in person and intend to live together in the UK, and the relationship had to have existed on or before 1 January 2022.
• Parent — included a step-parent (even where both biological parents are alive), and adoptive parents where the adoption is recognised.
• Sibling / aunt or uncle / cousin / niece or nephew — defined to include biological, adopted and step relationships (with specific rules for in-law relationships).

The best evidence was an official certificate (e.g. marriage/civil partnership certificate, or a full birth/adoption certificate). Where documents were unavailable, caseworkers had discretion to take account of the circumstances — recognising that people fleeing conflict may not have been able to gather documents.

What the scheme granted

A successful applicant was normally granted permission for up to 3 years (36 months) under the Ukraine Scheme, on Code 1A conditions — meaning:

• work permitted;
• study permitted (subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, ATAS, where relevant);
• access to public funds, plus healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and English-language tuition.

Total leave across the Ukraine schemes was not to exceed 36 months. Grants were endorsed as Ukraine Scheme – Partner, Child, Parent, Dependent Relative, or Other (for exceptional grants outside the listed definitions).

Evidence

Applicants had to establish three things: identity and nationality, residence in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022, and their relationship to the UK-based sponsor (or to an eligible extended family member). The burden of proof was on the applicant, to the standard of the balance of probabilities.

A valid international passport was the best evidence of identity and nationality; where that was unavailable, alternatives included a recently expired passport, a Ukrainian national identity card, a UK biometric residence permit/card, an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022, or a combination of official documents (at least one with a facial image). Reflecting the conflict, the guidance applied evidential flexibility — caseworkers were told to be mindful that people fleeing danger may not have been able to gather documents.

No appeal or administrative review

There was no right of appeal and no administrative review against a refusal under the Ukraine Family Scheme. An applicant could instead reapply for free under the scheme (while it was open), or — if they had an approved sponsor and were outside the UK — apply to Homes for Ukraine, which has no limit on the number of applications.

The Ukraine schemes are not Article 8 / human-rights routes. Where someone did not qualify, the guidance allowed caseworkers to consider leave outside the rules on compelling and compassionate grounds.

The scheme is closed — what are the options now?

Because the Ukraine Family Scheme is closed to new applications, the practical question is usually which route applies to you today:

• Outside the UK, need to come now — the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme may apply once you have an approved UK sponsor (British/Irish or settled). Check the current rules on GOV.UK.
• Already in the UK on a Ukraine scheme — a further extension route for existing Ukraine-scheme holders may be available; the dates and eligibility change, so confirm the current position on GOV.UK.
• Non-Ukrainian family of a British or settled person — you may instead be able to apply under the family Immigration Rules (for example a partner, child or parent route).
• An application already submitted before 19 February 2024 — it continues to be decided under the Ukraine Family Scheme guidance summarised here.

The Ukraine routes and their deadlines have shifted more than once. If you are unsure which applies, it is worth confirming the current GOV.UK position and taking advice before you apply.

Related guidance