If you're from Ukraine and your visa is ending

There are a number of ways to stay in the UK.

If you have a visa under one of the Ukraine schemes

You’ll be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK by 18 months under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme. You’ll be able to apply if you have one of the following:

• a visa under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme

• a visa under the ‘Ukraine Family’ scheme

• a visa under the ‘Ukraine Extension’ scheme

Your current visa must end in the next 28 days. If you apply before this, the government might reject your application - this means you'll need to apply again.

Your time in the UK on a visa under one of the Ukraine Schemes won’t count towards getting indefinite leave to remain.

You might also be able to stay in the UK by switching to a different visa - for example, a skilled worker visa or partner visa.

If you want to switch to a different visa, you'll first need to check if you're eligible for the visa. You'll also need to pay the visa fees when you apply. Check which visas you can apply for on GOV.UK.

If you have another type of visa

You should check if you can extend your current visa - this means your time in the UK might continue to count towards getting indefinite leave to remain.

If you can’t extend your visa, you should check if you can:

• switch to a work or study visa

• claim asylum - if there aren’t any other ways to stay in the UK

If you don’t have any documents you need for an application, explain why you don't have them when you apply. The Home Office should accept your application if there’s a good reason you don’t have the documents.

If your visa has already ended

You can:

• apply for a UPE scheme visa - if you had a Visa under one of the Ukraine schemes

• switch to a different visa

• apply to extend your current visa - you can't extend your Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme Visa as they are now closed to new applications

• claim asylum

If you apply after your visa runs out, you will lose your rights to work, rent and receive benefits. You'll get these rights back when the Home Office gives you the new visa.

You can check when your current visa ends on your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account on GOV.UK.

Apply to extend your current visa or switch to a different visa

If your visa expired in the last 14 days you can apply to extend your visa or apply for a different visa.

If it has been more than 14 days since your visa expired the Home Office might approve a visa application. You should get specialist advice on how this can affect your route to settlement.

You must explain why you’re applying after your visa has expired. The Home Office will only accept your application if you have a good reason.

You can’t extend your Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme Visa as they are now closed to new applications.

Claim asylum

You can claim asylum at any time - it doesn’t matter if your visa ended more than 14 days ago.

Applying for a Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme visa

It’s free to apply for a UPE scheme visa.

You must be in the  UK when you apply to the UPE scheme and while your application is being reviewed. You should get a decision within 8 weeks. 

You can use your expired biometric residence permit (BRP) for the application. If you use your BRP, you might not need to go to a visa application centre to have your photograph and fingerprints taken again.

You can apply for a UPE scheme visa if you have permission under another Ukraine Scheme. This includes if you got the visa as a partner, child or parent of a Ukrainian citizen.

If you get a UPE scheme visa, you can stay in the UK for 18 months.

You can work, study and claim benefits while you’re in the UK. Getting an extension scheme visa won't help give you a right to live in the UK permanently.

If you’re aged under 18

You can apply if you’re a Ukrainian citizen. You can also apply if at least 1 of your parents is a Ukrainian citizen and you got permission to be in the UK as their child.

If your parent is applying to the scheme, they can apply for you too. If they’re not applying, they need to give you written permission to apply.

If you don’t have written permission, you’re allowed to apply if there’s a good reason you can’t get permission - for example, if no one can find your parents.

Check how to apply to the UPE scheme

You can apply to the UPE scheme on GOV.UK.

Switching to a work or study visa

The government have made it easier for you to switch your visa if you’re a Ukrainian citizen and you either:

• were in the UK legally before 24 February 2022

• applied to enter the UK before 24 February 2022

You can usually switch to a work or study visa if you qualify for the visa and pay the fees - even if you would normally have to leave the UK to apply. This is called a ‘concession’.

You can now switch to a work or study visa from most types of visa, including:

• Visitor

• Temporary Worker

• Student or Short-term Student

• Parent of a Child Student

• Domestic Worker - any type

If your partner or child came to the UK as your dependant, they can also switch to a work or study visa.

Check how to apply

Important

You must ask the Home Office to apply the concession and explain why. Tell them you can’t go to Ukraine to apply for the visa because of the conflict.

You can ask for the concession on the application form or in a letter you send with the form.

If you don’t ask the Home Office to apply the concession they might refuse your application.

You can:

• check the types of work visa and how to apply on GOV.UK

• check the types of study visa and how to apply on GOV.UK

Claiming asylum

If you don’t have another way to stay in the UK, you can claim asylum. If you need to claim asylum, you can:

• talk to an adviser

• find out more about claiming asylum on GOV.UK