To apply, you must have valid immigration status, unless your previous visa expired after January 1, 2022. The application process is guided by the criteria outlined in Appendix Ukraine of the Immigration Rules. Upon approval, you will have the right to live, work, study in the UK, and access public funds.
Eligibility for the Ukraine Family Scheme
A Ukrainian national can qualify under this scheme if they are a family member of a UK-based sponsor who is a British citizen, a person with settled status, a refugee, a person with humanitarian protection, or an EEA/Swiss citizen with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (based on residence before the transition period ended).
Family members eligible under this scheme include immediate family members (such as a partner, child under 18, parent of a child under 18, fiancé(e), or proposed civil partner) and extended family members (like a parent, grandparent, grandchild, adult child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or cousin) of the UK-based sponsor or their partner. Immediate family members of extended family members of the UK-based sponsor are also eligible.
Even if a family member is not a Ukrainian national, they may still qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme, provided that at least one immediate family member of the UK-based sponsor is Ukrainian.
Free Immigration Advice for the Ukraine Family Scheme Visa
Our team of immigration solicitors offers free, one-time online advice regarding your application to switch to the Ukraine Family Scheme visa in the UK. You can ask a question online to receive expert advice, or you can book an appointment for a comprehensive consultation with one of our immigration solicitors about your application.
Requirements for Switching to the Ukraine Family Scheme Visa in the UK
To apply for switching to the Ukraine Family Scheme visa under Appendix Ukraine of the Immigration Rules, you must meet the following criteria:
Valid Application
You must submit a valid application from within the UK in accordance with the rules set out in Appendix Ukraine.
Suitability Requirements
Your application must not be refused under any of the following grounds from Part 9: Grounds for Refusal:
Exclusion or deportation orders.
Non-conducive reasons.
Criminality.
Exclusion from asylum or humanitarian protection.
Involvement in sham marriage or civil partnership.
False representations and deception.
Admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries.
Other specific refusal grounds related to arrival, cancellation, and other immigration rules.
Residence Requirement
You must be in the UK and either have valid permission or have had permission immediately before January 1, 2022, which has since expired (visitor visas granted after March 18, 2022, do not count for this requirement).
Relationship Requirement
You must be a family member of a UK-based sponsor who is:
A British citizen,
A person settled in the UK,
A person in the UK with limited permission as a refugee or person granted humanitarian protection,
An EEA national with pre-settled status based on residence before December 31, 2020.
Eligible relationships include:
Immediate family members such as a partner, child under 18, parent of a child under 18, or fiancé(e)/proposed civil partner.
Extended family members like a parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, adult child, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, or nephew.
Immediate family members of extended family members.
If applying as a partner, fiancé(e), or proposed civil partner, you must have been in a genuine and subsisting relationship with the UK-based sponsor or extended family member before January 1, 2022. Partners must also meet the requirements set out in Appendix Relationship with Partner.
Sponsor Suitability Requirement
If the applicant is a child, the UK-based sponsor must not have previously failed to meet the requirements for approval as a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, as per the relevant guidance for councils.
Nationality Requirements for the Ukraine Family Scheme Visa
To be eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme Visa, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
They must be a Ukrainian national.
They must be part of a family group that includes a Ukrainian national who is an immediate family member of a UK-based sponsor and would qualify for the scheme, even if the Ukrainian national is not applying at the same time.
Parental Consent Requirements for Children Applying Under the Ukraine Family Scheme
If the applicant is under 18 and is either not traveling with or joining a parent in the UK, they must provide written consent from:
Both parents;
One parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the child;
The child's legal guardian.
This consent must cover:
Support for the application;
Arrangements for the child's living and care in the UK;
If applying for entry clearance, confirmation of the child's travel and reception arrangements in the UK.
If the decision-maker deems it reasonable under the circumstances, they may grant entry or permission without this consent.
Duration and Conditions of the Ukraine Family Scheme Visa
The visa will be granted for the shorter period of:
36 months; or
A total period ensuring that the applicant does not exceed 36 months under the Ukraine Family Scheme.
Conditions of the visa include:
Access to public funds is allowed;
Work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted;
Study is allowed, subject to the ATAS condition outlined in Appendix ATAS.
