Understanding the Ukraine Family Scheme: Joining Family in the UK
Disclaimer: information on this page might be outdated on the date of your visit as immigration rules and policies change constantly; please do not rely on the contents of this page as immigration advice. We strongly advise you to book a consultation meeting to discuss your specific case and the laws and policies that apply to your situation on the date of your enquiry.
Application Process
Individual Applications
Each person, including children, must submit a separate application to join a family member in the UK.
Cost
There is no fee for applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
The Ukraine Extension Scheme is available until 16 May 2024.
Joining or Accompanying Family
Be applying to join or accompany a family member based in the UK.
Nationality
Be a Ukrainian national or the family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to join a UK-based immediate family member.
Residence Requirement
Have been living in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022. This applies even if you have since left Ukraine.
Already in the UK
You can still apply if you’ve already arrived in the UK and meet the above requirements.
The Ukraine Extension Scheme
In addition to the Family Scheme, the Ukraine Extension Scheme is available for:
Eligibility
Ukrainian nationals or immediate family members of a Ukrainian national applying to the scheme.
Previous UK Permission
Those who held permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023, or whose permission expired on or after 1 January 2022.
Security Checks and Benefits
Security Checks
All applications will undergo necessary security checks.
Rights in the UK
Successful applicants will have the right to live, work, and study in the UK and access public funds.
FAQs
Your UK-based family member must be a British national, someone with indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or proof of permanent residence, a national from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland with pre-settled status who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, or someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
Applicants can be immediate family members, extended family members, or the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, child, parent, fiancé(e), or proposed civil partner of an extended family member.
Yes, a copy of an official document like a marriage or birth certificate is usually required. However, if you can't provide these documents, you should explain why in your application.
Immediate family members include a spouse or civil partner, an unmarried partner (with at least 2 years of cohabitation), a child under 18, a parent (if the applicant is under 18), and a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner.
Extended family members include a parent (if the applicant is over 18), an adult child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, and various in-laws.
Yes, the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022. Other family members may be considered under exceptional circumstances.
If your family member in the UK is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status, you might be eligible for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit. You must be outside the UK to apply for this permit.
No, please do not apply to both as it may cause a delay in getting your decision.
Regardless of your initial application, if you’re eligible, you’ll be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you’re in the UK.
You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.
No, there are no application fees to apply. This includes exemption from the immigration health surcharge and biometric enrolment fee.
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