What are the eligibility criteria for obtaining a visa issued in the United Kingdom and what documents should be submitted with the application?
Visa-free regime
Please note that the United Kingdom is not a member of the Schengen Agreement, so Ukrainians need to obtain a visa to visit the country (unless you are applying for refugee status/person with humanitarian protection).
Visa regime
Categories of visas created to support Ukrainians:
Ukraine Family Scheme
Issued for family reunification or to extend a period of stay in the UK.
Eligibility criteria – if you:
o have a relative in the UK (mother, father, husband, wife, civil partner, etc.);
o were residing in Ukraine as of 1 January 2022 or immediately before that date;
o are a relative of a Ukrainian citizen or the closest relative of a Ukrainian citizen applying under this programme.
Please follow this link to see the full list of persons who fall under the concept of "relative" and the requirements for such persons.
The list is exhaustive, but in exceptional circumstances, an application may be considered for other relatives.
You can submit your application and documents online by following this link.
Documents:
o passport of a citizen of Ukraine (to create an account on the application website);
o foreign passport;
o confirming documents of family relations (the type will be specified when submitting the application).
If you do not have documents of family relations, please indicate this in the application and provide the reasons for the absence.
After creating an account on the website, you will be notified of the opportunity to download the application "UK Immigration: ID check".
The app greatly simplifies the application process, as you can use it to submit documents to identify yourself (for example, make scanned copies of your passport).
If you do not use the application, you have to visit the nearest visa application centre to provide biometric data.
The application is submitted separately for each family member.
There is no application fee.
You can follow these links – link and link to view instructions on how to complete the application for this visa category.
If you have an expired passport, you will not be able to use the application "UK Immigration: ID check".
In this case, you have to provide (i) your biometric data within 6 months of arrival in the United Kingdom, and (ii) scanned copies of your expired passport when filling out the application.
Persons who do not have a passport (including children) have to make an appointment at the nearest visa application centre.
For example, you can apply to the visa centre in Kyiv to provide biometric data.
Address: Sigma Business Centre, Vatslava Gavela boulevard 6, build.3, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03124
Website: https://pos.tlscontact.com/kbp_en/home
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 15:00
Contacts of visa centres in other countries: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre
Once your application is complete, wait for a letter from the UK Visas and Immigration regarding the issuance of your visa.
If you had to visit a visa application centre to submit your application, you will be able to collect your visa at the visa application centre and receive further travel instructions if your application is successful.
If you did NOT visit a visa application centre, you will receive an official letter confirming that you are allowed to enter the United Kingdom if your application is successful. This letter officially allows you to enter the United Kingdom (similar to a visa).
Once you arrive in the UK, you will receive a biometric residence permit (BRP) (if you did not use the application because you had an expired passport, you will only receive it after your biometric verification expires within 6 months of your arrival in the country).
You can collect your residence permit at the post office chosen when submitting your application approximately 10 days after you receive the decision on your application.
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is an official document that confirms the legality of your stay in the United Kingdom.
It is valid for up to 3 years.
Opportunities: the right to reside, work, education and medical care.
Visa under the Ukrainian sponsorship scheme "Homes for Ukraine"
A visa issued to Ukrainians who have a sponsor in the United Kingdom.
A sponsor is defined as:
o a person who is able to provide accommodation for at least 6 months;
o the Government of Scotland;
o the Government of Wales.
Eligibility criteria – if you:
o are a citizen of Ukraine; or
o are an immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen (the list can be found here);
o were resident in Ukraine as of 1 January 2022; or were ordinarily resident in Ukraine before 1 January 2022 (including those who have already left the territory of Ukraine); or were born on or after 1 January 2022;
o are outside the United Kingdom;
o have a sponsor in the United Kingdom.
You can submit your application and documents online by following this link.
There is no application fee.
Documents:
o passport of a citizen of Ukraine (to create an account on the website);
o foreign passport;
o supporting documents for the sponsor (British or Irish passport, driving licence issued in the United Kingdom, etc).
After creating an account on the website, you will be notified of the opportunity to download the application "UK Immigration: ID check".
If you do not use the application, you have to visit the nearest visa application centre to provide biometric data.
If you have an expired passport, you will not be able to use the "UK Immigration: ID check" application.
In this case, you have to provide your biometric data within 6 months of your arrival in the UK and scanned copies of your expired passport must be provided when completing the application.
Persons who do not have a passport have to make an appointment at a visa application centre.
Children have to:
o apply with a parent or guardian; or
o o apply to join a parent or legal guardian if they are in the UK; or
o o apply to enter the United Kingdom or to join an approved sponsor with the consent of your parent or legal guardian.
Once your application is complete, you should expect to receive a letter from the UK Visas and Immigration Service confirming your visa.
If you had to visit a visa application centre to submit your application, you will be able to collect your visa at the visa application centre and receive further travel instructions if you are successful.
If you did NOT visit a visa application centre, you will receive an official letter confirming your permission to enter the UK if your application is successful.
This letter officially allows you to enter the United Kingdom (analogous to a visa).
Once you arrive in the UK, you will receive a biometric residence permit (if you did not use the app because your passport has expired, you will only receive it after your biometric verification expires within 6 months of your arrival in the country).
You can collect the residence permit at the post office chosen when submitting your application approximately 10 days after you receive the decision on your application.
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is an official document that confirms the legality of your stay in the United Kingdom.
It is valid for up to 3 years.
Opportunities: the right to reside, housing (provided by a sponsor), education, medical care, employment, social benefits.
Extension of visas under the Ukraine Extension Scheme
The scheme provides an opportunity to extend the validity of any visa for Ukrainians by issuing/extending the validity of a biometric residence permit.
Criteria – if you are:
o a citizen of Ukraine; or
o a relative of a citizen of Ukraine;
o have been granted leave to remain in the UK between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 (not necessarily for the whole period);
o previously had permission to stay in the United Kingdom, but this permission expired on or after 1 January 2022;
o are currently residing in the United Kingdom.
You can submit your application and documents online by following this link.
The deadline for submission is 16 May 2024.
Documents:
o permission to stay in the United Kingdom (biometric residence permit, visa in passport, or a document confirming permission to enter and reside in the country);
o for relatives of a Ukrainian citizen - a document confirming family relations.
After submitting the application, you have to make an appointment at the nearest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) office, where you will be asked to provide biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) required for the issuance of a biometric residence permit (extension of its validity).
There is no fee for submitting the application.
The validity period is up to 3 years.
Opportunities: right to residence, housing, employment, education, access to medical care, social benefits.
Other categories of visas
If you are NOT applying for a visa under any special scheme to help Ukrainians, you can apply for other (standard) visa categories, such as a visitor, student, family visa.
Eligibility criteria: depending on the visa category, you have to fulfil the visa requirements and submit the application and necessary documents online.
For example, a visitor visa is issued for the purposes of:
o tourism;
o visiting family, friends or relatives;
o volunteering (up to 30 days);
o transit travel;
o business meetings;
o participation in a school exchange programme;
o attending courses for up to 30 days (e.g. dancing);
o scientific research;
o medical treatment, etc.
Documents (with a notarised translation into English):
o foreign passport; and
o o additional documents (if the purpose of the visit is study, research or medical treatment).
The term is 6 months, with the possibility of extension for 2, 5, or even 10 years.
Opportunities - the right to stay in the United Kingdom for a 6-month period (with the possibility of extension).
You have to submit an online visa application 3 months before your planned visit to the UK.
Additionally, when applying, you have to book a visit to the visa application centre to provide an identity document (passport or international passport), additional documents (if necessary), and biometric data.
Application processing time is up to 3 weeks.
Please note that a fee is charged for obtaining a visa (depending on its category).
For example, a 6-month visitor visa costs £115.
You will be notified by email of the outcome of your application and the next steps to obtain your visa.
Follow this link to read the detailed visa application procedure and submit your online application.
You can also complete a questionnaire via the link, which will help you identify other visa categories depending on the purpose of your visit to the UK and provide a link to the visa application form.
Refugee status / person under humanitarian protection
Refugee status
Eligibility criteria – if you are persecuted on the basis of:
o race;
o nationality;
o political or religious beliefs; and/or
o membership in a particular social group.
You can apply for asylum after entering the country, at an airport or border crossing point.
Firstly, you have to apply for asylum to the Border Guard, who will register your application and conduct an interview to determine the reasons for your asylum application - the "screening".
After the screening, you may be placed in an Immigration Centre and the Home Office (Home Office) will send you an Application registration card (ARC) while your application is being processed.
Once issued, the ARC is a document confirming your status, right to work, medical or educational services.
Documents (if any):
o passport;
o travel documents;
o birth certificate;
o marriage certificate;
o academic certificates; and
o any other evidence supporting your application.
The processing time is up to 6 months.
Grounds for refusal of asylum - if you:
o are a citizen of an EU country;
o travelled through a "safe third country"; or
o have a connection with a safe third country.
A safe third country is a country in which you:
o are not a national of that country;
o would not be subjected to persecution; and
o would not be expelled to another country where you would be persecuted.
Family members have to apply for asylum separately.
If they are in the UK with you, you can include them in your application as 'dependants'.
In this case, they will have the right to stay in the country for the same period of time.
As soon as your application is processed, the Home Office will contact you and, if the decision is positive, will issue a biometric residence permit (BRP), which is an official document certifying your status and rights.
The validity period is 5 years (with the possibility of extension if there are circumstances to preserve your refugee status).
Opportunities: the right to reside, work, education, medical care, social guarantees, housing, citizenship (after 5 years of residence in the country and 1 year after obtaining an indefinite residence permit (ILR)).
Humanitarian protection
When examining an asylum application, the Home Office may conclude that you do not meet the eligibility criteria for this status, but there is a real risk of serious harm that would prevent you from returning to your country of arrival.
The criteria are if:
o you are in the UK or have arrived at a UK point of entry;
o you do not meet the criteria for refugee status;
o there are substantial grounds for believing that if you were to return to your country of arrival, you would face a real risk of serious harm and would be unable or, as a result of that risk, unwilling to avail yourself of the protection of that country.
Serious harm includes the death penalty or execution, unlawful killing, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and "serious and individual threat to the life of a civilian as a result of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict".
Documents (if any):
o passport;
o travel documents;
o birth certificate;
o marriage certificate;
o academic certificates; and
o any other evidence supporting your application.
The application will be processed within 6 months.
If you meet the criteria for humanitarian protection, the Home Office will issue a residence permit for the purpose of humanitarian protection.
The document officially confirms your status and rights.
The validity period is 5 years (with the possibility of extension if there are circumstances to maintain the status).
Opportunities: the right to reside, work, education, medical care, social guarantees, housing, citizenship (after 5 years of residence in the country and 1 year after obtaining an indefinite residence permit (ILR)).
If you have refugee/humanitarian protection status, you may be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK after 5 years of residence.
In this case, you have to submit an online application during the last month of your 5-year period of residence.
You can learn more about the application procedure and submit your application via the link.
Important!
The procedure for obtaining refugee status or humanitarian protection is complicated and lengthy, and the presence of such status leads to restrictions on the choice of place of residence, housing and employment.
