Ukrainians in the UK: status, extension and documents
This page explains the most important thing: how to stay in the UK legally in plain English. How to extend your permission for free (the UPE scheme), what to do about your passport, what documents you need for travel, what happens next and how to return to the scheme if you left it. Everyday questions – work, doctors, benefits – are the same for you as for everyone else, so this page only covers status and documents.
- UPE scheme: from 8 April 2026 – second extension for another +24 months
- Apply 90 days before your visa ends, online
- Cost: £0, no NHS surcharge (IHS)
- The scheme does not lead to ILR, but you can keep renewing and later switch to another visa
- Work – full rights
- Benefits – UC, Child Benefit, PIP
- Health and NHS, GP
- Housing, English (ESOL)
Your status and extension (UPE)
📝 How to extend
- Who can apply: anyone who has held permission under any Ukraine scheme (Homes for Ukraine, Family or Extension Scheme).
- When: 90 days before your current visa ends.
- Cost: free (£0, no IHS).
- How: online through your UKVI account (eVisa). There are no paper applications.
Your passport
You remain a Ukrainian citizen. For travel you use your Ukrainian passport – you do not need a separate document from the Home Office.
- Your UK status is now digital (eVisa). Log into your UKVI account and make sure your current passport is linked there.
- BRP cards are no longer issued – your status is confirmed online.
- To show your status to an employer or landlord, you generate a share code in your account (valid for 90 days).
If your passport is about to expire – renew it at the Ukrainian consulate, then update the new passport details in your UKVI account before you travel. An expired passport does not cancel your status, but without a valid passport linked to your account you will not be allowed on a plane and your extension application will not be accepted.
If you have a different status – travel document
This applies only to people who are NOT on the Ukraine scheme but have a different status through asylum. In that case you need a Home Office document for travel, not your Ukrainian passport:
- Humanitarian protection (if you have a fear of the Ukrainian authorities) → Certificate of Travel. You must not use your own passport in this situation.
- Refugee status → Refugee Travel Document.
With this status you cannot travel to Ukraine – doing so could put your protection at risk. For information on where you can travel and what visas you need, see the travel section.
What comes next: switching to another visa
The Ukraine scheme does not lead to ILR. When you are ready for a permanent future in the UK, you can switch to another visa if you qualify:
- Skilled Worker – you need a sponsoring employer, a suitable job level, English and a minimum salary. Leads to ILR after 5 years.
- Student – a place at a licensed university or college, enough money to live on, and English.
- Family (spouse/partner) – a relationship with a British citizen or UK resident, income and English requirements.
These visas are paid (unlike UPE) and lead to ILR according to their own timeframes. An honest look at your options is on the page "What comes after the scheme".
Returning to the Ukraine scheme
If you left the scheme – for example, you applied for asylum or switched to another visa – and were refused, you can generally apply for UPE again. It is enough that you previously held permission under the Ukraine scheme – even if that was not your most recent permission.
Detailed guides
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for an extension (UPE)?
90 days before your visa ends (this changed on 8 April 2026; before it was 28 days). If you apply too early your application will be refused, but you can re-apply for free. If you apply after your visa has expired you risk temporarily losing the right to work, rent a home and receive benefits. The easiest time is 60–90 days before the expiry date, online in your UKVI account.
How much does the extension cost?
Nothing. The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) is free – there is no visa fee and no NHS surcharge (IHS).
Does the Ukraine scheme lead to permanent settlement (ILR)?
No. The Ukraine scheme is temporary: it does not lead to ILR and does not count towards the 10-year residence period. However, you can keep renewing the permission, and later you can switch to another visa – work, student or family.
I applied for asylum and was refused. Can I go back to the Ukraine scheme?
Generally yes. If you previously held permission under the Ukraine scheme you can apply for UPE again – even if that was not your most recent permission. Important: you cannot hold two applications at the same time – if you apply for asylum while a UPE application is being considered, the UPE application may be cancelled. It is best to handle these situations with a licensed adviser.
My Ukrainian passport is about to expire – what should I do?
Renew your passport at the Ukrainian consulate, then update the new passport details in your UKVI account before you travel. An expired passport does not cancel your UK status, but without a valid passport linked to your account you will not be allowed on a plane and your extension application will not be accepted.
Can I bring my family to the UK?
The Ukraine Family Scheme closed on 19 February 2024. Reunification now uses standard family visas (spouse/partner, child). There is a free exception: a parent with Ukraine scheme status can sponsor their child under 18 through Homes for Ukraine. Relatives who are already in the UK under the Ukraine scheme can be included in your extension application.