Apply for a Ukrainian family visa (2023)

general description

The Ukraine Family Program allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. Everyone must apply separately, including children traveling with a family member.

Registration is free.

You can live, work and study in the UK and have access to public funds.

If you need help, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

If you can't reach UK 0808 numbers, you can use another number. You may have to pay; check with your phone company if you are unsure.

authorization

To apply to the Ukrainian family program you must:

• apply to join or accompany your family member who lives in the UK

• be a citizen of Ukraine or a family member of a citizen of Ukraine applying for the scheme to join an immediate family member residing in the UK

• lived in Ukraine on or immediately before January 1, 2022 (even if you have already left Ukraine)

You can apply if you have already arrived in the UK and meet the above requirements.

ApplyOutreach Program for UkraineYou must be a Ukrainian or an immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen applying for the program.

You can apply for this program if any of the following conditions are met:

• You were allowed to be in the UK between March 18, 2022 and May 16, 2023; the permit does not have to cover the entire period

• You already had a permit to reside in the UK and that permit expired on or after 1 January 2022

Your request will be subject to a security check.

UK resident family member

Your UK resident family member must be one of the following:

• a british citizen

• someone who is established in the UK, for example, has permission to stay indefinitely, settlement status or proof of permanent residence

  (Video) Top Tips on applying to the Ukraine Schemes for a UK visa (English Language Version)

• anyone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has onepreset stateunder the EU Settlement Scheme and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

• someone with refugee or humanitarian protection status in the UK

Your UK resident family member must be one of the following:

• your immediate family

• your extended family

• the spouse or civil partner, unmarried civil partner, children, parents, or proposed fiancé or civil partner of your extended family member

If possible, you should provide a copy of an official document confirming your family connections, for example, a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

You can still apply if you are unable to submit these documents. When you apply, you must justify why you cannot apply; for example, if you had to leave all your documents behind when you left.

Immediate family members

An immediate family member is you or a UK resident family member:

• spouse or life partner

• Single parents (must have been in a relationship for at least 2 years)

• Child under 18 years of age

• Father (if under 18)

• Fiancé or common-law partner

extended family members

An extended family member is your UK resident relative:

• Parents (if you are over 18 years old)

• Child over 18 years old

• own

• Your partner's grandsons or granddaughters

• brother or sister

• aunt or uncle

• niece or nephew

• principal

• mother in law or father in law

• father-in-law

• brother-in-law or sister-in-law

If the UK resident family member is your spouse (or that of an extended family member), domestic partner, fiancé or proposed domestic partner, the relationship must have started before January 1, 2022.

Other family members will be considered when there are exceptional circumstances.

If you have a relative from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

You may also be entitled to aFamily leave from the EU settlement systemif you are a family member of a UK resident with established or pre-established status under the EU Settlement Plan and are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You must be outside the UK to apply for family leave under the EU Settlement Scheme.

You can choose which application to apply for, but do not apply for the Ukraine Family Plan and an EU Settlement Plan Family Allowance at the same time, as this may cause delays in obtaining your decision.

Whatever you are applying for to enter the UK, you can apply if you are eligibleEU settlement systemYes in the UK.

how long can you stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

Prices

Membership in the Ukrainian family system is free.

This program does not require you to pay an immigrant health supplement or a biometric application fee.

Apply outside of the UK

You must apply online for the Ukrainian Family Program if you are outside the UK.

start now

To help you apply for the Ukrainian Families Program or the Ukrainian Sponsorship Program (Homes for Ukraine), we have translated theapplication screensfor Ukrainian and Russian.

prove your identity

If you have a valid Ukrainian international passport

You can use UK Immigration - Identity Verification Application to prove your identity if you have a valid Ukrainian international passport. You do not have to go to a visa application center to provide your biometric information.

Mit der App „UK Immigration: Identity Verification“.

The UK Immigration - Identity Check app will verify your identity and confirm that the passport you are using is yours. Once you start your online application at GOV.UK, you will be told when to download the application; You can download the app at any time, but it won't work before then.

Use the app to scan your passport or take a photo when you can't use the scanner.

The best tips to apply from the Ukrainian programs to get a UK visa

There is detailed information on this.how to use the appIf you need help

If you can't use the app

If you cannot use the application, you do not need to go to a visa application center to provide your biometric information. Instead, you must provide your biometrics within 6 months of your arrival in the UK.

If you have an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal renewal stamp

You cannot use UK Immigration - Identity Verification Application if your passport has expired, even if it has a formal renewal stamp issued by the Government of Ukraine. You do not have to go to a visa application center to provide your biometric information. Instead, you must provide your biometrics within 6 months of your arrival in the UK.

During your application, you will need to upload copies of both:

• the photo page of your expired passport
• the page of your expired passport with the formal renewal stamp

You can upload these documents using our trading partner document upload application. Depending on which country the request is made to, it is either TLS or VFS. You can download the app from the TLS or VFS website during registration.

If you need help uploading copies of your documents, you can still make an appointment at a Visa Application Center.

If you do not have a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal renewal stamp

If you do not have a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal renewal stamp issued by the Government of Ukraine, you must make an appointment and attend one.Visa Application Center(VACATION). This also applies to underage applicants.

During the online application process, you will be asked to submit copies of any identification documents you may have, such as

• a Ukrainian identity card
• a combination of official documents, for example, a driver's license with photo and a birth certificate
• since March 2022 an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority

The presentation of these documents is not mandatory, but may, if possible, support your application.

You can upload your documents using our trading partner document upload application. Depending on which country the request is made to, it is either TLS or VFS. You can download the app from the TLS or VFS website during registration.

Visa Application Centers

As part of your application, you will need to have your photo and fingerprints taken at a Visa Application Center (VAC). Children under the age of 5 who do not have a valid Ukrainian international passport will not be fingerprinted, but must still make and attend a VAC appointment and have a digital photo taken.

The Visa Application Center (VAC) in kyiv, Ukraine is now open for biometric registration and document scanning for UK visa applications. Biometric registration dates are limited.

If your visa application is successful, you will need to travel toVAC in Warsawwith a valid international passport to collect your visa sticker.

For more information, including hours of operation and to book an appointment, go toSitio-TLS.

Demonstrate that you are eligible for the program

If you have them, you must also provide any documents showing the following:

• Your relationship with your relative who lives in the UK

• You resided in Ukraine on or immediately before January 1, 2022

• any other evidence required as part of the application

You can upload your documents using our trading partner document upload application. Depending on which country the request is made to, it is either TLS or VFS. You can download the app from the TLS or VFS website during registration.

If you need help uploading images of your documents, you can make an appointment at a visa application center.

You can still apply if you are unable to submit these documents. When you apply, you must justify why you cannot apply; for example, if you had to leave all your documents behind when you left.

after the application

You must await a decision from UK Visas and Immigration on your application before traveling to the UK.

If you have visited a Visa Application Centre, you will need to return to collect your visa before traveling to the UK.

We give priority to applications for the Ukrainian family program and we intend to make a decision as soon as possible.

You will be contacted when a decision has been made with further guidance on the travel process.

Your decision letter will tell you if you will need a biometric residence permit on arrival in the UK or if you will need to provide your biometrics first.

If you have visited a Visa Application Center as part of your application

After your application has been processed, you will receive a visa.

This visa allows you to board a plane or other means of transport to the UK.

Do not go to the Visa Application Center to collect your visa until you have been contacted.

You can collect your biometric residence permit once you are in the UK. Your biometric residence permit can be used to confirm your status and rights in the UK.

If you have not visited a Visa Application Center as part of your application

Once your application has been processed, you will receive an official approval letter from UK Immigration and Visas confirming that you are able to travel to the UK.

The letter of permission allows you to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

You will not be allowed to travel to the UK until you have received an official letter of approval.

If you have applied through the UK Immigration - Identity Verification app, you can collect your biometric residence permit once you are in the UK.

If you have not used the UK Immigration: ID Verification app, you must submit your biometrics within 6 months of arrival in the UK to extend your stay up to 3 years and receive a biometric permit. You will find how to do this in your notification.

Extension of your stay in the UK

You do not need to apply for an extension of your visa if you can use the UK Immigration application: Identity Verification or if you attended a Visa Application Center as part of your application to enter the UK.

You must request your biometrics within 6 months of arrival in the UK if you have your passport stamped on entry to the UK.

You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

You do not have to do this once you have arrived in the UK, but you do need to make sure that you request that your biometrics be provided before the 6 months are up. You will find how to do this in your notification.

Apply to extend your stay in the UK

You can start the request to provide your biometric data by completing the online form.

start now

Then you make an appointment and attendUK Citizenship and Visa Application Services (UKVCAS)service point.

Your biometric residence permit will be sent to the address you provided in the application. You don't have to pick it up.

UK Citizenship and Visa Application Service (UKVCAS) Servicestellen

You will need to give your fingerprints and a photo (biometrics) to a UKVCAS office to obtain a biometric residence permit.

Children under 5 years of age will not be fingerprinted, but still need to come to the UKVCAS service point and have a digital photograph taken.

Some services at UKVCAS service points are chargeable. You need these services, such as B. scanned documents, do not use them to complete your application.

If you wish to use any of these services at a UKVCAS point of care during your consultation, you do not have to pay a fee for them and you do not have to pay for them in advance.

Quotes for you and your family

If you want to schedule appointments for yourself and your family members on the same day, you must first set up individual accounts for all family members, including children. You can use your own email address when setting up child accounts.

then you shouldLog in to your UKVCAS accountsand arrange their appointments together.

If there is more than one application associated with the same email address, you must provide the Unique Application Number (UAN) for each application for which you wish to schedule an appointment.

A UAN is a unique 16-digit code (xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx format) given to each person when completing their online application to extend their stay in the UK.

We cannot guarantee that appointments for all family members will be available on the same day.

Apply from within the UK

You needapply onlinefor the Ukrainian family program if you are in the UK.

Then you make an appointment and attendUK Citizenship and Visa Application Services (UKVCAS)service point.

after the application

We will give priority to your request and try to make a decision as soon as possible.

You will be contacted once a decision has been made.

If you need help, contact UK Visas and Immigration

If you can't reach UK 0808 numbers, you can use another number. You may have to pay; check with your phone company if you are unsure.

1. 31 January 2023

   Updated information on the reopening of the Visa Application Center.

2. 6 January 2023

   Updated hotline service hours.

3. 5 January 2023

   Updated hotline service hours.

4. December 15, 2022

   Change of opening hours during the holiday season.

5. 15. September 2022

   Added a grant to introduce a new eligibility period for the Ukraine Extension Scheme and information on the 3 different Ukraine programs available. Eligibility for the Ukraine Extension Program has been extended to allow those who entered after March 18, 2022 and continue to enter to apply until May 16, 2023.

6. July 23, 2022

   The temporary VAC in Rzeszow has now been closed.

7. July 11, 2022

   Added section to request a biometric appointment in a family group.

8. 13. June 2022

   The contact center hours have been changed from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 8:00 p.m. m.

9. 26. mayo 2022

   Updated telephone service hours.

10. 13. mayo 2022

    added translation

11. 12. mayo 2022

    Added Ukrainian and Russian translations.

12. 11. mayo 2022

    You can now apply online and use UK Immigration - Identity Verification App to prove your identity if you have a valid Ukrainian international passport.

13. April 28, 2022

    Added a link to the Ukrainian Family Program and Ukrainian Sponsorship Program application screens translated into Russian and Ukrainian.

14. April 4, 2022

    Helpline hours have changed.

15. March 30, 2022

    Updated Ukrainian and Russian translations to include information on the Ukraine Extension Plan (information published in English on March 29).

16. March 29, 2022

    Added information about the Ukraine Extension Plan.

17. March 18, 2022

    Added translations for Ukrainian and Russian.

18. March 17, 2022

    Updated the "Upload Your Documents" section to clarify information about the app's business partner for uploading documents. Depending on which country the request is made to, it is either TLS or VFS.

19. March 15, 2022

    The guide has been updated to reflect changes to the study abroad application process effective March 15, 2022.

20. March 11, 2022

    Up-to-date information for people applying from the UK.

21. March 10, 2022

    Added information about changes to the application process effective March 15.

22. March 9, 2022

    Added an alternate phone number for people who can't use UK 0808 numbers.

    (Video) UK Visa | Apply to the Ukraine schemes | Official Guidance in English, Ukrainian and Russian

23. March 8, 2022

    Updated guidance on extended family members.

24. March 6, 2022

    The makeshift VAC in Lviv has stopped working.

25. March 4, 2022

    First published.