The UK government extended its visa scheme for Ukrainians who have been affected by the ongoing 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war which is soon approaching its second year. The UK government allowed an additional 18-month stay on their current terms in the wake of the conflict.
The UK Home Office said beginning early 2025 all of those in the UK living there under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months. They will also continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay.
This arrangement means that those who came to the UK on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will now be able to stay in the UK until September 2026.
“This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict,” said Tom Pursglove, UK Minister for Legal Migration and the Border.
“Almost two years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war,” he said.
Pursglove said the government’s decision shows that the UK and its allies stand in solidarity with Ukraine. “(The UK) unequivocally condemns [Russian President] Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and illegal war against Ukraine,” Pursglove was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The UK has announced three schemes in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war which began on February 24, 2022. Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme are the three schemes that the UK announced to grant visa holders three years leave to remain in the country.
“I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity shown by sponsors across the country. The government continues to provide them with ‘thank-you’ payments in recognition of their support. As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can,” Felicity Buchan, UK minister for housing and communities said.
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