Arriving in the UK: Homes for Ukraine
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-14)

What to do when you arrive in the UK if you have a visa, don't have a visa or have a biometric residence permit.

If you want to know more about what happens when you have travelled to the UK, you can find out more about the welcome points, welcome facilities and travelling to your sponsor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welcome-points-and-travelling-to-your-sponsor-homes-for-ukraine).

When you arrive in the UK on the Homes for Ukraine scheme you will need to show the letter that gives you permission to travel to the UK, or your visa, to the Border Force officers.

A Border Force officer may need to ask you some questions and make further checks when you first arrive.

Please read information on what steps Ukrainians need to take after arriving in the UK to confirm their immigration status (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ukrainian-nationals-in-the-uk-visa-support).

Children arriving in the UK

For guidance on arriving in the UK for children under 18 please read the Welcome guide for children (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-welcome-guide-for-ukrainian-children-under-18) and Guidance for parents or legal guardians (children and minors applying without parents) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-parents-or-legal-guardians-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents).

If you already have a visa

If you already had your visa, Border Force officers will stamp this to confirm you arrived.

If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to apply, your passport won’t be stamped, the Border Force officers can check your status digitally.

If you have a permission to travel letter

If you did not use the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ app or attend a visa application centre, you may have been issued a permission to travel letter to allow you to travel to the UK.

Permission to travel letters issued are no longer valid and cannot be used for travel or entry to the UK.

You must not travel to the UK before you have submitted an entry clearance application and received permission from the Home Office.

If you attempt to travel or enter the UK with a permission to travel letter, you may be refused entry to the UK and removed.

If you have been issued a permission to travel letter and still wish to come to the UK under the Ukraine schemes, you will need to make a new application to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

If you are in the UK and have not applied to stay

If you did not use the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ app or did not attend a visa application centre but were granted a permission to travel letter, you had to apply to provide your biometric information within 6 months of arriving in the UK. You would then have been able to stay in the UK for up to 3 years.

If you travelled to the UK using a permission to travel letter and did not apply to stay before 09:00 BST on 13 August 2025, you cannot apply to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Schemes. You can find out how to get immigration advice (https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser).

If you are in the UK and have applied to stay

If you applied to regularise your stay before 09:00am UK time on 13 August 2025 under the Ukraine Schemes, your application will be processed. You will be invited to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (known as biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service(UKVCAS) point.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If you have been to a visa application centre overseas and already given your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo of your face), your visa vignette will be valid for 90 days. BRPs expired on 31 December 2024. You can now prove your immigration status online, without a BRP. More information on eVisas can be found on the Online immigration status (eVisa) page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa).

If you intend to be away from the UK for more than 4 consecutive weeks in a single period, you should notify your local council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Using your bank card

If you have a working bank card you should be able to use it to take money out when you arrive in the UK.

If you don’t have a bank card or access to money, speak to someone at the welcome point or your host, who should be able to help you work out what your options are.

Arriving in Scotland and Wales on the government sponsorship scheme

New applications to these schemes are on hold.

If you have applied for sponsorship from the government in Scotland or Wales you will be given temporary accommodation and help to find safe, longer-term accommodation. You will also get food, clothing, medical attention, and emotional support if needed.

All existing applications will continue to be processed and existing visa holders can travel to Scotland and Wales and will be supported as planned.

More information is available on the Scottish Government website (https://www.gov.scot/news/super-sponsor-scheme-paused/) and the Welsh Government website (https://gov.wales/written-statement-update-homes-ukraine-scheme).