Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-04)

Guidance for Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who wish to remain in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.

Overview

If you’re a Ukrainian national, or the family member of a Ukrainian national, and are living in the UK with existing permission on one of the Ukraine schemes, you may be eligible to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme to continue living in the UK for 18 months.

The UK government announced on 1 September 2025, that the UPE scheme will be extended for another 24 months, following the initial 18 month period.

Applicants will be able to apply for an extension in advance of their UPE permission expiring to get a maximum permission of 3 and a half years

More information on the extension and its process will be updated on this page.

It is free to apply. You can apply now (#apply-now) online.

Who can apply

To apply to the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme you must have already been granted permission under one of the other Ukraine Schemes. This means that you must have been granted permission to stay in the UK under either the:
- Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
- Ukraine Family Scheme
- Ukraine Extension Scheme
You may also be eligible to apply to the UPE scheme if you have been granted permission to stay in certain circumstances.

You must also:
- be in the UK when making an application
- have been living in the UK (and Islands, which includes Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man) since you were granted, or arrived in the UK, with permission under the Ukraine Schemes
If you are a non-Ukrainian national applying as a partner, you will generally need to continue to be in an eligible relationship with a Ukrainian national.

Children born in the UK

You can apply to the scheme for your child if they were born in the UK after 18 March 2022 to a Ukrainian national parent who holds permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Schemes.

We encourage parents to apply for valid immigration status for their child born in the UK as soon as possible. Holding valid immigration status allows a child to travel in and out of the UK.

NHS treatment charges may apply to any child without valid immigration status 3 months after their birth.

When to apply

You should only make an application when your current permission has 28 days or less remaining until it expires.

If you apply too early, your application may be rejected and not considered. If this happens, you will need to reapply when your current permission has 28 days or less remaining until it expires.

You must make an application before your current permission expires.

If you apply after your current permission expires, even if your application for UPE is successful later, you will lose your current entitlements to work, rent and receive benefits until a decision is made on your late application. You may be required to repay any public funds (for example, certain benefits) that are paid to you during this period.

It is important that you know the date when your current permission will end so that you apply to UPE in time. If you are unsure when your current permission ends sign into your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account) to find out.

Find out how to view your current immigration status (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account).

What you need to apply

Before you apply to the scheme, make sure you:
- have created a UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa) and have access to your eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa)
- update your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account) with the identity documents you will use for your application, for example your passport - if you need to add or update your identity documents you need to do this before you make your application
- have your expired biometric residence permits (BRP) card, as it may be required
You must apply within 28 days of your current permission expiring.

If you apply using your BRP you may be able to reuse previously submitted biometrics (fingerprint and photograph) and may not need to attend a UK Visas and Citizenship Application (UKVCAS) service point. See proof of identity (#identity).

When making your application, you will need to:
- prove your identity
- confirm you are in the UK when making your application
- confirm whether you have had permission to be in the UK on a Ukraine Scheme
- provide information about your accommodation in the UK
- provide information on the application form about any time you have spent living outside the UK or Ukraine since you were granted permission under the Ukraine Schemes
If you are not a Ukrainian national, you will also need to provide information about your relationship to a Ukrainian national, see applying as the family member of a Ukrainian national (#apply-family).

If you’re applying as or on behalf of a child under the age of 18, you will need to provide additional information and evidence, see applying for a child (#apply-child).

You may need to provide other evidence of your eligibility depending on your individual circumstances. You will generally not be required to upload evidence as part of your application but in some cases a caseworker may contact you to ask for additional information or evidence.

If we need further evidence of your relationship to a Ukrainian national, you may be asked to provide documents such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

If we need further evidence that you have been living in the UK, you may be asked to provide evidence that shows your address in the UK.

Examples of acceptable evidence may include, but are not limited to:

evidence of living in a property in the UK, such as a tenancy agreement, mortgage agreement, letter from landlord, documents of ownership deeds or letter from housing trust

employment letter confirming the applicant is in regular employment in the UK

a letter from a local authority – for example where there is contact with child or school placements

a letter from an educational institution pertaining to the applicant or a family member who is dependent on them confirming enrolment and attendance at on a course of study

bank statements showing regular spending activity in the UK

any UK bills, such as council tax, utility bills, phone bills, TV licence, or veterinary bills

Where documents provided are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a full dated and signed translation in English that can be verified. This must be dated and include the full name and signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company and their contact details. The specified documents may be original or copies and must contain the your full contact details.

Proof of identity

To prove your identity, you can use a valid international passport or an expired biometric residence permit card (BRP) but only if you have previously provided a valid passport to the Home Office.

If you have not previously provided a valid international passport to the Home Office, including at a visa application centre (VAC), you must submit one when you apply for UPE as proof of your nationality.

If you have previously provided a valid passport, you will not need to resubmit it.

If you do not have a valid international passport and have not provided one before

You should apply for one as soon as possible before applying for UPE. You’ll need to submit it with your application.

If you apply for UPE without a valid passport, you must have applied for one and must provide evidence that you have done so.

If you cannot apply for a passport, you must provide an explanation why.

If you have an expired BRP and have provided a valid international passport before

You may be able to reuse previously submitted biometrics (fingerprint and photograph) and may not need to attend a UK Visas and Citizenship Application (UKVCAS) service point.

Reusing your biometrics will usually speed up the application process.

Most people may be able to provide their ID documentation evidence using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app) app as part of their application to UPE. If you have to provide your biometrics, you’ll have your identity document scanned at their UKVCAS appointment. Additional evidence can be uploaded for free using the UKVCAS website. Assisted scanning of documents is available for a fee as part of your UKVCAS appointment.

If we request any further evidence, you will be notified by email and provided with instructions on how to provide the additional evidence required.

If you don’t have a BRP or did not provide biometric information under your current permission

You may need to book an appointment to have your facial image and fingerprints (biometric information) taken at a VAC in the UK as part of your application.

Children under the age of 5

They will not have their fingerprints taken but will still need to book and attend an appointment at a VAC to have their digital photograph taken.

Attending your appointment

You’ll need to prove your identity with a valid international passport, unless you have a reasonable explanation for why you do not have one.

Where you do not have a valid international passport, you may use a:
- a recently expired international passport
- a valid or recently expired Ukrainian national identity card
- a combination of official documents which states your identity and nationality – for example, a photo driving license and birth certificate that contain matching details (name and date of birth)
- an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022
For more information, including opening hours and appointment booking, please visit the TLS website (https://www.tlscontact.com/en/).

Applying for a child under 18

Children will be required to be in the UK with a:
- parent
- legal guardian
- close relative
- an adult who has taken responsibility for their care
- or in the care of the local authority
When making an application as or on behalf of a child under the age of 18, you will need to provide the child’s full birth or adoption certificate which shows the details of their parents.

You will also be asked to provide evidence of the child’s parent or legal guardian’s nationality or identity document.

Additionally, you will be asked to provide evidence of the parent or legal guardian’s immigration status, for example their passport number or Unique Application Number (UAN).

If a local authority is applying on behalf of a child (#local-authority), some of the documents mentioned above are not required.

You may also be required to provide the following, depending on the child’s living arrangements.

Child living with legal guardian

An official document, which should be notarised by the issuing country or the Ukrainian Embassy, demonstrating legal guardianship of the child.

Child living with close relative

Close relative means a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt (whether full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent as per the Children Act 1989.

You must provide:
- evidence demonstrating the relationship between the applicant and their family member
- written consent from the applicant’s parent or legal guardian which must include details of the parent or legal guardian, consent for the application and for the applicant’s living and care arrangements
Child living with another adult (who is not a parent, legal guardian or close relative) who has day-to-day caring responsibility for them

You must provide written consent from the applicant’s parent or legal guardian which must include details of the parent or legal guardian, consent for the application and for the applicant’s living and care arrangements.

The adult with day-to-day caring responsibility for a child will need to provide information on the application form to demonstrate that adequate care and accommodation arrangements are in place for the child. This includes, but is not limited to, information about the type of accommodation and details of others living at the property.

We will consider whether the care arrangements are satisfactory for the welfare of the child or whether they require any further consideration during the application process.

If you were originally granted permission as a child under the Ukraine Schemes but are 18 or over on the date you make an application to UPE, you will not be considered to be a child for the purposes of the UPE application.

If you are a local authority applying on behalf of a child

If a child is in the care of a local authority (or health and social care trust in Northern Ireland) they should make an application on behalf of the child. This will provide the child with permission to stay in the UK while their application is considered.

As part of the application, the local authority will be required to provide the child’s birth certificate and nationality or identity document. If the child is not a Ukrainian national, but is relying on a Ukrainian national to be eligible for the scheme, the local authority will be required to provide evidence of that relationship.

If the local authority has parental responsibility for the child, they do not need to provide the parent or legal guardian’s nationality or identity document or evidence of their immigration status.

Where there is a legal order giving the local authority or health and social care trust parental responsibility for a child, that authority or trust needs to act for the child in relation for the application and provide the required consent for the application.

The local authority will be required to provide a document to demonstrate that they hold parental responsibility for the child, for example a court order.

If a local authority is aware of other eligible children receiving support, such as those in private fostering arrangements, but the local authority does not have personal responsibility for the child, they may want to provide the adult with day to day caring responsibility for the child to relevant support so they are able to make an application.

See applying for a child under 18 (#apply-child) for further guidance.

Length of permission for children under 18

A child under the age of 18 may be granted a period of permission that matches that of a parent or legal guardian, if the parent or legal guardian:
- has permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine schemes, including Leave Outside the Rules (LOTR) in some circumstances
- is living in the UK
- is living with the child and jointly or solely responsible for their day-to-day care
The length of the child’s permission will be granted in line with the parent who holds the longest remaining length of permission if both parents meet all the criteria.

Children who are not living with their parent or legal guardian, for example in the care of the local authority, will be granted 18 months permission under the scheme.

Eligibility for living in the UK

The UPE scheme is intended to allow those with existing permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes, who continue to require sanctuary in the UK, to apply for further permission to stay in the UK. This means that to be eligible, you will need to have been living in the UK (and Islands) since you either:
- arrived in the UK with Ukraine Scheme permission, or leave outside the rules (LOTR) in certain circumstances
- were granted Ukraine Scheme permission, or LOTR in certain circumstances, in the UK
- were born in the UK (or Islands) to a Ukrainian national parent granted Ukraine scheme permission
Short visits or holidays will generally not be regarded as living outside the UK, and you may not be required to provide evidence of ongoing ties to the UK.

If you have spent temporary periods of time (under 12 months) outside the UK in Ukraine, these will not be considered as living outside the UK.

If you have spent temporary periods (generally, under 12 months) outside the UK or Ukraine in third countries, you will generally need to demonstrate ongoing ties to the UK to allow us to consider whether those periods are considered as living outside the UK.

If you have spent more than temporary periods (12 months or over) outside the UK you will need to demonstrate ongoing ties to the UK and the circumstances of your time spent outside the UK will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

There is not a full list of acceptable evidence to show ongoing ties. For examples of the types of evidence that might be used, see what you need to apply (#what-you-need).

Applying as the family member of a Ukrainian national

If you are not a Ukrainian national, you can apply if you have been granted permission under one of the other Ukraine Schemes, or leave outside the rules in certain circumstances, as the:
- partner of a Ukrainian national
- child of a Ukrainian national
- parent of a Ukrainian national who was granted Ukraine Scheme permission before turning 18 years old
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of a Ukrainian national
- a family member granted permission in accordance with the now closed Ukraine Family Scheme
- a carer of a child who was granted Ukraine scheme permission
If you were previously granted permission as the partner, spouse, or civil partner of a Ukrainian national, you will be required to submit evidence to demonstrate that you continue to be in an eligible relationship.

In other circumstances, you may be contacted and asked for evidence of your family relationship to a Ukrainian national, for example a birth or marriage certificate.

If you are no longer in a relationship, you may still be eligible for permission to stay in the UK or British Isles under UPE if you are the parent or legal guardian of a child who is in the UK with permission under the Ukraine Schemes, or a child who would, if they made an application, be eligible for permission under the Ukraine Schemes.

Travelling outside the UK before you apply

You must be inside the UK when making an application to UPE. Your application will not be valid and may be rejected if you apply from outside the UK.

Apply

You should only make an application to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme when your current permission has 28 days or less remaining until it expires.

Before you apply, you should:
- check when your current permission expires by signing into your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account) and plan for when it is the right time to make an application
- you check that your UKVI account is updated with the identity documents (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details) you will use for your application, for example your passport - if you need to add or update your identity documents you need to do this before you make your application
- ensure you are inside the UK when you apply
- not travel outside the UK while your application is being considered
- your passport
- your expired BRP (if you have one)
- documents you will need if applying for a child under the age of 18 (#apply-child)
Start now (https://apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/sorted/live-in-crown-dependency/upe_in_uk?uid=c146f909-be69-47f4-b780-c0a487aee9fa&cookiesPreferencesURL=https%3A%2F%2Fapply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk%2Fdashboard%2Fcookies&cookiesPolicyDomain=apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk&showBanner=true)

After you have applied

After you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents and biometrics (if required), the Home Office will consider your application.

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

If your current permission expires before a decision is made on your application.

You do not need to take any action, as your current permission will continue under section 3C leave.

The purpose of section 3C leave is to prevent a person who makes an in-time application to extend their leave from becoming an overstayer while they are awaiting a decision on that application.

Your eVisa will show the start date of your previous permission and the date that it expired. There will be some additional information underneath your National Insurance number that will confirm that you are able to stay in the UK until a decision has been made on your application and that you retain the same rights as your original permission.

If you need to prove your permission to stay in the UK, you can use the view and prove service (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status) to generate a share code to give to landlords and employers to see show that you continue to have the right to work, rent and have entitlement to benefits.

You should not travel outside the UK or any other part of the Common Travel Area (the Common Travel Area includes the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) whilst waiting for a decision on your application. If you do travel, then your application will be withdrawn and will not be considered.

If your existing permission expires whilst you are outside the UK, you will need to apply for further entry clearance in another route, for which you qualify if you wish to return to the UK. You cannot apply for UPE outside the UK.

You’ll get a decision letter by email confirming the outcome of your application and what it means for you.

What you will get

If your application is successful, your new UPE permission period will start from the date the decision was made on your application. Your eVisa (a digital record of your identity and immigration status) will be updated to show your new UPE permission.

You will not need to do anything to get your updated eVisa if your application is successful.

Your decision notice will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You can see it in your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account).

You will be allowed to continue to work, study, rent property (in England) and receive public funds benefits for a further 18 months from the date of decision.

You’ll be able to prove your immigration status and conditions to others, for example employers and landlords, using the view and prove service (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status).

After you have received a decision on your UPE application, before you travel in future, you’ll need to sign in to your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account) to check that your eVisa is linked to your current passport or travel document. You’ll still need to carry your current passport or travel document with you.

You will need an eVisa to demonstrate your permission to travel to the UK.

Viewing and proving your status online

You can use the view and prove service (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status) to generate a share code to give to landlords and employers to see show that you continue to have the right to work (https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work) or right to rent (https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent).

You will have digital status and will need get access to your eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/evisa) if you have not done so already.

If there are any issues with your digital status, you can contact UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk).

You can report an error with your eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa) online.

Updating your details

You must keep your details up to date (https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account), for example if you get a new passport.

Support

You can get advice from an authorised immigration (https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser) adviser if you need help with making an application.

People who are not authorised as immigration advisers are allowed to offer technical assistance with the application form, without being regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). This means they can:
- explain what the form is asking for and enter the applicant’s responses
- help in translating the forms or guidance
- help the applicant understand instructions to submit documents
Only IAA authorised immigration advisers can submit forms on behalf of an applicant. Unregulated advisers or organisations are not allowed to submit applications on someone else’s behalf.

Read the IAA guidance on finding qualified advisers and the support available (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/information-for-advice-seekers).