Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for sponsors (children and minors applying without parents or legal guardians)
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-07)

Guidance for sponsors about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.

Overview and purpose of this guidance

This guidance is for anyone who wants to be a sponsor (#sponsor) for Ukrainian children (#child) under the age of 18 who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian (#legal) in the UK.

The Homes for Ukraine Scheme supports eligible minors to safely arrive, and to live and thrive in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, supported by a sponsor that they know and trust.

On 19 February 2024, changes were made to the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme eligibility rules. If the minor applied prior to this date, please refer to the section Minors who applied prior to 19 February 2024 (#minors) for guidance.

This guidance explains the eligibility requirements for sponsors, and their role in supporting children here under the scheme. Information about the visa application and sponsorship approval process for children planning to make new visa applications can be found in the ‘step-by-step application and approval process’ section of this guidance.

Please note that:
- You should discuss and provide the child with this welcome guide for children arriving in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-welcome-guide-for-ukrainian-children-under-18) from Ukraine. It provides the information they need about their arrival and their first few days and weeks in the UK. It also provides information of who they can speak to if they need help.
- There is separate guidance for local authorities (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians) to help them assess the suitability of sponsorship arrangements for children arriving in the UK without a parent or legal guardian, and guidance for parents and legal guardians (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-parents-or-legal-guardians-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents).
- New applications cannot be made to the Super Sponsor schemes in Scotland and Wales (applications received before 15 July 2022 will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
- If you are a parent or legal guardian already living in the UK and want to apply for your child to join you, you should read this guidance about children being sponsored by parents (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/children-being-sponsored-by-a-parent-or-legal-guardian-homes-for-ukraine) instead.
Definitions of important words and phrases used in this guide can be found in the Definitions (#adult) section at the end of this document.

Please check this website regularly for the latest advice and support.

Sponsor eligibility

If you want to sponsor a child who is not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian, you:
- Should personally know (#know) the child’s parents or legal guardian (not someone you know online only, for example, through social media), and you should have known them before the conflict started on 24 February 2022. The council will look for evidence that there is a suitable, pre-existing relationship between you and the parent or legal guardian. This evidence could be in the form of letters or emails, photos, or social media activity from before the start of the conflict on 24 February 2022. In exceptional circumstances, councils may determine that the sponsor does not need to be personally known to the parent or legal guardian. For example, where the council judge that a child will be cared for appropriately by an adult relative who will take on day-to-day caring responsibility for the child.
- Must be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK. You must agree to host the child for the full 18 months of their permission to stay in the UK, or until they turn 18 and have been hosted for at least 6 months, whichever is sooner.
- Must commit to continue living in the UK for the duration of the sponsorship agreement.
- Must receive from the parent or legal guardian the two different forms of parental or legal guardian consent (this is explained in the ‘Parental or legal guardian consent’ (#parent-or-legal-guardian-consent) section).
- Must pass the required safeguarding checks before the child’s visa application can be approved. This is explained in the ‘Sponsor approval process’ (#sponsor-approval-process) section.
Applicant eligibility

The UK government takes its responsibility to promote the wellbeing and safeguarding of children very seriously. We recognise that children who are separated from their parents or legal guardians are more vulnerable to many serious risks. Whilst the UK is a safe place, there are risks linked to being a child or young person that can increase with prolonged separation from a parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian need to think carefully about the possible safety risks of sending their child to the UK without them.

Applications for children who are not joining a parent or legal guardian under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will need to meet the below requirements.

Nationality
- Must have an immediate family member (#family) who is Ukrainian.
- Must have been residents in Ukraine before 1 January 2022 or have been born after that date.
- Can apply from Ukraine or from any other country except the UK.
Hosting arrangements

Eligible children may include those who:
- Are accompanied by an adult relative (#adult) (who is not their parent or legal guardian) and will both be living with a sponsor.
- Are accompanied by an adult relative and will both be living in self-contained accommodation provided by a sponsor
- Will not be accompanied by an adult and intend to live with a sponsor
Parental or legal guardian consent
- The children must have the required parental or legal guardian consent documents (these are explained in the ‘Parental or legal guardian consent’ (#parent-or-legal-guardian-consent) section).
Approved sponsor
- The children must have an approved sponsor who has met the eligibility requirements and passed the necessary safeguarding checks (these are explained in the ‘Sponsor approval process’ (#sponsor-approval-process) section).
- The child’s visa application can only be approved after the required checks have been carried out and the sponsor has been approved.
Parent or legal guardian consent

All children applying to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian, must provide two different forms of parental or legal guardian consent:

1. Proof of parental or legal guardian consent for the child to leave Ukraine notarised by an authority approved by the Ukrainian Government:
- If in Ukraine, then this must be certified by either the notary authorities or the Guardianship Service of the city or regional council in Ukraine.
- If in another country, then this must be certified by the notary authorities in that country or by the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate.
2. A completed and signed UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form) for the council (or Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland) where the child will be living. It will contain useful information from the parent or legal guardian to help you care for their child, including:
- Confirmation that they believe it is in their child’s best interests to come to the UK and stay with a known sponsor (#know).
- Whether it is you or any accompanying adult relative who will have day-to-day responsibility for the care of their child (for example to take everyday decisions including ones about education and medical treatment).
- Confirmation that they have discussed with you and any accompanying adult relative the specific needs of their child (including any medical, developmental and special adjustment needs), and that you and/or any accompanying adult relative is able to meet these needs.
- The parent or legal guardian’s contact details so the council can check they agree to the sponsorship arrangements and so they can be contacted if there are any changes in their child’s circumstances.
- If an accompanying adult relative will also be staying with you.
- Their child’s next of kin’s contact details (who will be contacted in emergencies if the parent or legal guardian cannot be reached).
- Their child’s details.
- Information on how the parent or legal guardian knows you.
- Confirmation that they have discussed with you and any accompanying adult relative financial responsibility for their child for the duration of their stay in the UK.
- Confirmation that if the parent or legal guardian wants to end the sponsorship arrangement early, they will notify you. You will then notify the council.
- Confirmation that they understand the council may need to take responsibility for making arrangements for their child’s care for safeguarding purposes if the sponsorship arrangement ends before the child turns 18 (this is explained in the ‘Ending of sponsorship arrangement’ (#ending-of-sponsorship-arrangement) section).
- Confirmation that they understand the UK government will make every effort to facilitate the return of their child to Ukraine once martial law ends there, in accordance with their wishes and the best interests of their child.
- If their child will be traveling alone or with an adult relative.
Both forms of consent must be completed and signed by at least one parent or legal guardian and parents are asked to provide translated copies where possible. They must share both documents with you once complete so you or the applicant can upload them as part of the application process.

These documents will be reviewed by the council, who will use this information to carry out their sponsor safeguarding checks. We recommend that you keep digital copies of these documents for your own records.

If the parent or legal guardian is applying for more than one child, then they must provide new documents for each child. They cannot use the same documents for more than one child.

Sponsor approval process

Sponsors must pass several checks before they can be approved under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This is to ensure you are suitable and have adequate accommodation for the child and any accompanying adult relative.

The child will be given a visa only when all the checks below have been completed and passed and the sponsorship arrangement is confirmed as suitable.

These factors and the complexity of unaccompanied minor cases means that they will often take longer to process than other Homes for Ukraine applications.

Security and criminal record checks

The Home Office will make security and criminal record checks on the planned sponsor and all adults aged 18 and over who will be living in the same household as the child. These checks will be made on government databases and those of other organisations like the Police National Computer (PNC).

The visa application may be refused if the sponsor or any of the other adults who have been checked do not meet the requirements for approval as a sponsor.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

The council will undertake an Enhanced DBS check (including a check of the children’s barred list) on you and all people aged 16+ living in your house, including in cases where there is a family relationship between yourself and the child you will be sponsoring.

Council checks

The council will also complete some checks before a sponsor can be approved, including:
- An accommodation check to ensure the sponsor’s home is suitable for your child’s needs (more information is provided in the ‘Accommodation’ (#accommodation) section)
- Sponsorship arrangement is in the best interest of your child.
- Sponsor can meet your child’s needs.
- Sponsor understands their role and what is expected of them.
Further information on the sponsor suitability assessment is set out below.

Sponsor suitability assessment

The sponsor suitability assessment will involve the council visiting you and your household to check that the arrangement is suitable and safe for the child. They should discuss your role, your relationship with the parent or legal guardian and their family, and how you can support their child and any accompanying adult relatives.

Councils should also, wherever possible, discuss the sponsorship arrangements with the parent or legal guardian directly. This should include discussing their child’s views, wishes, and feelings about the sponsorship arrangement.

Councils should carry out this assessment using the procedures and arrangements they have in place for assessing the suitability of private fostering arrangements in accordance with the Guidance on Private Fostering.

In assessing the sponsorship arrangements, the council should consider all the circumstances of the individual case which includes:
- Any documentary evidence provided including the notarised proof of parental or legal guardian consent and information provided in the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form).
- Whether you personally knew the parent or legal guardian before the conflict started on 24 February 2022. The council should look for evidence that there is a suitable, pre-existing relationship between you and the parent or legal guardian. This evidence could be in the form of letters or emails, photos, or social media activity from before the start of the conflict on 24 February 2022. In exceptional circumstances, councils may determine that the sponsor does not need to be personally known to the parent or legal guardian. For example, where the council judge that a child will be cared for appropriately by an adult relative who will take on day-to-day caring responsibility for the child.
The outcome of all checks relating to sponsor suitability including:

1. DBS checks

2. Accommodation checks

3. Checks against government databases and those of other organisations like the Police National Computer (PNC).

4. Any other checks outlined in guidance.
- That you understand and are able to meet the expectations on you as a sponsor of the child, including taking on responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child (noting that this expectation will vary if the child is accompanied by an adult relative and they have been given responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child).
- The accommodation arrangements. In most cases, it is expected that you, the sponsor, will live with the child. However, a sponsor may provide self -contained accommodation where the child is also living with an adult relative who is taking on day-to-day responsibility for their care. The planned sponsor is still required to undergo checks and meet the eligibility criteria set out in this guidance. The sponsor will also need to attend the post-arrival visit, but for the ongoing welfare visits thereafter it will be at the councils’ discretion (depending on the level of involvement of the sponsor in the child’s day to day life) as to whether the sponsor needs to attend or if these can be carried out with the child and adult relative only.
- Is currently taking medication or any treatment for a medical condition.
- Has a general medical condition which requires ongoing medical care.
- Is known to have any allergies to food or medication.
- The risk of a breakdown in arrangements. Councils are not expected to approve sponsorship arrangements where they consider there to be a high risk of breakdown, as this is unlikely to be in the best interests of the child.
Step-by-step application and approval process

Step-by-step application and approval process for new applicants:

1. You, (the sponsor) should start the process by completing the online application form‘Apply to provide a safe home for a child from Ukraine’ (https://apply-to-offer-homes-for-ukraine.service.gov.uk/sponsor-a-child). As part of this application, you will need to upload two different forms of parental or legal guardian consent:

a. Proof of parental or legal guardian consent for the child to leave Ukraine notarised by an authority approved by the Ukrainian Government:

i. If in Ukraine, then this must be certified by either the notary authorities or the Guardianship Service of the city or regional council in Ukraine.

ii. If in another country, then this must be certified by the notary authorities in that country or by the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate.

b. A completed and signed UK Sponsorship Arrangement Consent Form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form). You should not apply without both parental consent forms.

2. When you have completed your application the council will be able to access all of the information provided.

3. The council will start their sponsor suitability assessment and checks (as set out in the Sponsors Approval Process section above). At the same time the Home Office will complete their security checks.

4. If any checks or the sponsorship suitability assessment are not passed, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will contact you directly to inform you that you do not meet the suitability requirements of the scheme and that applications linked to you cannot progress.

5. Where the sponsorship checks are successful, the council will send you (the sponsor) and the applicant a Sponsor Certification code. The applicant can then submit a visa application (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme#prove-your-identity) inputting the Sponsor Certification code when prompted. The applicant needs to book an appointment to have their photograph and fingerprints taken at a visa application centre (VAC) (https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre) as part of the application. Children under 16 must go to the appointment with an adult who is over 18. Children under 5 must attend the appointment to have a photograph taken. They do not need to give their fingerprints.

6. The Home Office will then complete the necessary visa application checks. At this stage, they will check your immigration status to confirm you are a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK (which means having the right to live in the UK permanently).

7. If the visa application is unsuccessful, the Home Office will notify the applicant and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will contact you (the sponsor) directly to inform you that the visa application has been unsuccessful. Where the visa application is successful, the applicant will need to return to collect their visa from the visa application centre before travelling to the UK. The visa will allow the child to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK. If the applicant attended their biometrics appointment in Kyiv and the visa application is successful, the applicant will need to travel to the visa application centre in Warsaw to collect your visa vignette. If the applicant had an appointment in another country, they will need to collect their visa vignette at the same visa application centre that they submitted their biometrics.

8. You must then contact the parent ensure that safe arrangements are made for the child’s travel. (more information provided in the ‘Travel arrangements’ section). You will need to complete a pre-departure plan (using the template at Annex A (#annex-a-pre-departure-travel-plan-template)) and share this with the relevant council.

9. Within 24 hours of the child’s arrival in the UK, you and the child will be visited by a council officer to confirm the suitability of the placement and confirm any immediate welfare needs. The council will give the child information on how to raise any concerns about their placement.

Role of the sponsor

The role of the sponsor can be very rewarding, but it can also be challenging. You should be aware that the people you sponsor may have experienced trauma and will have individual needs, experiences, and worries.

The parent or legal guardian will retain parental responsibility during the sponsorship period, but they will need to confirm in the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form) who is responsible for their child’s day-to day-care, either you or any accompanying adult relative.

If you agree with the parent or legal guardian that you (the sponsor) will take on this role, you will need to keep the child safe and ensure their wellbeing in these areas:

Education

In the UK, children are legally required to stay in full-time education or training until their 18th birthday. Most young people continue until the end of the academic year in which they turn 18. This differs from Ukraine, where children can finish school at age 15. You should have an early conversation with the child (and their parent where possible) to ensure they understand the differences in the UK and Ukraine’s schooling systems. You should explain that until they turn 19 years old, education in the UK is completely free, and therefore offers a fantastic opportunity for them to learn new skills and develop their knowledge.

The council will help with applications for a school place (more information provided in the Access to public services (#access-to-public-services) section) and get access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.

Health
- You will need to register the child with a local General Practitioner (GP) and National Health Service (NHS) dentist. You will also need to make sure their child is known to health visitors (via their GP if they are aged 0-5, and to school nurses via their GP or school if they are of school age). GPs, health visitors and school nurses can refer the child to mental health support services or specialist support services if needed.
- Consent to medical treatment - In the UK, children aged 16 or over are entitled to consent to their own medical treatment, as they are presumed to have sufficient capacity to decide. This can only be overruled in exceptional circumstances. Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if practitioners believe they have enough competence and understanding to fully appreciate what’s involved in their treatment. The parent(s) or legal guardian will need to confirm in the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form) whether it is you or any accompanying adult relative who will make medical decisions (as needed) on behalf of their child while in the UK. This includes day-to-day decisions, as well as in the event of a medical emergency. Wherever possible, the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian should still be involved in the decisions and their views considered unless it is not practical to do so (e.g. in the event of an emergency).
Sharing of medical records – Before the child arrives, you should discuss with them (where appropriate), their parent(s) or legal guardian any pre-existing medical conditions that the child has and you should know about, as well as the sharing of relevant medical records. Once in the UK, in most circumstances it should be sufficient for you to show a practitioner that the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian have consented to you making decisions on their behalf, in order to access the child’s medical records and make decisions about their healthcare treatment.
- Access to sexual health services - sexual health services (including contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV) and abortion services are free and confidential. Even though the law states it is an offence to have sex if you are under 16, health professionals can still provide sexual health services to under 16s, including contraception and advice. You should ensure that the child you are sponsoring knows about these services should they need them. However, you should note that if the child is over the age of 13, you generally won‘t be informed if they have accessed a sexual health service unless they are deemed to be at risk. You can read more about confidentiality at sexual health services on the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/sexual-health-services/).
Financial responsibility

You may be expected to take on financial responsibility for the care and maintenance of the child for the duration of their stay in the UK. You should discuss this arrangement with their parent or legal guardian, including whether they can provide any financial contribution towards their child’s care (more information on financial support you can receive as a sponsor is provided in the Financial support (#financial-support) section).

If you are sponsoring an older child, they may wish to look for a part-time job. If so, you should explain to them that there are laws in the UK which restrict the type and amount of work that they can do when they are under 18 and that there are different rules for term time and school holidays. They should never be expected to work for free for anyone. There is more information, including about pay and the national minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds (https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment). They should understand that the national minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds is lower than it is for 18-year-olds. They should also be aware that in the UK payments for jobs will usually be paid directly into their bank account and if they earn above a certain amount, they may need to pay tax. Tax payments will automatically come out their salary.

Adapting to life in the UK

You will also play an important role in supporting the child to adapt to life in the UK. There will be differences between life in Ukraine and in the UK that you will need to support them to navigate. Key issues to consider include:

Older teenagers and independence: 16- and 17-year-olds in Ukraine may consider themselves as having already reached adulthood. You may need to emphasise that in the UK young people are not considered adults until they turn 18. In light of this it is a good idea to make sure you have open and ongoing conversations around expectations with the child and their parent(s)/legal guardian.

Understanding relevant UK laws: The UK has some different laws to Ukraine, and you will want to make sure for example that the child knows that it is illegal for under 18-year-olds to purchase and consume alcohol and tobacco products.

Links with Ukraine

You should ensure that the child maintains their cultural and language links to Ukraine. This could include seeking out opportunities through their school, the council, charity organisations or with the Embassy of Ukraine (which you should support them to register with soon after arrival), for the child to mix with other children from Ukraine in the area. You might also want to observe some Ukrainian traditions as you celebrate key events (like birthdays).

You will be expected to help their child to stay in touch with their parent or legal guardian. More information on maintaining the child’s links with Ukraine can be found in the Staying connected and in contact with family (#staying-connected-and-in-contact-with-family) section. You should support their child and any accompanying relative to register with the Embassy of Ukraine (https://uk.mfa.gov.ua/en/embassy/874-kontaktna-informacija).

If the parent or legal guardian decides that they want an accompanying adult relative to be responsible for the day-to-day care of their child, you will still be expected to help their child to:
- Access education, health, and other public services.
- Adapt to life in the UK.
- Integrate into the local community.
These expectations also apply if you are providing self-contained accommodation for their child and any accompanying adult relative but are not living with them. You should agree with any accompanying adult relative arrangements for you to visit them occasionally in their self-contained accommodation to check on their wellbeing.

Any accompanying adult relative must remain living with the child for the duration of the child’s stay in the UK or until they turn 18 when a parent or legal guardian gives them responsibility for the day-to-day care of their child. You should notify the council and parent or legal guardian as soon as possible if this changes.

You are strongly encouraged to discuss with the parent or legal guardian, as soon as possible:

The care arrangements for their child and any accompanying adult relative. You should arrange to have a pre-arrival phone call or an online meeting with the parent(s)/legal guardian and where appropriate - depending on their age - the child, as well as any accompanying adult relative. This call will be a good opportunity to get to know each other better and agree the care arrangements including any household rules, such as curfews and mealtime and bedtime expectations. You should also use this opportunity to explain the differences in the UK schooling system and the requirement for the child to be in education or training until their 18th birthday.

Any future plans they may have to visit their child in the UK (more information provided in the Parent of legal guardian visiting their child (#parent-or-legal-guardian-visiting-their-child) section).

Any future plans they may have to send their child’s siblings to the UK. We would normally expect siblings to have the same sponsor unless there are good reasons for them to stay separately. It is important they discuss and agree any plans to send their child’s siblings to the UK at a later time upfront with you. The parent of legal guardian may wish to consider finding another sponsor if you would not be able to accommodate the siblings as well.

Accommodation

The council will check your accommodation to ensure it is suitable for the child’s and any accompanying adult relative’s needs. Their check will be mainly focused on the child’s safety and wellbeing. They will check it is a suitable size to accommodate the number of people that will be living in it, has adequate facilities and there are no health and safety risks.

This means your accommodation should:
- Be kept clean and in an acceptable state.
- Have enough kitchen and bathroom space (which the child and any accompanying adult relative will have access to).
- Have access to drinking water.
- Have a working smoke detector on each floor of the property and other fire safety precautions suitable for the building (like fire doors or escape routes which help make a home safe from fire (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-your-home-safe-from-fire)).
- Have a working carbon monoxide detector in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance (like a coal fire or wood burning stove).
- Have sufficient heating to keep the property at a comfortable temperature.
- Have safe gas appliances and fittings and flues (you should consider whether a gas safety check (https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm) is needed).
- Have safe and working electrics, which a qualified electrician can help with if you are unsure.
- Be reasonably free from damp or mould.
- Have doors and windows at entry level that lock securely.
- Be easy and safe to move around in, without very steep staircases that may cause harm.
- Have appropriate safety features that are appropriate for the age of any children who will stay there.
The child should be given their own bedroom unless they are sharing with their sibling. If one child is aged over 10, then any sibling they share with should be of the same gender. In exceptional cases where children do not know each other before moving in, they should not share a bedroom.

If the council decides your accommodation is unsafe or unsuitable when making their accommodation check, they will discuss with you changes that could be made to fix any issues and ensure your accommodation is an appropriate standard (like working with the UK Fire Service to supply additional smoke alarms).

You should always involve everyone in your household when deciding to become a host family. This includes children, whose views, wishes and feelings should be considered. There will be additional considerations when your household already includes children in foster care.

Safeguarding and welfare

You will play an important role in supporting the welfare of the child. The council also has a legal duty to protect the child in certain circumstances (such as if they believe the child is at risk).

An officer of the local council should visit the child within 24 hours of them arriving to stay with their sponsor in England. The officer should give the child information about how to report to them any problems they may have with their stay in the UK during the visit. They should speak to the child individually, as well as together with you and any accompanying adult relative. This gives the child the opportunity to tell the council any problems they may have and how they are feeling.

The child can also discuss any problems with:

A. Professional people they come into contact with, like their teachers or health workers. All these professionals have a duty to help.

B. A telephone helpline run by the children’s charity Barnardo’s, which has a free number to call: xx-xxxx-xxxx. The helpline offers a confidential service and has Ukrainian and Russian speakers. Visit Barnardo’s website (https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services/barnardos-ukrainian-support-helpline).

C. A telephone helpline run by the children’s charity Childline, which has trained counsellors to support anyone who is 18 or under living in the UK. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. Children can talk to them by calling 0800 1111 or through a 1-2-1 counsellor chat online. You should explain to the child that in the UK is it very normal to speak to a qualified mental health practitioner about mental health struggles.

The child will be visited at regular intervals by the local council after their initial visit, to ensure their child’s ongoing needs are being met and to check that the sponsorship arrangement is still working well. These ongoing visits will continue until the child turns 18, and will also take place in cases where the child is accompanied by an adult relative. The council will share their plan for these visits with you. You are expected to fully co-operate when any social worker visit is required, providing access to your accommodation and the child. Where possible the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian should also be invited to join remotely.

Regular visits by the council should also take place if an accompanying adult relative with day-to-day caring responsibility is living with the child in self-contained accommodation, separate to you. Where possible the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian should also be invited to join remotely.

The council should spend part of these visits speaking to you individually, to enable you to speak more openly about any challenges you are experiencing living with the child and/or their accompanying adult relative. Where the child you are hosting will soon be turning 18, the council should use these visits to discuss their next steps, including for study, work and possibly moving into their own accommodation, if that is what they want.

The council will do everything they can to contact the parent or legal guardian if any decisions need to be made about the child caused by any change in circumstances or concerns the council may have.

Financial support

As set out in the ‘Role of the sponsor’ section, where the parent or legal guardian has given you responsibility for the day-to-day care of their child, you will also be expected to take on financial responsibility for that care while the child is in the UK, or until they turn 18.

Where the parent or legal guardian has given responsibility for the day-to-day care of their child to any accompanying adult relative, then the adult relative is expected to take on financial responsibility for that care.

You must discuss and agree this with the parent or legal guardian and any accompanying adult relative, including whether the parent or legal guardian can provide any financial contribution towards their child’s care.

Thank you payment

As a way of thanking you for your generosity and to help you with any extra costs, you can choose to receive a monthly ‘thank you’ payment while the child stays with you (up to 3 years).

Optional monthly thank you payments for sponsors of £350 (year 1) or £500 (year 2 and 3, until 1 April 2025). After 1 April 2025, hosts will be eligible to receive £350 a month per household, irrespective of how long guests have been in the UK.

Eligible sponsors of those previously on Homes for Ukraine visas will be able to claim thank you payments of £350 a month, for the 18 months that guests are covered by a Ukraine Permission Extension scheme visa. See further guidance on the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-ukraine-permission-extension-scheme-guidance-for-councils).

As of 1 October 2024, close family members of eligible minors are not eligible to start claiming ‘thank you’ payments. We define a close family member to a child as:
- a spouse, or civil or unmarried partner;
- a parent;
- a parent-in-law;
- a sibling;
- an aunt or uncle;
- a grandparent; or
- the spouse, or civil or unmarried partner of any of these people.
£200 once-off payment

All Homes for Ukraine guests can receive a once-off payment of £200 each.

This payment will be given to you on behalf of the child where you have been given responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child.

This payment will be given to the accompanying adult relative on behalf of the child where they have been given responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child (either if they are living with you or are in self-contained accommodation). The adult relative will also receive their own £200 once-off payment.

The £200 payment will be managed by your local council and does not need to be repaid. The council may also decide to support guests with other payments.

Child Benefit

As a sponsor for a child from Ukraine, you may also be eligible for Child Benefit .

Child Benefit is a universal benefit for anyone responsible for a child. It issues 4- weekly payments equating to £21.80 per week for the eldest child and £14.45 per week for each additional child. A person is usually considered to be responsible for a child if they live with them or they are paying at least the same amount as Child Benefit (or the equivalent in kind) towards looking after the child, for example on food or clothes.

To claim the benefit, the child they are responsible for must be under the age of 16 (or under the age of 20 if they stay in full-time non advanced education or approved training). You need to apply for Child Benefit by completing a Child Benefit claim form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claim-child-benefit-if-you-cannot-claim-online). You can read more information about claiming Child Benefit (https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit), including the evidence that you will need to provide with your claim.

Two people cannot get Child Benefit for the same child. Where the child is accompanied by an adult relative and the parent or legal guardian has given that relative responsibility for the day-to-day care of their child (including financial), it might be more appropriate for them to make the claim for Child Benefit instead of you as the sponsor. You will need to agree this with the adult relative.

Other UK government schemes

As a sponsor for a guest child, you will also be able to apply for government schemes that supporting working parents. That could include:
- Tax-Free Childcare (https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare).
- 15 hours per week of free early education over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year for disadvantaged two-year-olds – eligibility criteria apply.
- 15 hours per week of free early education over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year for all three- and four-year-olds.
- An additional 15 hours per week over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year (also known as ‘30 hours free childcare’) for three- and four-year-olds from working families – eligibility criteria apply.
If you are already eligible for Universal Credit (https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility), Tax Credits (https://www.gov.uk/manage-your-tax-credits), Housing Benefit (https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit) or Pension Credit (https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility), and the parent or legal guardian has given you financial responsibility for their child, you should declare the fact that you are now hosting a child to:
- The Department for Work and Pensions for Universal Credit (https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit)
- HMRC for Tax Credits (https://www.gov.uk/contact-hmrc)
- Your local council for Housing Benefit (https://www.gov.uk/apply-housing-benefit-from-council)
This is because you may qualify for additional benefits to support the child, depending on your existing circumstances. You might be allocated an additional bedroom in the housing costs support calculation, or if you are of state pension age, you might be eligible for additional Pension Credit, because you are responsible for a child living with you (eligibility criteria apply).

The accompanying adult relative may receive this additional benefit support instead of you as the sponsor, where the parent or legal guardian has given the adult relative financial responsibility for their child. Your existing benefit claims will not be affected in any way.

The child you sponsor may also be eligible for Universal Credit (https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility) in their own right under certain conditions if they are 16 or 17-years-old and not in education.

Support with school costs

You may be able to get help with school uniform costs, depending on the support offered by your local council. If you live in England, contact your local council (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council) to find out if there is support in your area. Some children are eligible for free school meals, you can check online if the child is eligible (https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals).

Access to public services

Children living in the UK will have access to public services. As noted in the ‘Role of a sponsor’ section, you should support them to:
- Apply for a school place
- Register with a GP
- Register with a dentist
Apply for a school place

All children who come to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme have the right to access state education. All children in England must continue in education or training until their 18th birthday. Councils have a statutory duty to support 16- and 17-year-olds to move into education and training and must support young people to find a suitable opportunity. Going to school or college is very important in helping young people become part of the communities they live in.

Your application for a school place on the child’s behalf is likely to be through the in-year admissions process. This process is explained in more detail in the education guides for Ukrainians arriving in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests#education). The council will work with families to enable all children to attend school, or early years provision for children under 5 years old, in their local area as soon as possible. These places cannot always be at schools that are closest to their accommodation.

All people from Ukraine aged 16 to 19 who are allowed to live in UK are eligible for ‘16-19’ funding. 16-19 study programmes can include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses or other English tuition, depending on the needs of the student. They may also be able to get bursary support from a provider of further education (FE), if they meet other criteria and if the provider agrees they need help with some costs. You and your guest can speak to local schools and FE providers for more information about courses, how to enrol and availability of places (https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses).

Register with a GP

Find your nearest NHS GP (https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp) and learn more about these services.

Register with a dentist

Find your nearest NHS dentist (https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist) and learn more about these services.

Travel arrangements

Children who are travelling alone are vulnerable to some risks and need to be supported during their entire journey. The below sets out what is required for children travelling to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

To keep the child as safe as possible, we strongly advise that you:
- Work with the child’s parent or legal guardian to agree on a travel plan after a travel visa has been issued (more details on what this travel plan should involve is set out below under ‘Pre-departure planning’
- Ensure that the child travels to the UK with an adult relative or you accompany them. If this is not possible, then you will need to arrange to meet them when they arrive in the UK at the airport and show a relevant form of photographic ID (passport or driving licence) to demonstrate you are the designated sponsor.
- Arrange travel by air rather than another kind of transport – try to book flights to the main UK airports that are set up to receive Ukrainian arrivals (see the Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for guests (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests) and where possible within busier hours from 8am to 8pm. Travel through Calais, Coquelles or Dunkerque should be avoided unless you or the adult relative can accompany the child.
Pre-departure planning

You should work with the parent or legal guardian to agree on a travel plan after a travel visa has been issued. You should do this for the child before they travel to the UK, both where they are travelling with you or any accompanying adult relative and where they are travelling alone.

This plan should include:
- Your name, contact details and proof of ID (passport or driving license) if you are collecting the child. The same information for the adult relative if they are travelling with the child to the UK.
- Departure date and time.
- Flight number.
- Departure and arrival airports.
- Expected arrival date and time.
- Arrival terminal (if possible).
- You should contact the airline before departure to ensure the child is recorded under a passenger assistance scheme if the child is aged 13 or under and is travelling alone. This will guarantee that the airline provides help and assistance throughout the journey and ensure ground staff are available on arrival to escort the child to the border and agreed handover point.
- An emergency backup contact for you, who the council can contact if they cannot make contact with you.
- An agreed meeting area for handover of the child at the airport. This should be at the relevant Ukrainian arrivals Welcome Point (see the Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for guests (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests).
- When everyone has agreed to the plan, you should send it to your local council.
- You should contact the council if there are any changes to the travel plan.
During travel

Children may be vulnerable to many risks during their journey. To reduce these risks, we recommend that:
- You know and follow the travel plan arrive at the airport well ahead of the child’s arrival flight. You should also be aware of processing times at ports in busy periods for things such as border and immigration control and luggage collection.
- The airline carrier escorts the child from the aircraft and through the border If the child is travelling alone.
- The child is only handed over to you after the child has crossed the border and passed through customs.
- You provide proof of ID (passport or driving license) to Border Force or airline staff before the handover of the child. If you cannot provide this proof, then staff will not allow the child to travel onwards.
- You should promptly alert your council contact that you have collected the child, who is now in your care, as part of the handover process. The council should arrange a visit to your accommodation within 24 hours of the child’s arrival.
- Either you or any accompanying adult relative should escort the child through the border. If the child is travelling with any other adult, Border Force will assess their suitability to accompany the child and may require you to attend the port to collect the child, which may cause significant delays to the child’s travel.
- If the child is planning to travel with an adult relative from the airport to your accommodation, then after they have crossed the border, the adult relative should inform you they are both in the country. You should then promptly notify your council contact.
- You, the child and any accompanying adult relative can use the Ukrainian Welcome Point helpdesks that are in operation at most major ports (see the Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for guests (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests) for any other queries or requests for assistance upon the child’s arrival in the country. These Welcome Points include information about what support is available to the child, including onward travel advice. They also provide access to basic supplies (including food and water, toiletries and UK sim cards) before they leave the airport.
Travel problems

Travel plans can go wrong and may need to be changed at short notice. To ensure the child stays safe when this happens, we suggest:
- You provide an emergency backup contact in your pre-departure plan for the council to contact if you cannot be contacted.
- You urgently tell the council and airline if the adult relative planned to travel with the child cannot travel at short notice and the child has to travel alone, so the relevant agencies can prepare for the child’s arrival.
- Border Force contact the airport’s local council if the child is not collected within 2 hours of crossing the border. The airport’s local council will arrange for the child to go into emergency fostering accommodation in that area if you cannot be contacted. Your local council where you are hosting the child must then make new plans to bring the child to your accommodation.
- The child is aware of the travel plan and knows who they are travelling with and where they are meeting people. Depending on their age, you should try to ensure they have contact numbers for you and your local council.
Staying connected and in contact with family

The parent or legal guardian and their child will want to maintain contact with each other, and you will need to support and facilitate this.

Different kinds of contact can be appropriate at certain times. A good way to maintain regular contact is through using texting apps or email as it may be difficult to have long voice or video calls late at night. You will need to be able to support the child during and after any calls as there could also be difficulties with signal or background noise that could cause distress to the child.

You should also send the parents or legal guardian regular updates about their child’s life in the UK, including their health, education or social activities, and sharing photographs.

Parent or legal guardian visiting their child

It is possible that the child’s parent or legal guardian may want to visit them in the UK. You should consider whether you could also accommodate the parent or legal guardian for visits.

The parent or legal guardian must apply for a visa if they want to come to the UK to visit their child.

They should apply for a Standard Visitor visa (https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor). This visa usually only allows an individual to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. If the parent or legal guardian wanted to stay in the UK on a more long-term basis, the Standard Visitor visa is not appropriate.

Parent or legal guardian moving to the UK

If the parent or legal guardian decide to come and live in the UK, they must apply for a visa.

Please find further information about eligibility requirements under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme in the guidance Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme).

You must inform the council as soon as possible if the parent or legal guardian wants their child to be returned to live with them, an adult relative or other trusted person back in Ukraine or another country, before the end of their child’s permission to stay in the UK has passed. The council should then ask the parent or legal guardian for written consent of this decision to remove their child from the UK, confirming that it is the best interest of their child and that appropriate travel and reception arrangements have been made. You should consider your role in ensuring the child leaves the UK safely.

Minors who applied prior to 19 February 2024

This section of the guidance explains the requirements for eligible minors who submitted their applications prior to 3pm on 19 February 2024.

Requirements for applicants who applied between March 2022 and 7 December 2023
- Applicants who hold a valid Ukrainian passport do not have to submit biometrics before they travel to the UK. Third country nationals, or Ukrainians who do not have a valid passport, must submit biometrics before they travel to the UK.
- Successful applicants will be granted permission under the Homes for Ukraine scheme for 3 years.
- If an applicant attended a Visa Application Centre (VAC) overseas to provide biometrics, they receive a physical visa in their passport valid for 90 days and collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) after their arrival in the UK.
- If applicants successfully used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app as part of their application they are issued with a permission to travel letter which allows travel to the UK and BRP after their arrival in the UK.
- If biometrics were not provided overseas and they did not use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app as part of their application, applicants are issued with a permission to travel letter which allows travel to the UK. They must then provide biometrics in the UK, after which they will be issued with a BRP.
Sponsors must be able to commit to staying in the UK for the duration of the sponsorship agreement, because they (for example):
- Are a British citizen.
- Settled in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain).
- Have no time limit on their stay in the UK, for example, an Irish citizen
- Have permission to stay in the UK for at least 3 years from the date of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme application or as long as they will be sponsoring the child.
Requirements for applicants who applied between 7 December 2023 and 3pm on 19 February 2024
- All applicants are required to submit biometrics before they travel to the UK.
- Successful applicants will be granted permission under the Homes for Ukraine scheme for 3 years. They will receive a physical visa in their passport valid for 90 days and collect a Biometric Residence Permit on arrival in the UK.
Sponsors must be able to commit to staying in the UK for the duration of the sponsorship agreement, because they (for example):
- Are a British citizen.
- Settled in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain).
- Have no time limit on their stay in the UK, for example, an Irish citizen
Have permission to stay in the UK for at least 3 years from the date of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme application or as long as they will be sponsoring the child.

Change of circumstances

In the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form), the parent or legal guardian will need to confirm whether you or any accompanying adult relative has permission to make day-to-day decisions about their child.

These day-to-day decisions could be about where to live with their child in the UK, for example if you move into new accommodation. You should make every effort to notify the parent or legal guardian of changes like this, but you would not need to get the parent or legal guardian’s explicit consent. You must however inform the council of the new address of the child within the UK.

In the event that the child’s parent or legal guardian have died while their child is in your care, you should inform the council. The council will alert the Embassy of Ukraine and contact their child’s next of kin (the parent or legal guardian provided these details upfront on the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-uk-sponsorship-arrangement-consent-form)) to agree future arrangements for the child. The child should remain living with you, where appropriate, while arrangements are made. You should ensure that the child receives appropriate bereavement support (https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/children-and-bereavement/).

Ending of sponsorship arrangement

You must notify the council immediately if the sponsorship arrangement is to be ended for any reason. The sponsorship arrangement for the child can be ended by:
- You.
- The child.
- The parent or legal guardian.
- Any accompanying adult relative.
- The local council (if they have concerns for the safety of the child).
You

You must notify the council immediately if you want to end the sponsorship arrangement. You should set out the reasons for the ending of the arrangement (where you are comfortable doing so). If the child has already moved out of your accommodation, you must include in the notification to the council the name and address of the person now caring for the child and that person’s relationship to the child. The council will then contact the child’s parent or legal guardian to find out what they want to do in these circumstances.

The child

You or the child must notify the council immediately If the child wants to end their sponsorship arrangement before they turn 18. The council will try to find a way to continue the sponsorship arrangement. The council will contact the parent or legal guardian to see if any other plans can be made for the child if it does not succeed. The council may need to find accommodation for the child or take them into care if the parent or legal guardian cannot be contacted or cannot suggest any other plans. The council would discuss this with the Ukrainian authorities.

Parent or legal guardian

You must alert the council immediately if the parent or legal guardian want to end their child’s sponsorship arrangement for any reason. This could be, for example, because they want their child to move back to Ukraine, or another country, to be reunited with them, a relative or other trusted person.

As set out in the ‘Parent or legal guardian reuniting with their child’ section, the council will request written consent from the parent or legal guardian of this decision to remove the child from the UK, confirming it is in the child’s best interest and that appropriate travel and reception arrangements have been made. You should consider your role in ensuring the safe departure of the child from the UK.

Any accompanying adult relative

Any accompanying adult relative that is living with the child in your accommodation should remain living with the child for the duration of the child’s stay in the UK. If you become aware that an adult relative is intending to leave the child in your care, you should alert the council immediately. The council will need to consider whether the arrangement remains suitable, and this may depend on whether you (the sponsor) or the adult relative had been given responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child by their parent(s) or legal guardian. If the adult relative had previously been given responsibility for the child’s care, then the council will check whether you are able and/or willing to take on the increased responsibility for the child. The child’s parent(s) or legal guardian will also need to consent to the new living arrangements.

If an accompanying adult (who has been given responsibility for the child’s day to day care) wants to leave sponsorship and live independently with the child then you should notify the council and provide the council with the new address. The parent or legal guardian’s consent would not be needed as the adult relative has permission to make day-to-day decisions about their child, including where they live. However, you and the local council should notify the parent(s) or legal guardian of the sponsorship arrangement ending, where possible.

Rematching

If your sponsorship arrangement with a child needs to end before they turn 18, you must notify the council who will contact the child’s parent or legal guardian to understand what they want to happen next.

In this situation, the parent might want their child to move in with another person - a ‘rematch’ with a new host. The same eligibility criteria applies and the council will need to conduct the relevant safeguarding checks on the new host. The child should not move into the new host’s accommodation until these checks have been completed and the new host approved. Where possible and appropriate, the child should stay living with you until they can move to the new host’s accommodation.

Once the child has moved out of your accommodation, you will no longer receive the monthly thank you payment (where applicable). This will instead be paid to the new host of the child.

Post-18 support

If a child is due to turn 18 while staying with you (and you will have hosted them for at least six months at this point) you should consider whether you can continue sponsoring them for a longer period.

If you are not able to continue sponsoring the child, or if they themselves want to end the arrangement at this point and live independently, you should notify the council as early as possible (preferably at least two months before the child is due to turn 18 and move out) so that the council has sufficient time to discuss next steps with them. You are still expected to support the minor in their move to adult life.

If they are not yet ready to leave sponsorship and move into alternative accommodation but you cannot continue to sponsor them, the council will support them in finding a new host (rematch). As set out above, where possible and appropriate they should stay living with you until the safeguarding checks on the new host are completed and they can move into the new host’s accommodation.

You and the council should also inform the parent or legal guardian that the sponsorship arrangement for their child has ended. However, you should note that the parent or legal guardian will not be asked to give their consent. This is because their child, upon turning 18, will now be seen as an adult under UK law and can make their own decisions without needing consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Further support
- Homes for Ukraine (https://apply-to-offer-homes-for-ukraine.service.gov.uk/) contains information about the scheme.
- A guide for councils (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians) on how to support you, the child and their parent or legal guardian has been issued.
- The UK government has published a list of Recognised Providers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recognised-providers-organisations-who-can-help-guests-from-ukraine-find-sponsors-in-the-uk) – voluntary and community sector organisations running schemes which provide support for and help match people coming from Ukraine with sponsors in the UK. However, you should note that the matching service provided by these organisations are not relevant to this group of children given the requirement for sponsors to be personally known to the parent or legal guardian.
- The Childcare Choices website (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) also provides useful advice and information to help sponsors support their guests.
Definitions

“Close family member” refers to a person above 18 years of age, who is not the child’s parent or legal guardian, but is a parent-in-law, spouse, civil or unmarried partner, sibling, aunt or uncle, grandparent, or the spouse, or civil or unmarried partner of any of these people.

“Child” or “children” refers to an individual who is under 18. “Unaccompanied minor” refers to a child who is not travelling with or to join their parent or legal guardian in the UK. This includes children who are travelling with a relative(s) or other adult(s) and children with a parent in the UK who is living at a different address. “Eligible minor” refers to an unaccompanied minor who is living in the UK under a ‘Homes for Ukraine’ sponsorship arrangement.

“Council” or “local Council” refers to the local government authority in the area where the sponsor is living, whose duties include the welfare of children and who will have responsibility for overseeing sponsorship arrangements including pre- and post-arrival safeguarding checks. In Northern Ireland, child safeguarding is the responsibility of Health and Social Care Trusts. Any reference to a council in this context should be read as a reference to a Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

“DBS check” refers to a check on the criminal record of an individual by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, the authority that is responsible for carrying out criminal record checks for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). DBS also maintains the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists, and makes considered decisions as to whether an individual should be included on one or both of these lists and barred from engaging in regulated activity.

“Further education” includes any study after secondary education that’s not part of higher education (that is, not taken as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree).

“General Practitioner (GP)” refers to a medical doctor based in the local community that treats patients with minor or chronic illnesses and will refer patients with serious conditions to specialist consultants in a hospital.

“Guest” or “guests” refers to people who were residents in Ukraine before 1 January 2022, who have secured a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which enables them to be housed by a sponsor.

“Health visitors” are qualified nurses or midwives who have had extra training.

An “immediate family member” could be any of a:
- partner who is a Ukrainian national; or
- parent who is a Ukrainian national or whose partner is a Ukrainian national; or
- fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner who is a Ukrainian national.
“Known sponsor” refers to an adult who is personally known to the child’s parent or legal guardian, where their relationship should have started before the beginning of the conflict on 24 February 2022.

“Legal guardian” refers to a guardian appointed according to local laws to take care of a child. ‘Local law’ here means the law applicable in the country where the legal guardian was appointed rather than the law of the country the applicant is travelling to.

“Parent” is defined in the Immigration Rules (Introduction section 6.2 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-introduction#:~:text=of%20the%20business.-,%E2%80%9CParent%E2%80%9D%20means%3A,-(a)%20biological%20parent)), and includes a biological parent, legal parent or adoptive parent.

“Parental responsibility” in England refers to the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and their property. It also includes the rights, powers and duties which a guardian of the child’s estate would have in relation to the child and their property.

“Police National Computer” refers to a national database of information available to all police forces, law enforcement agencies and other specified bodies throughout UK.

“School nurses” are specialist community public health nurses who work with school-aged children and young people and their families to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities.

“Sponsor” or “sponsors” refers to an individual who has been approved to accommodate an individual or household from Ukraine under the “Homes for Ukraine” sponsorship scheme.

Annex A: Pre-departure travel plan template

To ensure the safe transportation of eligible children entering the UK, we recommend sponsors work with the parent or legal guardian to populate the below template for any eligible child they are hosting. This plan should be shared with the local council.

The aim of this procedure is to assure all parties that a plan is in place for supervising all stages of the transit process as well as what contingencies should be enacted if anything goes wrong. To this end we are asking council leads to:

Engage sponsors to work with the parent or legal guardian ahead of departure to populate the fields below and mutually agree the pre-departure plan.

Once agreed, councils should upload the template to JIRA, ideally 72 hours ahead of departure. If uploading the council should flag in the subject box, the following title ‘’Eligible Child Transit Plan. GWFXXXX Name:XXXXXX

Provide the council with relevant emergency contact details.

Pre-departure plan

Handover and collection

Data sharing

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Home Office are data controllers for the Homes for Ukraine visa sponsorship scheme. Local councils will become independent data controllers once they receive the data.

Further information can be found in this privacy notice (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-visa-sponsorship-scheme-privacy-notice).