Ukraine – Areas of work

Second Phase of UPE Scheme

The UK Government announced in the House of Commons on 1st September 2025 that they plan to extend the current UPE scheme for a further 24-months, as follows: “We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine – extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme by a further 24 months, with further details to be set out in due course.”

On 24th February 2026 the UK Government made an announcement on the extension of the UPE scheme as follows: Written statements – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament

Home Office Update (March 2026)

The UPE scheme has been extended for a further 24 months following the initial 18 month period. If you’re currently in the UK under the UPE scheme, you’ll be able to apply to receive an additional 24 months permission to stay in the UK. This takes the total permission under UPE to 3 and a half years. You’ll be able to apply for this extension 90 days before your current permission expires. It remains free to apply.

The 90-day window will apply for first time UPE applications from 8 April and second UPE applications once open, for those seeking an extension.

Applying at any point within the 90-day window will not reduce the total permission granted. Any remaining valid permission will be added to the new grant.

These changes are not yet in force. Until 8 April, the current 28-day application window continues to apply and you cannot yet apply for the additional 24 months permission. Applications submitted more than 28 days before your permission ends may be rejected.

This change does not affect ongoing applications.

You can apply for the scheme using the ‘Apply’ section.

UPE Scheme

The UK Government announced some changes to “thank you payments” and the UPE scheme 26th November 2024, as follows:

• The UPE scheme opened for applications from 9am on 4th February 2025.
• Applicants must already be in the UK (and Islands, which includes Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man) at the time of applying.
• Applicants must have been living in the UK since they were granted their visa or arrived in the UK.
• Applicants may be asked to provide proof that they have lived in the UK and to account for periods spent abroad.
• Applicants can only apply 28 days before their visa expires and a decision is usually granted within 8 weeks via email.
• If applicants need to travel abroad close to the expiry date of their existing permission, they should ensure they plan to return to the UK within the validity of their existing visa to be able to make a UPE application in the UK.
  • Applicants should not travel outside of the UK or any other part of the Common Travel Area (the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) whilst waiting for a decision on their application. If applicants do travel, then their application will be withdrawn and will not be considered.
• Applicants may need one of the following* to qualify: Homes for Ukraine, Family or Extension visa.
  • *Individuals may also be eligible to apply to the UPE scheme if they have been granted leave outside the rules in certain circumstances.
• Sponsors can apply to receive ‘thank you’ payments if they continue to host a guest who is staying under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) period. All thank you payments are £350 per month from 1 April 2025 with some councils using their discretion to top up payments.
  • *A child may be granted less than 18 months permission if their period of permission is being aligned to that of their parent here on existing schemes.
  • Thank you, payments will discontinue after 18 months and will not form part of UPE 2.
• From midnight on 12th February 2025, you can no longer use your Permission to Travel (PTT) with more details, as follows:
  • PTT holders who want to travel to the UK for temporary sanctuary on/after 13^th February 2025 will not be able to do so with their expired PTT letter.
  • Any arrivals with a PTT letter and no permission to enter the UK will be refused entry to the UK and may be returned to their place of departure.
  • Those Ukrainians and families seeking temporary sanctuary in the UK after 13^th February 2025 will need to submit a new application under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
• The scheme will remain fee free and Immigration Health Surcharge exempt.

Full UPE Guidance

• Homes for Ukraine: council guides – GOV.UK
• Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guides – GOV.UK
• Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for guests – GOV.UK
• Ending your hosting arrangements, and helping your guest with their next steps: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• Becoming a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• Finding a new host (rematching): Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• Hosting someone already in the UK (rematching): Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• When you have sponsored for 6 months: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• Living with your sponsor: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for councils (children and minors applying without parents or legal guardians) – GOV.UK
• Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – guidance for councils – GOV.UK
• Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – guidance for sponsors – GOV.UK 
• Children being sponsored by a parent or legal guardian: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
• UPE External Partner Pack February 2025
• MHCLG UPE FAQs
• Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme Factsheet

Homelessness Prevention Grant

Funding has continued from 2025 and the allocation for each Local authority can be found here: Homelessness Prevention Grant allocations: 2025 to 2026 – GOV.UK. MHCLG are currently in the process of consultation for funding for year 2026/27. This is funding to statutory services so will be paid to all Local Authorities.

Further information can be found here: Homelessness Prevention Grant 2025-26: technical note – GOV.UK

Council Tax under UPE

Council Tax advice under UPE for Guests and Hosts can be found as follows:

• Work and benefits: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK

• Renting private accommodation: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK

Using Ukrainian Driving Licence in the UK under UPE

• Guidance for those with a Ukrainian Driving Licence can be found as follows: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extension-of-ukraine-driving-licence-exchange/outcome/extension-of-ukraine-driving-licence-exchange-government-response.

Universal Credit

Citizen’s Advice Bureau have produced the following guides in English and Ukrainian:

https://southeastspm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ukrainian-Help-to-Claim-client-leaflet.pdf

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/contact-us-about-universal-credit

Education

Please find the guidance on Higher Education for UPE guests and apprenticeships as follows: Student Support Information Note

The Apprenticeship funding rules state that “An individual must be able to complete the apprenticeship within the time they have available, including the end-point assessment. If the provider knows an individual is unable to complete the apprenticeship in the time they have available (e.g., because their visa will expire or because they have a fixed-term contract that is shorter than the duration of the apprenticeship), they must not be funded.”

The reason for this rule is to ensure that learners can complete an apprenticeship within the time they have available, including the end-point assessment. This rule ensures that we are protecting public funds and preventing investment in someone who is ultimately unable to complete their course (for example, because their circumstances have changed, and they are not able to extend their residency).

Most learners are eligible to undertake an apprenticeship if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years. However, certain groups are exempted from this requirement, including those on the Ukraine Family scheme, Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Extension scheme and the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. However, these individuals must meet the other eligibility criteria in the rules which apply to all learners. This includes the requirement that they have enough time left on their visa to complete the apprenticeship.

The Apprenticeship funding rules can be found here: Apprenticeship funding rules – GOV.UK

Further DfE Guidance for Higher Education (which would not cover those with UPE), as follows: “Where a course continues past a learner’s visa expiry date, providers may at their discretion fund that learner only where they have a high degree of certainty that a learner intends to (and will be eligible to) renew their visa.” For ESFA providers we put a clarification in our rules recently which states explicitly that this applies to Ukrainians waiting to apply for UPES (“As stated in the learners with section on limited length visas section, a learner can still be funded even if their visa does not cover the full duration of the course, if the provider has a high degree of certainty that the learner intends to apply for, and be eligible to receive, further permission to remain in the UK for the duration of their course. Learners who currently have permission under one of the Ukraine schemes and intend to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (or have applied but not yet had permission granted) may be treated as eligible on that basis.”). 

STEP Programme

On 30th September 2025, World Jewish Relief launched STEP for Ukrainians visa holders in England. This free online programme, funded by the UK Government, offers personalised employment support and English classes and is run in partnership with the British Council.

Registrations are now open at https://tinyurl.com/mrx9hwkz

STEP is open to participants living in England, aged 18 or over, who are on a Ukrainian visa scheme or a Hong Kong BN(O) visa. The programme is designed for those looking for work or hoping to find a better job, while also improving their English and building confidence.

What STEP offers:
Participants benefit from personalised employment support, including one-to-one sessions with a dedicated advisor, assistance with CVs, cover letters, job applications, and interview preparation, as well as career guidance tailored to their individual skills and goals. They also have access to webinars with employers.

Alongside this, participants can access high-quality English classes delivered online by expert British Council teachers. Learners study in small groups at their own level, combining live classes with self-study and webinars. On completion, participants receive a British Council Certificate of Attendance and an English Score Test Certificate.

Flexible programme options are available:

• A 3-month programme with daily English classes (Monday–Friday) plus weekly employment support.
• A 6-month programme with English classes three days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) plus weekly employment support.

How to apply
To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrx9hwkz, call the freephone number 0800 319 6089, or email step@worldjewishrelief.org

Please find attached leaflet in English and Ukrainian Language, as follows:

https://southeastspm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WJR-STEP-Leaflet-English-version.pdf

https://southeastspm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WJR-STEP-Leaflet-Ukrainian-version.pdf

Previous updates

The UK Government previously announced some changes to the Ukraine Schemes on 19^th February 2024, as follows:

1. Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme – More details above.
2. Homes for Ukraine Scheme Changes:
   1. Visas issued under the scheme will be 18 months rather than 36 – this is to align them together with UPE.
   2. Change to sponsor requirements – Sponsors for new applications must now be settled themselves in UK – This means that hosts must hold British or Irish citizenship or hold indefinite leave to remain.
   3. Re-introduction of Part 9 of the Immigration Rules (Grounds for refusal) to Ukraine Schemes.
   4. Tariff for new arrivals stays the same at £5,900 per person.
3. Ukraine Family Scheme – this scheme is now be closed. All outstanding applications were processed.
4. Ukraine Extension Scheme – this scheme continued to operate until 16 May 2024. This is only to be used for parents of Ukrainian children born in UK to regularise and align their child’s immigration status.

More details behind the rationale of these changes can be found as follows:

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Page 6 and 7)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Regulatory Triage Assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Finally, all the UK Gov guidance pages reflect these changes.

Home Office: Immigration information for Ukrainians in the UK, British nationals and their family members

Running alongside the Homes for Ukraine Scheme is the Visa Support For Ukrainian Nationals which provides information and guidance for those seeking to apply under the Ukraine Family Visa Scheme

On 29th March 2022 the UK government confirmed it was formally bringing the Ukraine Family Scheme, launched on 4 March 2022; the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme launched on 18 March 2022; and the Ukraine Extension Scheme, which launched on 3 May 2022 into the UK Immigration Rules.

The WMS can be viewed via this link: Written statements – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament