Ukrainian nationals who were officially a resident of Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022, and their immediate family members (see eligibility). Ukraine nationals with an international biometric passport can apply online and will receive the visa offer by email. They do not need to visit the visa office. Those with local passports or older passports must make an appointment online to visit the visa office after submitting their visa application.

Our interpretation of the guidance is that if you were on a study or work trip away during part of 2021, this should not be a problem and you may still apply.

You will be able to stay for at least three years. Initially, you will receive permission to stay for 6 months, and this will then be extended for three years. It is unclear what will happen after the three years.

Once you have arrived at your new address, you will be able to work immediately and will also have access to jobs support, including translation help.

You will have access to financial support immediately, such as ‘universal credit’, while you are seeking employment or caring for family. You will require a bank account to receive this.

There are many flights available to the UK, however you will need to pay for these or find an organisation or sponsor that can support your costs. You can also travel by bus. You may also be able to find a bus or private transport if you contact desks at key travel points, such as the Warsaw Central Station travel desk.

Free train travel

To travel by train, you may take the direct train from Warsaw Central to Berlin (departing 05.58). Once you arrive in Berlin, you may take a train to Brussels via Koln. From Brussels (or Paris), you may take the Eurostar train to London. In most cases, these trains are free for Ukrainians, although tickets must be collected from each station. You may speak with volunteers at Warsaw Central, Berlin and Brussels stations for further advice on times and eligibility.

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Some airlines may allow you to fly with a pet, while others may not. The Eurostar train from Brussels and Paris generally does not allow you to bring pets. Some pet owners have taken trains to Paris, where volunteers provide assistance, and then ferries from Dieppe (France) to Newhaven (England). For a free ferry ticket you may need to book in advance (+443305878787). You must ensure you have the correct documentation for your pet(s). Volunteers at Warsaw Central Station may be able to provide further advice.

A Covid-19 vaccine is no longer needed to enter the UK. However, some sponsors may insist on those they host at home being vaccinated, especially if they suffer from a medical condition. You will need to discuss this with your host. Currently, over 70% of the UK is fully vaccinated.

You will need to make arrangements with your hosts for meeting one another once inside the UK. However you can access free train travel within the UK for the first 48 hours to complete your journey.

If you have family members without an international biometric passport, you must book an appointment at the local Visa Application Centre. This can be done online after completing the visa application. The Visa Application Centre in Warsaw is currently at the Sound Garden Hotel.

Your sponsor must be residing in the UK (for at least the next six months), and willing to offer you free accommodation for at least the first six months. For participating in the scheme, your host will receive £350 per month for the first 12 months, which may help support additional household expenses.

Hosts are expected to offer you accommodation for at least the first six months, however if you need to move within the first six months, you may do so independently or by speaking with local authorities. This should not affect your status. We would expect hosts to support your wishes, and where appropriate, to discuss how to transition the £350 to your new host.

You can find the official government guidance on bringing pets to the UK here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bringing-your-pet-to-the-uk-from-ukraine. For specific queries, you may speak to APHA about your pet’s circumstances by emailing pettravel@apha.gov.uk or calling +44 3000 200 301, option 2. For dogs and cats, you will require a pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccine, and tapeworm medication before travel. However, there is still a risk that your pet may face quarantine.

We suggest you speak with your sponsor about work in the local area. The government has not yet announced any specific campaigns to promote work opportunities. Some companies have reportedly pledged to offer jobs specifically to Ukrainians. You can also view the government guide for those arriving to the UK about your right to work.

We suggest you speak with your sponsor about local schooling. The government has not yet announced any specific schooling arrangements for Ukrainian children, however it has been reported that school places for 100,000 Ukrainian children will be made available.

There are various matching schemes for finding a sponsor. The government has committed to doing background checks into host families for safety purposes, however we suggest trying to speak with your host family to get to know them first, utilising an interpreter if needed. Of course, this may not always be possible during emergencies, so you may need to rely on a trusted contact or organisation for an introduction. For Scotland and Wales you do not need to find an individual sponsor.

If you would like to go to Scotland or Wales, the local governments are acting as a "super-sponsor". This means you can apply immediately, and find support and accommodation upon arrival. See here for instructions. Once you receive your visa, you may then travel to Edinburgh or Glasgow (Scotland) or Cardiff (Wales) for support.

The visa application form is available from here. If you are using an individual sponsor, they will need to provide some information, and you may need help from an interpreter or supporting organisation.

The application form takes some time to complete from a computer or phone with data connection. You will need passport information and addresses. You will also need to respond to a number of security questions involving your history, and supporting evidence. Currently, a unique application is necessary for each family member. We hope this will be simplified for families in the future.

Besides for photos of your passports, the guidance suggests you should include evidence that you were a resident in Ukraine before 1st January 2022. For those without such evidence, reportedly it may be sufficient to only include passport photos, and anything else needed based on the specific case, such as marriage certificate.

There is no official approval period, however visas are reportedly taking between 7 days, and as long as 3-4 weeks. Applications can no longer be checked using the application number at the Visa Application Centre, however you may ask your sponsor to contact their Member of Parliament or the UK Home Office. The application reference number will begin with GWF.