Ukraine

In response to the invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, the UK Government announced four main visa routes by which Ukrainian nationals can enter or remain in the UK.

Homes For Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Lancashire Refugee Integration Team coordinates the local authority response to the scheme, which focuses on undertaking safeguarding checks and providing wider community integration support.

See further support and guidance available to Sponsors and Guests.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

The Ukraine Extension Scheme allowed Ukrainian nationals and their family members who were already in the UK to extend their stay.

This scheme closed for new applications in May 2024.

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme was launched on 4 February 2025.

This scheme allows anybody who was previously granted permission through a different Ukrainian visa scheme to extend their stay in the UK for up to 18 months.

When making the application you must make sure you:

• are in the UK
• have 28 days or less remaining on your current Ukrainian visa

For more information and to apply for the scheme visit Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme on GOV.UK.

The Homes for Ukraine Team at Lancashire County Council has put together some guidance to assist with your application.

If you have a UKVI account:

• English guidance - UPE application with a UKVI account PDF 2.91 MB
• Ukrainian guidance - UPE application with a UKVI account PDF 3.00 MB

If you do not have a UKVI account:

• English guidance - UPE application without a UKVI account PDF 2.77 MB
• Ukrainian guidance - UPE application without a UKVI account PDF 2.76 MB

Booking an appointment at a Visa application centre:

• English guidance - booking an appointment with Tlscontact PDF 1.28 MB
• Ukrainian guidance - booking an appointment with Tlscontact PDF 1.30 MB

If you have any questions about the application process, contact the Homes for Ukraine Team in Lancashire on 0300 123 6718 or homesforukraine@lancashire.gov.uk.

We cannot offer immigration advice, if this is something you need, you can search for an immigration advisor on GOV.UK.

Ukraine Family Scheme

The Ukraine Family Scheme allowed family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come to or stay in the UK. 

This route closed for new applications at 3pm on 19^th February 2024.

Both the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme are coordinated and funded by individuals and require no local authority involvement.

The number of arrivals in Lancashire under both of these visa routes is currently unknown.

Homes For Ukraine resettlement figures

As of 4 March 2025 we have seen nearly 1900 Ukrainian guests arrive into Lancashire through the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

466 guests remain in sponsor accommodation, whilst over 1400 have moved on from their sponsor's house.