On February 4, 2025, the UK’s existing Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) will close, and a new Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme will open.
In February 2024, the UK Government announced that Ukrainians with permission under one of the Ukraine Schemes would be able to extend their permission for a further 18 months under the UPE, which will provide the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education that Ukrainians have enjoyed under the existing schemes. The scheme will also be fee-free, with applications being accepted within the last 28-days of their current permission expiring – in line with most other visas routes – to ensure Ukrainians have sufficient time to apply to the scheme.
What to Expect
- Applicants will be required to have been resident in the UK (and Islands) and/or Ukraine since holding permission under the Ukraine Schemes.
- Under UPE, children will need adequate care and accommodation arrangements in place in order to meet the safeguarding obligations. Where a child is not in the UK with their parent, the government will seek parental consent to confirm their current living situation. In some cases, referral to the Local Authority where the child is living will be necessary.
- Where a Ukrainian child is resident in the UK with their parent and both hold permission under the Ukraine Schemes, the child’s period of permission granted to them under UPE will be aligned with that of their parent.
In May this year, the Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) was closed to all individuals, except to UK-born children with a parent who has, or has had, Ukraine scheme permission, who have still been able to apply under UES to regularize their permission in the UK.
Upon the opening of the UPE scheme in early 2025, the UES route will be closed completely and UK-born children will instead apply through UPE, though they will not need to have had prior permission.
Additionally, the government is ending the use of permission to travel (PTT) letters on the Ukraine schemes, effective February 13, 2025. PTT letters were issued as part of an exceptional biometric deferral application process, implemented in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to allow those fleeing war to quickly reach sanctuary in the UK. However, this process closed to new applicants on December 7, 2023 and all Ukraine scheme applicants are now required to attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide their biometrics before traveling.
Applicants who have been issued with a PTT letter but not yet travelled to the UK, can use it before restrictions take effect. Any applicants who have not travelled to the UK when the restrictions take effect will be informed that their PTT letters can no longer be used.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme will remain open and uncapped for those who wish to reapply for sanctuary in the UK.
Changes to Long Residence route
The government is making a minor change to the eligibility requirements for the Long Residence route, effective December 18, 2024, to make clear that permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Schemes, including the new UPE, cannot be used to qualify for permission to stay or settlement under the Long Residence route. This change brings the Rules in step with the already established policy position.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.