New concession added to the Ukraine Extension Scheme

A new concession has been added to the Ukraine Extension Scheme. The rules require prospective applicants to have held permission to be in the United Kingdom that expired on or after 1 January 2022, or to have held permission to be in the country on 18 March 2022. Children born in the United Kingdom to a parent who meets the rules are also eligible to apply for the scheme.

The concession now allows anyone that has held permission to be in the country for any length of time between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 to apply for the scheme as well. This will be of assistance to Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who continued to arrive in the United Kingdom with valid leave after 18 March 2022. As of June 2022, 7,662 visas were granted under this scheme and the new concession should see this number increase.

In particular Ukrainians on extended seasonal worker visas until December 2023 could consider switching into the Extension Scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria, meaning they can stay in the United Kingdom (with their families) for up to three years.

The scheme remains free to apply for, and there are also no immigration health surcharges or biometric appointment fees. Permission to stay in the country cannot currently be extended beyond three years, and it does not lead to settlement.