How to come to or stay in the UK
Coming to the UK - You need a visa
If you have a Ukrainian passport, you need a visa to travel to the UK. You are almost certain to be refused entry without one.
If you have family in the UK
There are some visa concessions aimed at Ukrainian citizens, meaning you might be able to get a visa even if you wouldn’t normally qualify.
For example, close family members of British citizens who normally live in Ukraine can apply for a family visa for free. You should get a decision very quickly, and may get the visa even if you don’t meet the normal criteria for it or have all the usual documents.
The UK government also says that any British person or immigrant who is settled in the UK will be able to sponsor lots of different types of family members to come to the UK, including parents, siblings and adult children. This “Ukrainian Family Scheme” was announced on 1 March 2022 and may not be accepting applications yet.
There is a special UK government immigration helpline for Ukrainians with family in the UK who want to ask about visas: call +44 300 3032785 and select option 1 (0300 3032785 if you’re in the UK).
From today - 04 May 2022 - extended family members can also apply for a visa. To find more:
Work or study visa
If you don’t have a British sponsor but might qualify for a normal UK work or study visa, these can also be granted without providing the usual documents.
Visitor visas
You can apply for a visa to enter the UK as a visitor and include “clear compelling or compassionate reasons for your visit”. You must intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit – a maximum of six months.
Claiming asylum
You cannot apply for asylum from outside the UK.
Already in the UK
Visa extensions
The UK government has made it easier for Ukrainians already in the UK to stay on within the mainstream immigration system, including by applying to switch from a visit visa to another type of immigration permission (such as a work or study visa).
Claiming asylum
If you do not already have indefinite leave to remain in the UK you may wish to apply for asylum but should speak to a lawyer first.
Ukrainians in the UK may be entitled to refugee status and / or humanitarian protection.
Get immigration advice
To request free advice, please contact ukraine@freemovement.org.uk with some details of your circumstances and what advice you need.
We will do our best to connect you to a lawyer as soon as we can. Please be patient as we have already received a very large number of requests.
Advice is only available in English. If you do not speak English, you will need to ask a friend or family member to translate for you.
The lawyers who have volunteered to give advice are experts in UK visas and refugee rules but not how to travel out of Ukraine or around Europe. There is some information about travel on the Work Rights Centre website.
All this information is from https://advice-ukraine.co.uk/. This is a re-post.
Visavisto Immigration Consultancy is volunteering in this project.
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