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Помощь беженцам
Visa extensions will be allowed from February 2025, but not permanent residence
Visas initially lasted three years with no extensions permitted. But from 4 February 2025, holders will be able to apply to renew them for another 18 months.
Permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain) is not allowed. This makes the schemes different from standard visas or grants of refugee status, which do allow permanent residence after five years. Both Conservative and Labour governments have said Ukraine will be safe to return to and the visas are therefore temporary, in line with the wishes of the Ukrainian authorities. They also note that the EU is not offering permanent settlement.
Most Ukrainians in the UK do want to stay long-term, even if their home country were safe to return to.
Despite challenges, the Ukraine schemes are seen as a possible model for other conflicts
The visa schemes have been generally considered an effective response but there are concerns about housing as Homes for Ukraine placements end. The British Red Cross says “while the Ukraine response successfully delivered safety at scale, some new arrivals have experienced challenges with unsuitable accommodation, precarious housing and homelessness”.
Some charities and politicians have called for similar schemes for other nationalities, such as Palestinians.
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On 4 December 2023 the Conservative Home Secretary, James Cleverly, announced some changes to visa rules in what he described as a “five-point plan” to reduce immigration. The Home Office released more information later that month, including some adjustments to what had initially been announced.
The changes came into force in accordance with two sets of revisions to the Immigration Rules released on 19 February and 14 March. The Labour government which took office in July 2024 supports most of the new rules, although it is reviewing the policy on the minimum income to sponsor a spouse/partner visa.
