Standing with Ukraine

The Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme which asks people to offer space in their homes for those fleeing the war has been launched. This will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the country: Homes for Ukraine

Ukrainian people arriving under this scheme will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access benefits, healthcare, employment and other support.

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come to or stay in the UK. To apply to the scheme the applicant must:

• be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member; and
• be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme; and
• have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine).

People or organisations wanting to be sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can now register their interest here. 

If you already know a Ukrainian national (or immediate family member) who you want to sponsor, you can help them apply for a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

If you do not already know a Ukrainian national (or immediate family member) you will have to link with a voluntary sector/charitable organisation who are working to match the offer of homes in the UK with people in Ukraine who need accommodation. Once you have been matched with people in Ukraine by this organisation you, and the people coming from Ukraine, need to complete the Visa application process. This requires you, the host, to supply details about yourself, including passport information. The people in Ukraine also need to complete their details and supply documentation. A Visa application has to be done for each person who has been matched to a host’s offer of accommodation.

Find more information about hosting unknown refugees here

There are a number of organisations on a local and national level who are involved in matching. The Reset Communities and Refugees Charity has a matching service. Apply to be matched to a refugee to sponsor here.

Once the Home Office have approved all the Visa applications that apply to your offer of accommodation, which includes the Home Office carrying out security checks, your details will be passed onto the local authority, you can expect to hear from your district council regarding the completion of housing and DBS checks.

We understand that you might have been waiting a while but the Visa Application process can take some time to complete. Once we, the local authorities, have received notification of the approval of the Visa application(s) for your guests we will work as fast as we can to reach the many people who have had these Visa Applications approved for their guests through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Please be assured that your district council will be in contact with you in the near future to start the DBS and Housing Checks after you have completed the Visa Application.

Yes. This will be completed by someone from your district council who will be in touch with you once we have received your information from the Home Office. 

You district council will be in touch about the housing check which will involve an in-person visit to the accommodation.

The council where the sponsor accommodation is located will provide the interim payment (in line with other resettlement schemes) of £200 per guest for subsistence costs.

Sponsors will be eligible for an optional ‘thank you payment’ of £350 per month per household, not per person, as long as the sponsorship arrangement exists, for up to 12 months.

This will be administered by the district council.