On Monday, the government announced details of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK. Phase One of the scheme opened for applications on Friday 18th March.
In Phase One of the scheme, sponsors will need to have a named person who they wish to sponsor. This could be a friend, or friend of a friend, someone they are already connected with, or it could be someone they have been linked with by a charity, faith group or other organisation. Those who have a named Ukrainian they wish to sponsor should contact them directly and fill in a visa application from Friday 18 March. Charities, faith groups and local community organisations are helping to facilitate connections between individuals, for potential sponsors who do not have a named contact.
To register your interest in the Scheme, please visit this webpage. To apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and for further guidance, please visit this webpage.
Richard Fuller MP said:
Our country has a long and proud history of taking in people in need, supporting the most vulnerable during their darkest hour, and we are doing so again with the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The courage shown by the Ukrainian people in the face of devastation caused by the invasion of their great country is remarkable and if you wish to participate in the scheme, the registration details and further information can be found here and the application process can be found here.
Individual sponsors will be asked to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as long as they are able, with a minimum stay of 6 months. In return, they will receive an optional 'thank you' payment of £350 per month for up to 12 months. This payment is limited to one payment per residential address. These payments will be tax-free. They will not affect benefit entitlement or council tax status.
Sponsors should not charge rent. They will not be expected to cover the costs of food and living expenses, although they may wish to offer this philanthropically. The government wishes to minimise bureaucracy and make the process as straightforward as possible while ensuring the safety of all involved. Those arriving will therefore need to meet standard security checks. Those living in the sponsoring households will also be subject to security checks and may be subject to safeguarding checks too.
Sponsors can be of any nationality, with any immigration status, provided they have at least six months’ leave to remain within the UK. In the first phase of the scheme, sponsors will need to have a named person they wish to sponsor. The visa application route went live on Friday 18 March.
Ukrainians arriving in the UK under this scheme will be granted 3 years leave to remain, with entitlement to work, and can access benefits and public services.
For more information or to record interest, please visit the Homes for Ukraine webpage. To apply, for the visa, please visit this page.
Sponsors will be kept updated on the scheme.
