Ukraine Permission Extension scheme open to applicants in February 2025

The UK government have announced that the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme will open to applicants at 9:00am (GMT) on 4 February 2025.

What is the purpose of the scheme?

The UPE is designed to permit Ukrainian nationals and family members living in the UK with permission on one of the existing Ukraine schemes (Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme) to continue living, working and studying in the UK for up to a further 18 months.

For children born in the UK after 18 March 2022, parents can apply to the UPE on their behalf, providing they are a Ukrainian national parent who holds permission to stay in the UK under one of the existing Ukraine Schemes.

When to apply?

Those considering applying should only do so when their current permission has 28 days or less remaining until expiry. It is important that the application is submitted before the current permission expires.

How to apply?

All applicants must be in the UK when submitting their application and are required to have been living in the UK (this includes Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man) since they were granted, or arrived in the UK, with permission under the existing Ukraine schemes.

Prior to applying, individuals need to ensure that they have:

1. created a UKVI account and have access to their eVisa; and
2. retained their expired biometric residence permit (BRP), if they have one, as it may be required as part of the application process.

Applications will be online and there will be no cost. It will usually take approximately eight weeks to receive a decision.

For successful applicants, their eVisa will be updated to show their new UPE permission. They will not be required to take any action to update their eVisa.

Our Tips

1. Check when your current permission expires and diarise to apply to the UPE scheme 28 days before this date (this is the earliest time you can submit a UPE application). You can check this by signing into your UKVI account.
2. Stay in the UK when you submit your application and whilst you are waiting to receive a decision on your application.
3. Be organised in gathering all the documents required before you come to applying. You can find details of what documents you require here – Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – GOV.UK

If you wish to discuss this further or want assistance with completing applications, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

Author

James Millet