The House of Commons Library has this week published an updated research briefing on the UK’s visa schemes for Ukrainian nationals, following the Government’s recent renewal of the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme for a further two years.
You can download the original 26-page briefing here.
The briefing sets out the UK’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which saw the Government introduce relaxed immigration rules and bespoke visa routes allowing Ukrainians and their family members to come to the UK safely, with the right to work, claim benefits, and access healthcare. According to 2025 figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, around 260,000 Ukrainians are currently taking refuge in the UK.
The centrepiece of this week’s update is the Government’s decision to extend the Ukraine Permission Extension – the scheme under which Ukrainians already in the UK can continue to live here – by a further 24 months. Applications under the extended scheme opened on 8 April 2026.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp confirmed in a Parliamentary answer last month that the extension was introduced to provide stability and security for those who still require sanctuary due to the ongoing conflict. He clarified that eligible individuals whose current Ukraine scheme permission is due to expire can apply up to 90 days before that expiry date – a window that applies both to first-time Ukraine Permission Extension applications and to subsequent applications for the additional 24-month extension. Importantly, applying at any point within that 90-day window will not reduce the total period of permission granted, and any remaining valid permission will be carried over and added to the new grant.
Home Office guidance on applying to Ukraine Permission Extension scheme isΒ available here on GOV.UK.
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We welcome this extension as a sensible and compassionate response to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. For the 260,000 Ukrainians who have made their lives in the UK since 2022, clarity and continuity of status is not a bureaucratic nicety – it is essential to their ability to work, plan, and rebuild. The 90-day application window is a practical step that should help reduce anxiety and last-minute uncertainty for those approaching the end of their current permission. If you or someone you know holds a Ukraine scheme visa and is unsure about next steps, we strongly encourage seeking advice sooner rather than later.
Need guidance on your Ukraine visa or permission extension application?