Homes for Ukraine

On the 31 January, the government announced a parent (or legal guardian) who holds permission under any of the Ukraine Schemes can apply to sponsor their child under Homes for Ukraine. 

Children sponsored by their parents (or legal guardians) will hold permission to live in the UK for up to 18 months. They will have access to education, healthcare, benefits and employment (as appropriate under UK law). Please note that a parent or legal guardian who is sponsoring their child will not qualify for thank you payments.

See guidance on gov.uk

The Government is urging all those across the UK who use a physical immigration document to take immediate action to transition to an eVisa, as part of plans to digitise the UK border and immigration system.  

All visa holders who live in the UK and use a physical immigration document, such as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), to prove their rights are urged to take action now at Get access to your eVisa: Overview.

We encourage guests to apply for an eVisa themselves - the process is straightforward and should only take around 10-15 minutes. More information on what you need to do and by when, including for those who currently hold a physical immigration document, is available at GOV.UK/eVisa.

If you cannot apply for an e-Visa yourself, or if you struggle to speak English, you can contact Ro-EE Hub on 0203 833 1190 or 0203 984 4098, their phone lines are open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Please note, applying for an eVisa is free. Be wary of any organisations or individuals who are offering to help you apply for an eVisa in exchange for money.

The UPES is an 18-month visa extension for Ukrainian nationals and their family members, allowing them to continue living in the UK when their current visa expires. It is available to those who have existing permission under one of the Ukraine schemes. 

• Guidance for sponsors: Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme
• Guidance for guests: Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

Application Process:

• Free to Apply: The application for UPES is free of charge.
• Eligibility: Applicants must apply within 28 days of their current visa's expiry date and have existing permission under one of the Ukraine schemes. Late applications result in loss of rights to rent, work, and claim benefits.
• Online Application: Applications open on 4 February 2025 and can be made via the eVisa portal: Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa)
• Identity Verification: Applicants need to prove their identity, confirm their status in the UK, and provide accommodation details.
• Notification of Application: Guests must notify the London Borough of Harrow as soon as they have made their UPES application by emailing ukraine.payments@harrow.gov.uk

Important Information for Sponsors:

• Payment Changes: The London Borough of Harrow will continue to provide a £500 ‘thank you’ payments for sponsors after 6 months.
• Exclusions: Close family members are not eligible for ‘thank you’ payments under the UPES scheme. New payment applications for close family members will not be approved.
• Actions: Sponsors should ensure that their guests apply for UPES on time and must submit new payment applications if they wish to continue to receive ‘thank you’ payments via www.harrow.gov.uk/homesforukraine

For more information on other visa types, applicants should seek immigration legal advice. You can find local immigration help at Adviser Finder.

If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to The Romanian and Eastern European Hub , call 020 3984 4098 or email contact@ro-eehub.org.uk

The HFU scheme allows Ukrainians and their close family to come to the UK. They can come if a UK household sponsors them.

The period of permission granted to new HFU applicants (including minors) is changing. It is changing from 36 to 18 months.

Eligibility criteria for sponsors is changing. All new sponsors need to be a UK or Irish citizen, or have settled status in the UK.

These changes apply to all new applications made after 19th February 2024.

The UFS is now closed to new applications. It closed at 3pm on 19th February 2024.

This scheme allowed Ukrainians to join their family in the UK. The government decided to end this scheme. They believe that it is no longer sustainable. People with existing UFS permission will keep it.

The UES is now closed to new applicants. It closed on the 16th May 2024. However, the scheme remains open for children who are born in the UK. 

The UES scheme was open to those Ukrainians and their family, who had permission to be in the UK.

We need to make sure that the accommodation you’re offering is suitable and safe. We also need to confirm that everyone in your household is happy to be involved in the programme.

We are required to conduct a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on everyone in your household aged 16 and above.

We need enhanced DBS checks. They confirm any police cautions and warnings. This is if there are children or vulnerable adults in the family you’re due to host.

Checks on your home are carried out by Two Generations. They support home sharing initiatives. They are experienced at conducting accommodation checks.

This work is done via video call where possible. In some cases an in-person visit is necessary.

Voluntary Action Harrow (VAH) processes the DBS checks for us. They do this under a licence agreement with CareCheck. We cover the fees.

Once you’ve applied to become a sponsor, we will ask you to contact VAH to start this process. They will confirm whether you need the basic or enhanced DBS check.

You can contact VAH during office hours if you have any questions by:

• telephone on 020886 15894 or email at dbs@voluntaryactionharrow.org.uk.

DBS checks are made at the same time as the checks on your accommodation.

All adults in your household will need an up-to-date DBS assessment before you’re able to host. An update to a previous DBS check can be obtained with a subscription to the DBS update service.

Without this, a new assessment will have to be made.

You can expect an appointment within 48 hours of receiving confirmation of a match. Two Generations try to set up their assessment meeting with you the following week.

They will reach their decision on the suitability of your property the week after that. 

DBS checks run at the same time as the assessment of your accommodation, but can take longer. These checks do not hold up the processing of your guests’ visas.

Two Generations and Voluntary Action Harrow will contact you after their checks.

Yes. We can help with minor costs, including the fitting of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. We can also help carry out gas safety checks to make your accommodation safe.

If checks highlight that more work is needed, you can claim the expenses on the Homes for Ukraine form.

If you need more significant work, you will have to pay for this yourself. You will be unable to continue with your application until any recommended work is completed.

Visa processing for Ukrainian refugees is carried out by the Home Office. The checks happen at the same time as our checks of accommodation and host families.

We have no control over visa processing and cannot influence the time it takes.

Romanian and Eastern European Hub (Ro-EE Hub) provide translation services. Support is available to you and your guests.

Your guests will get help to settle into Harrow and access local services including:

• Citizens Advice Harrow
• Harrow Law Centre
• school places
• GP
• benefits
• social activities.

The Harrow Law Centre offers legal advice related to visas and immigration status.

The Ro-EE Hub will contact your guests after you have confirmed their arrival. The Ro-EE Hub will make an appointment to visit your guests in their accommodation.

Reset is the UK’s Community Sponsorship learning hub. You’ll find helpful resources on their site, including a Sponsor’s Toolkit.

Thrive LDN, works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners. They have developed resources for displaced Ukrainians.

You will receive £350 a month during the first 12 months of your guests’ stay. This will increase to £500 once your guest has been in the UK for 12 months.

This payment is intended to help sponsors continue hosting for longer. The thank-you payment is available for up to three years after the guest arrives.

You will need to complete the Homes for Ukraine form within 24 hours of your guests’ arrival. Once received, we aim to process payment within 10 working days. 

Further payments are made at the end of each month and will take 3 to 5 days to reach your bank account.  All the host checks must have been completed before a payment will be made.

If there is a delay in processing your payment, it will be backdated to the date of the guest’s arrival at your property.

We will visit the sponsor/guest at the property after the first six months. Ro-EE Hub will be in touch with your guest to arrange this. We will send a reminder letter to you one month in advance of the visit.

The thank-you payment is tax free and will not affect your entitlement to benefits.

You must get your landlord’s permission before joining the scheme. Two Generations will ask to see this when completing their accommodation check.

Your tenancy agreement may include information about how long guests can stay.

We have a list of organisations who can provide affordable furniture for your new home.

You can also contact Ro-EE Hub if you need furniture for your new home and they may be able to assist you.

The government has issued General advice on donations to the people of Ukraine.

For further information visit Ukraine: what you can do to help.