What Happens to Ukrainian Refugees After 3 Years

What Happens to Ukrainian Refugees After 3 Years

The UK government introduced the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) in 2024 after the Ukraine Extension Scheme closed to most applicants (except Ukrainian citizens with children born in the UK) on May 16th, 2024. The Ukraine Extension Scheme and Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme are temporary and do not enable visa holders to stay in the UK permanently.

From early 2025, Ukrainian refugees on the Ukraine Extension Scheme can apply to stay in the UK through the new Ukraine Permission Visa Extension Scheme. Refugees on any of the Ukraine schemes will have their visas extended for 18 months until September 2026. Those under the Ukraine scheme will also have the same rights and access to work, healthcare, education, and benefits as they did under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.

There are 3 Ukraine Extension Scheme Visa routes of the Ukraine Scheme. These are Homes for Ukraine (open to those on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme), the Ukraine Extension Scheme, and the Ukraine Family Scheme (closed on 19th February 2024).

Homes for Ukraine is a sponsorship scheme that allows UK nationals to sponsor a Ukrainian national or family to live with them in the UK. It is the biggest of the Ukraine schemes. The Ukraine family scheme allows Ukrainian nationals to invite family members to join them in the UK.

Visa Extension Options for Ukrainian Nationals

The Ukraine Visa Scheme is valid for 3 years and applies to all visa routes. In February 2024, the government announced that it would amend the scheme to enable Ukrainian refugees to have their visas extended.

Can Ukrainian Refugees Stay in UK After 3 Years?

Ukrainian refugees who have been granted permission to stay in the UK for 3 years under the Ukraine Visa Scheme can apply for the new Ukraine extension scheme to extend their stay. An application must be made within 28 days of the visa expiring. If you have a child, they must be in the UK at the time of the application.

To be eligible, you must have permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine schemes (the Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine, or the Ukraine Extension Scheme).
There is no fee for a biometric residence permit or immigration health charge on the new Ukraine extension scheme.

If you’re unsure when your visa expires, the expiration date can be found in the Home Office email you received when you obtained your UK visa. If you have any questions regarding your visa expiration and immigration status, contact us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 and speak to an experienced immigration law specialist.

Can Ukrainian refugees stay in the UK Permanently?

For those wondering how long Ukrainian refugees can stay in the UK permanently, permanent residence is not allowed under the new Ukraine extension scheme. To obtain a pathway to settlement, you will need to switch to a different visa, such as a Skilled Worker or Partner Visa.

Transitioning to Work or Study Visas

Ukrainian visa holders living in the UK can remain in the UK by switching their immigration route. If you are on the current Ukraine Extension Scheme and looking for a different settlement pathway, you can switch to another visa. If you have a child or partner who came to the UK as a dependant, they can also switch to a work or study visa.

Ukrainian refugees who were in the UK legally before 24th February 2022 or applied to enter the UK before 24th February 2022 can apply to switch to a work or study visa from most types of visas.

To qualify for this short period of immigration status while switching visas (known as a ‘concession’), you will need to pay an application fee and ask the Home Office to apply for the concession, stating your reasons for applying.

At IAS, we have a dedicated team of legal professionals who can walk you through this stage, step-by-step. Contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244.

Process for Claiming Asylum in the UK

Ukrainians fleeing from war with Russia are eligible to claim asylum in the UK and be granted refugee status; however, they will not be able to return to Ukraine.

Applying for asylum in the UK is free of charge, can be done online, and can be completed by the refugee’s sponsor through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme or the refugee.

The steps to claiming asylum in the UK are as follows:

• Contact border officials at a UK port and state your need to claim asylum
• Partake in a screening interview with an immigration officer
• If the interview is successful, partake in an asylum interview with a caseworker

If the application is successful, the asylum seeker will be granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK. If your asylum application is rejected, you must request the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. The First-tier Tribunal must receive the appeal within 3 days of your receiving the letter of refusal.

Problems with Ukrainian Refugees in UK

Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers in the UK can face several challenges. The main issues faced by refugees are homelessness, job opportunities, and language barriers, which is why it is important to seek support.

For those looking for asylum support, there are many available resources, such as Citizen’s Advice charity, The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for refugees and asylum seekers, and UK for UNHCR, which is an organisation that encourages communities to welcome and accommodate asylum seekers and refugees.

How Can IAS Help You?

Keeping up-to-date with immigration law can be challenging, which is where IAS comes in. We understand that it can be complicated to navigate the different routes and application processes required of refugees and migrants, which is why we’ve made it easy for you to complete the necessary steps to extend your visa or become a settled UK citizen.

Contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to discuss any issues regarding the Ukraine Scheme, your visa extension, and the steps you need to take to stay in the UK. We will walk you through the process of extending your stay in the UK and visa scheme eligibility.