Supporting Ukraine
You will have witnessed the devastating impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the unfolding humanitarian crisis as more and more people are forced to flee their homes. Find out how you can help those in need.
Welcoming refugees to Northern Ireland
Work is being done to welcome refugees from Ukraine to Northern Ireland under the schemes run by the UK Home Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The UK has put three different Ukraine Schemes in place to support those who wish to either come to or stay in the UK:
- Ukraine Family Scheme - if you have family who are settled in the UK, you may be able to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme
- Homes for Ukraine - if you want to be sponsored by a UK household for six months, you may be able to apply to the Homes for Ukraine scheme
- Ukraine Extension Scheme - you can apply for this scheme if one of the following is true:
- you held permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 – the permission does not need to cover the whole period
- you previously held permission to be in the UK and that permission expired on or after 1 January 2022
This route does not need a UK-based sponsor.
Carefully consider which scheme you apply to before making an application. Once you have made an application you should avoid applying to another scheme as this may delay a decision being made.
Work under way to support new arrivals
Government departments, councils and the voluntary and community sector are working in partnership to make sure the necessary preparations are in place so that they stand ready to give sanctuary to Ukrainian refugees.
This will include ensuring safeguarding arrangements and necessary support to both those arriving and sponsors.
Housing or sponsoring a refugee
Both official schemes (The Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme) need Ukrainians to secure visas to come to the UK.
Further information on the Homes for Ukraine scheme is available at:
The Ukraine Family Scheme
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of Ukrainian people living in the UK to move in with their relatives.
Applications to the Ukraine Family Scheme are made online and can be made from outside or whilst in the UK.
Visas granted under this route are free and last for three years. They allow people to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme provides an opportunity for people from Ukraine who may not have family ties to be sponsored to come to the UK by individuals, businesses, or community organisations.
A portal for expressions of interest for sponsoring opened on 14 March.
Sponsorship arrangements need an identified Ukrainian national and an identified individual sponsor to register on the system and ask to be formally matched with each other.
There is no scope to be independently matched on the system without first identifying a named individual.
Sponsors will receive £350 a month for up to one year per residential address. Those sponsored will be able to live in the UK, have access to work, public funds, public services for three years.
Anyone in the UK (of any nationality and any immigration status if they have at least six months leave to stay in the UK) with a spare room, or separate self-contained accommodation that is empty can come forward to help.
Accommodation must be available for at least six months, be fit for people to live in, and suitable for the number of people to be accommodated.
Named individuals can offer residential rooms or empty, self-contained residential units to a specific person or people. If you don’t know someone from Ukraine but still want to help, non-government organisations (NGOs) such as faith or non-faith based groups or charities, may be able to help you to make contact with a named person.
Safeguarding and eligibility checks will be carried out which will include enhanced Access NI checks and a visit to your home or properties.
This is in the interest of everyone’s safety. It also gives an opportunity to make sure both you and your sponsored person/ family are aware of all the support available and linked into useful networks and important services.
Further information on the Homes for Ukraine scheme is available at:
Children travelling without their parent or legal guardian
The Homes For Ukraine scheme is now also open to children under 18 who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian, known as ‘eligible children’ (where sponsor eligibility and parental or legal guardian consent needs are met).
Safeguarding checks on sponsors must be finished before new visa applications from eligible children.
On 28 July 2022, a new online application form for planned sponsors to complete was launched. This allows planned sponsors to start their application process and begin safeguarding checks.
The visa application process for new applications from eligible children opened on 10 August 2022.
More guidance is available on GOV.UK via the following links:
Applicants can apply from Ukraine or from any other third country.
Ukraine Extension Scheme
The Ukraine Extension Scheme will give Ukrainians who previously had permission to be in the UK (for example a visa) the opportunity to apply for three years’ leave to stay in the UK with full access to work, study and public funds, alongside their family members.
Despite the name, it does not involve extending permission in the person’s current visa route, but switching to a new one. For Seasonal Workers, this would mean no longer being tied to an employer or scheme operator — they could get a new job with whoever they like, without having to be sponsored.
Eligibility for the UES has changed
Under the most recent eligibility criteria, Ukrainian Nationals who previously had permission to stay in the UK can apply for this scheme if one of the following is true:
- you held permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 – the permission does not need to cover the whole period
- you previously held permission to be in the UK and that permission expired on or after 1 January 2022
For more information on eligibility and guidance visit the following link:
Application must be made online, is free, and will be depend on security checks. However the decision process aims to progress applications as quickly as possible and applicants will be contacted directly once a decision has been made.
You should consider whether you want to keep your current visa or switch to the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
This route does not lead to settlement – this means that you may not be able to count any time you spend in the UK with this visa as part of an application for indefinite leave to stay in the UK in future.
Contact UKVI
If you need any help, contact UK Visas and Immigration:
- telephone: + 44 808 164 8810 – choose option one
(Monday to Friday: 8.00 am to 8.00 pm - Saturday and Sunday: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm)
Calls are free of charge
Data handling
To support Ukrainian citizens fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, the Department of Finance will be processing information about individuals and organisations who have offered support for those arriving, including accommodation.
Information will also be processed about Ukrainian citizens who have travelled to Northern Ireland. The data will be collected from multiple sources, including directly from individuals and organisations.
Further information is available at:
Making a cash donation
Many international organisations and charities are working in the UK, across Europe and in Ukraine to provide aid and help. By making a cash donation, your money can help to get food, water, clothing, medical supplies and other essentials to those most in need.
Donations can be made through the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
There are other local charities you may want to support.
Donating food, clothes and other essentials
Charities are identifying specific support needed for Ukraine and advice on humanitarian aid is that local groups are best raising money for the recognised appeals, rather than attempting to send goods.
Donations can be made to Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Or, you may wish to contact charities or local community organisations to identify any specific support needed by refugees who have already arrived here.
You can also donate items to charity shops and some faith-based groups. The items you donate may not go directly to refugees but the money raised helps charities to support them.
You can also donate food to your local food bank. Further information is available at:
Volunteering
Local refugee and other charity or support organisations may have volunteering opportunities available.
Young refugee appeal
An appeal is also ongoing for more foster carers and supported lodgings hosts who can offer care and support to young refugees.
This appeal is to support the growing number of young refugees arriving in Northern Ireland from countries across the world without their parents or a responsible adult to take care of them.