UK issues Temporary visa concessions for family members of British nationals living in Ukraine

The UK government has introduced new temporary visa concessions for family members of British nationals living in Ukraine. Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that eligible individuals can make an application for a family migration visa, free of charge, to enter the UK. A total of 100,000 Ukrainian refugees will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK under relaxed immigration rules but she ruled out a visa waiver for all those fleeing the war citing security concerns.

The Home Secretary told MPs that Ukrainian refugees with family already in the UK would be able to stay for up to 12 months under the new regulations. British Embassy staff and all consular services in Kyiv have been suspended, but embassy staff are temporarily operating a limited service from Lviv. This is subject to further disruption or change as a result of Russian military action.

Family migration visa eligibility requirements

Individuals can apply to the Home Office for a family migration visa for free if they have a family member who is a British national and usually lives in Ukraine. The applicant’s British national family member must meet one of the following requirements as the:

• spouse or civil partner;
• unmarried partner and have been living together in a relationship for at least two years;
• parent, if the applicant is under the age of 18;
• child, under the age of 18 or
• adult relative who they provide care for and who lives with them due to a medical condition.

Applying for a Family migration visa

Applicants should first make contact with the Home Office department for visas and immigration, UKVI, prior to making their application. UKVI can be contacted between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and 9am to 5.30pm on weekends at this number:

from overseas: +44 300 3032785 – select option 1

from the UK : 0300 3032785 – select option 1

Applicants must provide contact details and information about themselves and their family member(s). After the UKVI completes the initial assessment and confirms eligibility, those who meet the criteria will be provided with the specific details of the application process.

Applicants will be required to provide contact details and information about themselves and their family member(s). After the UKVI makes the initial assessment and confirms eligibility, those who meet the criteria will be provided with the specific details of the application process.

Once the application has been submitted, applicants will need to submit their biometric information in person, either by attending the new temporary office in the Lemberg Business Centre in Lviv (walk-in appointments are available) or by applying through a VAC in a nearby country such as Poland, Romania, Hungary or Moldova.

The Home Office has confirmed that it is increasing capacity at VACs in cities within neighbouring countries to Ukraine, including Warsaw (Poland), Chisinau (Moldova), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), and a new pop-up VAC being set up in Rzeszow (Poland) for dependants of British nationals.

The Home Office has pledged to process these applications within 24 hours of the date when the applicant enrols their biometric information.