can ukrainian travel to uk

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• Entering and staying in the UK

Move to the UK if you’re coming from Ukraine

Check what you need to do before you travel to the UK and what to do after you arrive.

Before you travel to the UK

​​You need permission to enter the UK. Check which visa you can apply for .

Once your application has been processed, you’ll either get a visa or official letter of permission. You can use this to board a plane or other form of transport to the UK.

If you applied to be sponsored by the Scottish or Welsh government

If you apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (also known as ‘Homes for Ukraine’), you can choose the Scottish or Welsh government as your sponsor.

If your application is successful, they’ll contact you to let you know where you’ll be staying. They’ll also help with things like getting a bank account, accessing benefits, finding work and registering with a doctor.

There’s more information about the help you can get if the Scottish government is your sponsor or if the Welsh government is your sponsor .

What happens at the UK border

When you arrive in the UK, show your visa or your permission letter and passport to a Border Force officer.

If you’re bringing money or belongings

You can bring most personal belongings into the UK without having to speak with a customs officer. Use the green channel marked ‘nothing to declare’.

You must speak with a customs officer if you’re bringing:

• a personal vehicle
• prohibited or restricted goods, for example controlled drugs or weapons
• £10,000 or more in cash (or €10,000 or more if you’re coming to Northern Ireland), or the equivalent in another currency

Check how to bring your own vehicle to the UK and what to speak with a customs officer about .

If you’re bringing a pet

If you want to bring your pet with you, it might need to go into quarantine when you arrive. Find out what you need to do if you bring a pet .

Travelling to where you’re staying

In England, Scotland and Wales, you can get free onward travel by train, bus, coach or light rail from the major airport or port you arrive at. To be eligible, you must travel within 48 hours of arriving in the UK.

You can get free train or bus travel in Northern Ireland within 7 days of arriving.

Getting financial help

You can apply for benefits to get financial support. To be eligible for benefits you might have to pass a ‘residence test’ if you have recently arrived in the UK . These tests mean you usually need to wait for an amount of time before you are eligible for benefits.

You will automatically pass the residence test if all of the following apply: 

• you were living in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022 
• you left Ukraine because of the Russian invasion
• it does not say ‘no public funds’ or ‘no recourse to public funds’ on your immigration documents

If you do not have a job, cannot work or are on a low income

You can apply for Universal Credit if you do not have a job, cannot work or you’re on a low income. This benefit is paid each month. The amount you get depends on things like if you have a child or need help with housing costs.

You can open a UK bank account to get your benefits payments. If you’re not able to open a UK bank account you can still get benefit payments by using the Payment Exception Service

Read more on setting up a bank account .

If you have children

You can apply for Child Benefit if you have one or more children in the UK with you. If successful, you’ll get £24 a week for your eldest or only child and £15.90 for each additional child.

You might also be able to get help to pay for childcare if your child is not in school yet. You can apply for a school place once your child is 4 years old.

If you’re aged 66 or over

You can apply for Pension Credit to get extra money each week.

There’s different guidance for getting Pension Credit if you’re in Northern Ireland .

If you have a Homes for Ukraine visa

You can get a one-off payment of £200 per person when you arrive in the UK if you have a Homes for Ukraine visa. To get this, contact the council where you live .

Getting your biometric residence permit ( BRP )

Your permission letter will tell you if you need to collect your biometric residence permit ( BRP ), and where to get it, when you arrive in the UK.

You need to get it within 10 days of arriving or by the expiry date on your visa, whichever is later.

A BRP is a card with your immigration status on it. You can use it to prove your right to study and claim any benefits you’re eligible for.

If you need to provide your biometric information

Your permission letter might say you need to provide your biometric information once you’re in the UK.

If it does, you need to do this within 6 months of arriving in the UK to get your BRP . This will allow you to stay for up to 3 years.

Fill in the online form to start the process of providing your biometric information .

Where you can live

You can live with family members, sponsors or in a property of your own.

If you want to live in a property of your own, you can search on property listings websites or go to local lettings agents. Find out about your rights and responsibilities if you rent a property .

Working in the UK

When you find a job with a UK employer you’ll need to prove your right to work . To use the online service you’ll need to have a BRP or a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account.

You can show your employer the visa in your passport, if your passport has not expired, until you get your BRP .

If you do not have a passport and were given your visa on a form, you’ll need to get your BRP and use the online service.

Getting a National Insurance number

You might already have a National Insurance number if you applied for any benefits or have one on your BRP .

If you do not have one, you need to apply for a National Insurance number to work in the UK.

Help finding work

You can use the ‘Find a job’ service to search and apply for jobs .

If you claim benefits, there’s support to help you find work , such as training schemes and work experience.

Paying tax in the UK

If you’re employed, the tax you pay will usually be taken out of your salary automatically.

If you’re self-employed you may need to register for Self Assessment and send a tax return each year.

There are other reasons why you might need to send a tax return, such as if you have income from outside the UK. Check if you need to send a tax return .

If you’re taxed in the UK and Ukraine

You might get taxed in the UK and Ukraine for income that only needs to be taxed once. If this happens, you’ll usually be able to claim ‘double-taxation relief’.

You can check the guidance on:

• paying UK tax on your income from Ukraine
• paying Ukrainian tax on your UK income

Getting your child a school place

If you have children aged 4 to 16, you can apply for a school place. Contact the council where you live to find out which schools still have places and how to apply for an ‘in-year admission’.

Getting healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS)

You should register with an NHS doctor (known as a GP) for everyday health issues.

You can use the NHS for free, including NHS hospitals. You may be asked to show the stamp in your passport or BRP . You do not have to pay the immigration health surcharge.

Find out how to:

• register with a GP in England
• register with a GP in Scotland
• register with a GP in Northern Ireland

In Wales, find a GP surgery near you and ask them how to register.

Driving in the UK

You can use your Ukrainian driving licence for the first 12 months after you arrive. You’ll then need to exchange it for a British licence .

Check what requirements your vehicle needs to meet in the UK .

Find out more about living in the UK

If you want to find out more about life in the UK once you’ve arrived, there’s more detail in the welcome guide for people arriving from Ukraine .

Added information about when someone from Ukraine will automatically pass a residence test.

Change note: Removal of redundant 'Stay up to date' call out.

Added information on double-taxation relief to 'Paying tax in the UK'.

Added links to guidance about the Scottish and Welsh government sponsorship schemes. Updated 'Getting financial help' with more information on available benefits.

Added translation

In 'When you first arrive in the UK': added a link to free travel information for those arriving in Northern Ireland, and updated information about collecting a BRP. In 'Getting healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS)': added links to information on registering with a GP in each devolved administration.

Updated the title to reflect that users may be coming from Ukraine but not be Ukrainian nationals. Updated 'If you have children' with information about applying for 'in-year' school places, and the updated child benefit figures for 2022/23.

Added Ukrainian translation

First published.

Invasion of Ukraine

• UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals
• Move to the UK if you're coming from Ukraine
• Homes for Ukraine: record your interest
• Find out about the UK’s response

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• News & insights
• Guide for people leaving Ukraine to the UK
• Share this page

Charlie Pring

Senior Counsel

Vikki Wiberg

Alexandra MacMahon

Senior Immigration Adviser

• On this page

16 March 2022

Legal and practical guide for people leaving Ukraine to the UK

• In-depth analysis

Update from 16 March 2022

How can people leaving Ukraine enter the UK?

EU countries have permitted visa-free entry and have agreed to implement the Temporary Protection Directive  to protect those fleeing war in Ukraine. In contrast, the UK requires all nationals of Ukraine to have a UK visa or immigration permission before entering the UK. That visa requirement applies in all cases, regardless of the traveller's personal circumstances or visa eligibility. Airlines and other transport operators are unlikely to allow Ukrainian nationals to travel to the UK without a valid visa or evidence of appropriate immigration permission.

Unless applying for the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine schemes (see below), the applicant must attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) outside the UK to provide face scans and fingerprints (biometrics) as part of the visa process.

Ukrainian nationals that already hold a valid UK visitor or other visa issued before the invasion can still travel on that visa if the visa conditions continue to be met. Any visitor entering the UK may be asked at the UK border about their intention to leave. The response to this will depend on the longer-term plans of the traveller, including considering the concession available allowing Ukrainian visitors to switch into other visa routes.

The requirements on entry to the UK for other non-Ukrainian nationals that are resident in Ukraine depends on the nationality (passport) of the individual. For example, nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a prior visa to enter the UK as a visitor.

Should Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK claim asylum?

Asylum is outside the scope of this guidance and our firm's UK work. These FAQs focus on other available visa routes. Ukrainians arriving in the UK are likely to be eligible for asylum and/or humanitarian protection due to (for example) a well-founded fear of persecution on the ground of Ukrainian nationality. Other grounds may also apply.

It is not possible to claim asylum outside the UK, including at ports in Europe. There is also no 'asylum seeker visa' for people to enter the UK for the purpose of claiming asylum.

There is more information on the Right to Remain website, but we recommend taking advice from an asylum specialist before applying for asylum. There are restrictions imposed on all asylum seekers and limited funds available to the applicant once an application for asylum is made. The applicant will probably not be permitted to work in the UK while the claim is pending, which may take many months to process.

Anyone wishing to apply for asylum will need to do this quickly after arrival in the UK. Any delay may count against the applicant in their claim.

How to apply for a visa

All UK visa applications must be submitted online, but some applicants to the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine schemes do not need to attend a visa appointment to give their fingerprints and face scans (biometrics) at a VAC outside the UK. That was previously required for all applicants when the Ukraine Family Scheme launched, but this part of the process was removed from 15 March 2022 for some (not all) applicants as explained below.

All other visa applicants must enrol biometrics at a VAC appointment. The VAC in Kyiv is closed, and although there was a temporary pop-up VAC in Lviv, that has also now closed.

Applicants for visitor visas or visas of any other type (such as work or study) that can travel safely over the border can apply in a neighbouring country. For example, applications can be submitted in Poland, Romania, Hungary or Moldova, but all commercial flights from Ukraine have been suspended so flights out of Ukraine are not available. Also, as we understand it, following the declaration of martial law by the Ukrainian government, all male citizens between 18 and 60 have been banned from leaving Ukraine.

For those able to travel safely, VACs are currently operating throughout Europe including:

• Budapest, Hungary
• Chisinau, Moldova
• Warsaw, Poland
• Bucharest, Romania
• Paris, France

How long can Ukrainian nationals stay in the UK?

This depends on the type of visa or permission granted. For example, visitor visas are valid for a maximum of six months from entry, although there are concessions for Ukrainian visitors (see below) that may permit them to switch into a different visa category without having to leave the UK.

How can Ukrainians join British or other family members in the UK?

The Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) launched on 4 March 2022. This scheme is not open to all Ukrainian nationals leaving Ukraine – it is only available to those Ukrainians (and immediate family members) that are family members of British nationals, settled persons and others in the UK (defined below). Eligible applicants can apply to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.

It is free to apply, and applicants granted permission will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds. A visa under this scheme will be granted for up to three years.

To apply to the UFS applicants must:

• be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member, and
• be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme, and
• have been residing in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine).

Anyone needing assistance can call the 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 for those in the UK). Anyone unable to contact UK 0808 numbers can call +44 (0)175 390 7510.

What UK-based family members qualify?

The UK based family member of the visa applicant must be one of the following:

• a British national
• someone settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, or
• someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

The applicant will need to provide evidence that their UK-based family member is one of the following:

1. an immediate family member , meaning one of:

• a spouse or civil partner
• an unmarried partner (the couple must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years)
• the applicant's child under the age of 18
• parent (if the applicant is under 18)
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner

2. an extended family member, meaning one of:

• parent (if the visa applicant is over 18)
• child who is over 18
• the applicant's grandparent
• the applicant's grandchild or the applicant's partner’s grandchild
• the applicant's brother or sister
• the applicant's aunt or uncle
• the applicant's niece or nephew
• the applicant's cousin
• the applicant's mother-in-law or father-in-law
• the applicant's grandparent-in-law
• the applicant's brother-in-law or sister-in-law

3. an immediate family member of an extended family member , meaning one of:

• spouse or civil partner of an extended family member
• child under 18 of an extended family member
• parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member
• fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member

If the UK-based family member is the applicant's (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022.

What about other British or settled family members not on that list?

The guidance states that other family members will be considered on a discretionary basis where there are 'exceptional circumstances'. This will depend on what meaningful connection the applicant has to their immediate family unit, their sponsor in the UK, and the UK itself. A case may be exceptional where a decision to refuse the visa would mean separating an individual from their long-term family unit in Ukraine.

Are all UFS applicants are exempt from attending a biometrics appointment at a VAC?

No. To be exempt from attending a VAC, the applicant must hold a valid Ukrainian international passport or an expired Ukrainian international passport with a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian government. Those applicants will need to complete an application online, but do not need to attend an appointment at a VAC.

If the application is approved, the applicant will receive an official approval letter confirming they can travel to the UK. That letter will allow them to board a plane or other form of transport. On arrival in the UK, the traveller can show the letter to a Border Force official who will endorse the applicant's passport with a six-month stamp. Each person will then need to submit biometrics (that may be possible through an app, or alternatively by visiting an application centre in the UK) within that six-month period to extend stay up to three years.

Applicants that do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport (for example if they only hold a domestic passport or ID card) will need to book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre outside the UK as part of the UK visa process. Children under 5 that do not hold a valid Ukrainian international passport will not have fingerprints taken but will still need to attend a VAC appointment to have a digital photograph taken. Rather than just an approval letter, successful applicants will receive a visa to enable them to travel to the UK.

What evidence is needed to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme?

Applicants will need to apply online and provide evidence of:

1. their identity, for example

• a valid passport (as above, only those with an international Ukrainian passport will be exempt from attending a VAC outside the UK)
• an expired passport that expired in the last 10 years for applicants over 25 or last 5 years for applicants under 25
• a Ukrainian nationality identity card, or a combination of other documents containing a facial image such as a photo driving licence and a birth certificate), or
• an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022.

2. their (UK-based) sponsor's identity, such as a copy of the biographical page of their British passport or a ShareCode for the holder of an eVisas under the EU Settlement Scheme or otherwise.

3. their relationship to their UK-based family member. For example, a marriage certificate or birth certificate for a child if one is available. Applicants that are unable to provide this document can still apply, explaining why they are unable to do so.

4. their residence in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022, for example providing a passport, official documents issued by the Ukrainian authorities, utility bills, mortgage statements, medical letters etc, although obviously supporting paperwork may be extremely difficult to obtain especially for those that have already fled their homes. Residence should be assumed in most cases.

There is no English language requirement, no salary or funds requirement and no tuberculosis (TB) testing requirement, so no relevant evidence of these is required. There are also no visa fees or Immigration Health Surcharge fees (to give access to free NHS healthcare in the UK) to pay either. After arrival in the UK, visa holders do not need to register with the police.

If supporting documents are unavailable, applicants should explain why they are unable to provide the document in question and request discretion.

How long will it take to process a Ukraine Family Scheme visa?

Applications will be 'prioritised" with an aim to make a visa decision as quickly as possible, but for those applicants that must attend a VAC outside the UK, there may be pressure around availability of biometric appointments, which may cause delays.

What rights are available with a Ukraine Family Scheme visa?

Visa holders will have the unconditional right to live in the UK for the three-year visa period. They can work for any employer and will have free access to healthcare, education and benefits. The usual restriction on UK visa holders that prevents them from accessing public funds and benefits, or receiving housing assistance, will not apply to anyone granted Ukraine Family Scheme status.

What about Ukrainian nationals that do not have British or settled family members?

Unfortunately, the Ukraine Family Scheme does not extend to every person with family members in the UK. For example, it does not apply to a Ukrainian citizen in the UK on a temporary time-limited work or study visa that has extended family members such as parents or grandparents living in the Ukraine.

Those in Ukraine should check whether they have a visa route based on the UK immigration status of their non-British family member or partner that lives in the UK. For example, if the person resident in the UK has status under the EU Settlement Scheme ("settled" or "pre-settled status"), that may provide an alternative route for immediate and extended family members that do not qualify under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

For anyone else that does not have a qualifying family tie to the UK or an alternative UK visa option available (such as a sponsored Skilled Worker visa or Global Talent visa), the UK government has announced plans for a new sponsorship-based refugee scheme for Ukrainians and their immediate family members. This humanitarian scheme will allow sponsors, such as communities, private sponsors or local authorities, to bring those forced to flee Ukraine to the UK.

There will be no visa cap or limit on this scheme and the UK will grant visas for as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors.

Those who come under this scheme will also be granted leave for an initial period of three years and will be able to work and access benefits and public services.

The UK intends to make sure that those who want to sponsor an individual or family can volunteer and be matched quickly with Ukrainians in need, working closely with the devolved administrations and local authorities across the country.

Phase one of the scheme for Ukrainian applicants to apply for immigration status to live with a private individual sponsor in their UK home for at least 6 months will open on 18 March.

Like with UFS:

• applicants must have been resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022, and
• only Ukrainian citizens with a valid international passport will be exempt from attending a VAC. All other applicants to the Homes for Ukraine scheme must attend a VAC outside the UK.

Are there are concessions for Ukrainian citizens already living in the UK?

Yes. It is now possible for applicants to apply online inside the UK to switch into the UFS (this was not possible when the scheme first opened) and then attend a visa appointment centre.

UKVI has agreed some other temporary concessions to support Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK who are now unable to return when their existing visa expires. These concessions will assist Ukrainian nationals in remaining in the UK without having to leave and re-apply from overseas.

Ukrainian citizens that are already in the UK and unable to return to Ukraine may be able to extend their visa or switch to another immigration route even if their visa route does not normally allow this. In addition to the ability to apply to the UFS, examples of the concessions are set out below, but the full list is available here .

• For visitor visa holders in the UK, UKVI has introduced a temporary concession to allow Ukrainian nationals to switch into a points-based route (such as work or study) or a family visa route from inside the UK. Applicants will need to meet the requirements of that visa route and pay the associated visa fees.
• Anyone on a Skilled Worker visa that is due to expire can apply to extend their permission or apply for settlement if they meet the requirements. Full details can be found in the Skilled Worker visa guidance .
• Anyone on a Student visa that is due to expire can apply to extend their leave or switch to a Graduate visa, if they meet the requirements. Full details can be found in the Student visa guidance .

What is the minimum salary in the UK?

Minimum salary is governed by National Minimum Wage rules and depend on the age of the worker.

Links to useful websites

• UK government
• Home Office (government agency responsible for UK immigration)
• Find a job (government site)
• Indeed or Totaljobs
• Trainline (train tickets and schedules)
• Citizens Advice Bureau (free legal and consumer advice)
• Shelter (housing advice)

Contacts at Taylor Wessing London

• Charlie Pring (+44 (0)20 7300 4256, [email protected] )
• Vikki Wiberg (+44 (0)20 7300 4738, [email protected] )
• Alexandra MacMahon (+44 (0)20 7300 4740, [email protected] )

This general guidance is correct as at publication, but the rules and guidance are changing frequently without notice, so is not a substitute for legal advice. Immigration laws are always subject to change.

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Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/11/factsheet-home-office-visa-support-for-ukrainians/

Factsheet: Home Office visa support for Ukrainians

• The Home Office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
• The generous Ukraine Family Scheme provides an immediate pathway for people from Ukraine with family already in the UK to come here.
• It is designed to allow as many as people as possible to come to the UK and gives them immediate access to the support they need.
• The Scheme was developed in close consultation with Ukrainian leaders and the diaspora community to ensure our measures respond directly to their needs and asks, and we will continue to work with them to make changes as necessary.
• Ukrainians with valid passports and who are eligible for the Scheme do not need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.
• The Ukraine Extension Scheme, which will go live on 3 May, will give Ukrainians already in the UK on temporary visas, alongside their family members, three years’ leave and full access to work, study and public funds.
• We continue to keep our support under constant review and will adapt and develop the visa routes in place to ensure they keep pace with the rapidly shifting situation in Ukraine.

Eligibility

Family members of British nationals and those settled in the UK are eligible to come to here. This includes:

• Immediate family members (spouses, civil partners, partners, children under 18 and parents of children under 18)
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren
• Adult children
• Aunts and uncles
• Nieces and nephews

Visa requirements

The Ukraine Family Scheme is a fee-free visa route. There are no salary or language tests, but people will need to pass security checks.

How to apply with a valid passport

From Tuesday 15 March, valid Ukraine passport holders do not need to attend in-person Visa Application Centre appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification when making applications under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

Once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification that they are eligible for the scheme.

The majority of applications can be completed entirely online without attending a Visa Appointment Centre.

All applicants will still need to complete an online application form . Application forms must be completed for each family member, including one application per child.

Step-by-step guide

• Individual fills in the online application form
• Individual uploads scan of their passport
• Casework teams in the UK do appropriate biographical / security checks
• Individual receives email confirming permission to come to the UK, which they present to the transport carrier as authority to travel
• Border Force officers do any appropriate additional checks (e.g. safe guarding) on arrival and stamp their passport with six months’ leave to enter
• Individual visits a visa centre in the UK to give biometrics which finalises the grant of 36 months’ leave

How to apply without a valid passport

Applicants who hold identity cards and do not have a valid passport will still need to attend a VAC in person and provide their biometric information.

When applicants have completed an online form , they can book an appointment at any Visa Application Centre throughout Europe.

They should then attend their Visa Application Centre appointment, where they be required to submit their biometric information.

Once the visa application has been processed, we will contact applicants.

Applicants should remain in the location where they have submitted their application until they are contacted.

Leave to remain in the UK

• Those joining family in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and people with temporary visas in the UK who apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme will be granted leave for three years.
• Valid passport holders who have not attended a VAC will be granted six months leave to enter the UK outside the rules, enabling them to work, study and claim benefits immediately. Once they have submitted biometric data in the UK, they will have their leave extended to three years.

Ukraine Extension Scheme

• The Ukraine Extension Scheme will go live on 3 May and will be open to Ukrainians in the UK on temporary visas, including work, study, or visitor visas, alongside their family members, to apply for three years’ leave to remain in the UK.
• Any Ukrainian whose leave to remain in the UK expired between 1 January 2022 and the Ukraine Extension Scheme coming into effect will still qualify for three years’ leave.
• Ukrainians here as workers (including under the Seasonal Work route)
• Ukrainians here as students and graduates
• Ukrainians here as visitors
• Ukrainians here with leave under the family and private life routes
• Ukrainians here as the dependants of third country nationals in any route
• Ukrainians here with exempt status
• Ukrainians here who have been granted temporary leave to enter or remain outside the rules
• Ukrainians here with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• The non-Ukrainian dependants of Ukrainians in these cohorts, who would be granted leave in line.
• If you want information on the Ukraine Family Scheme, you should call the dedicated Home Office line +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1.  This option is now available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• If you are a Ukrainian national in the UK and need assistance, please call the dedicated Home Office line  +44 (0)808 164 8810 – select option 1. This option is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• Further advice can be found at:  Support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Myth buster:

Why don’t you just waive visas.

• We’ve already waived some of the normal requirements under this scheme, in order to help people forced to flee be reunited with their families in the UK as quickly as possible.
• Security and identity checks are a fundamental part of our visa process in order to keep people in this country safe, and this is consistent with our approach to the evacuation of Afghanistan.
• That is vital both to keep British citizens safe, but also to ensure that we are helping those in genuine need – as the Minister set out, we are already seeing people presenting false documents claiming to be Ukrainians.

Can’t you just do biometric checks on the street? Why do you need to go to the VAC?

• We take biometrics in secure VACs for the safety and security of our customers and staff, and to ensure sensitive data captured on our biometrics equipment is secure.

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UK immigration provisions for Ukrainian citizens

18 May 2022

This guide summarises the main immigration provisions the UK government has put in place for Ukrainian citizens and their family members who have been impacted by the invasion of Ukraine. It covers the options both for individuals who intend to enter the UK and those who are in the UK already.

The information in this guide is correct at 18 May 2022.

Most recent updates

This guide has been updated to confirm that from 18 May 2022, Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme applicants with a valid Ukrainian international passport may use the UK Immigration: ID check app.

Introduction

The quickly evolving situation in Ukraine has meant that the UK Government has needed to put in place immediate concessions while also working to amend the Immigration Rules and primary legislation. The legal position is therefore subject to change.

The below links may assist you to stay up-to-date with the most current immigration information.

UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homes for Ukraine – Homes for Ukraine – Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine (campaign.gov.uk)

Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Move to the UK if you're from Ukraine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Immigration information for Ukrainians in the UK: your next steps - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Ukraine Scheme in-country variation guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Apply to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Ukraine Extension Scheme: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Additional guidance has also been published for employers and landlords on Ukraine scheme participants’ right to work and right to rent private accommodation in England. See:

Right to work checks: an employer's guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Landlord's guide to right to rent checks - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The information in this guide focuses on additional immigration measures introduced by the Government. It remains possible for Ukrainian citizens and their family members to apply under any UK immigration route they are ordinarily eligible for.

Some existing UK immigration routes currently include concessions to normal immigration status and documentary requirements. For further information see Ukrainian nationals on family routes: concession to the Immigration Rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Ukrainian nationals on work and study routes: concessions to the Immigration Rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . At the present time, care should be taken to assess the intentions and circumstances of Ukrainian citizens and those who are ordinarily resident in Ukraine, as this visa includes requirements to have an intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit and to otherwise be a genuine visitor.

Table of options for applicants who are currently outside the UK

Note that Ukrainians are visa nationals, which means they must obtain a UK visa before travelling and cannot request permission to enter at the border or a juxtaposed control point in France or Belgium.

Table of options/provisions for applicants who are currently in the UK

Further explanation and details of Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

Details common to both schemes The applicant must have been ordinarily resident in the Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022, unless they are already in the UK (for the Ukraine Family Scheme only) or they are a child born or adopted on or after that date. Residence in Ukraine is initially confirmed through self-certification on the application form, however caseworkers can ask for evidence of residence in limited circumstances.  The scheme is free for applicants, with no application fee, immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee. There is also no TB testing requirement.  Individuals who hold a valid Ukrainian international passport and who do not either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a VAC outside the UK are issued with a permission letter and are then given six months permission to enter the UK by a Border Force official on arrival.

Applicants who use the UK Immigration: ID Check app will receive an eVisa, which they can use to travel to the UK.

Applicants who enter the UK with a permission letter can have their application varied, after arrival, from being an entry clearance application to one for permission to stay in the UK. The permission to stay will be granted to take their overall immigration permission under the Ukraine Schemes up to a total of three years. To do this, they must complete an online application using the ‘light touch’ form and provide their biometrics. Biometrics will need to be submitted within six months of arriving in the UK.

The form is available here: Ukraine Scheme BRP (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) .

All other applicants who have enrolled their biometrics are given immigration permission for three years (less any time already spent under one of the Ukraine schemes). Scheme participants are allowed to work, study, rent private accommodation, use the NHS, access English language tuition and claim benefits in the UK. For specific queries, applicants can contact a free UKVI helpline on +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 from within the UK), or +44 (0)175 390 7510 for those who cannot contact UK 0808 numbers.  Opening hours are available here . Ukraine Family Scheme  The Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) allows applicants who have a family connection with UK-based family member to make a visa application from abroad or extend their stay in the UK under the scheme. An applicant can be in or outside the UK at the time they apply. A UK-based family member is defined as a:

• British citizen;
• Person settled in the UK, e.g. with indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
• EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; or
• Person with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

The applicant must meet the definition of an ‘immediate family member’, ‘extended family member’ or ‘immediate family member of an extended family member’. An immediate family member of a UK-based family member or an applicant under the scheme is defined as a: 

• Spouse or civil partner;
• Unmarried partner (living together in a partner relationship for at least two years); 
• Child who is under 18;
• Parent (if applicant is under 18); or
• Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner. 

An extended family member is defined as a:

• Parent (if the applicant is over 18);
• Child who is over 18;
• Grandparent;
• Grandchild or the applicant’s partner’s grandchild;
• Brother or sister;
• Aunt or Uncle;
• Niece or nephew;
• Mother-in-law or father-in-law;
• Grandparent-in-law; or
• Brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

An immediate family member of an extended family member is defined as a: 

• Spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner (living together in a partner relationship for at least two years) of an extended family member;
• Child under 18 of an extended family member;
• Parent of a child under 18 who is an extended family member; and
• Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of an extended family member. 

Note that where an applicant’s UK-based family member is their (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022. Also, individuals granted UK immigration permission as a visitor after 18 March 2022 are not eligible to apply under the scheme from within the UK. For further details on UFS, see Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or Ukraine Scheme: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).   Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (HUSS) offers a route for a Ukrainian citizen, or the immediate family member (which has the same definition as for the UFS) of a Ukrainian citizen to apply from abroad to come to the UK where they have a confirmed sponsorship offer under the Homes for Ukraine scheme . The sponsorship offer can be a for an appropriate spare room or vacant self-contained accommodation for at least six months.

Applicants under HUSS must be aged 18 or over unless they are applying with a parent or legal guardian, or intending to join a parent or legal guardian in the UK.

During the first phase of the scheme, any UK-based individual (of any nationality and any immigration status provided they have at least six months immigration permission in the UK) can be a sponsor. The Scottish Government is also acting as a sponsor.

Organisations interested in being a sponsor under a later phase of the scheme can register their interest here .

For further details on HUSS, see Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ,  Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  and  Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

Further explanation and details of Ukraine Extension Scheme

The Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) offers a route for a Ukrainian citizen and their eligible dependants to extend their immigration permission from within the UK.

To be eligible, an applicant must be:

• A Ukrainian citizen;
• A partner or child of a Ukrainian citizen who has/last had UK immigration permission in that capacity; or
• A child of a Ukrainian citizen born in the UK after 18 March 2022.

Applicants must also be in the UK and have had UK immigration permission on 18 March 2022 unless:

• They were in the UK with permission immediately before 1 January 2022 and that permission has expired by the time they make their application; or
• They are a child born in the UK after 18 March 2022.

The application is free and applicants must provide their biometrics at a UKVCAS service point.

Immigration permission will be granted for up to three years. Those who have previously been granted immigration permission under any of the Ukraine Schemes will be granted a shorter period, to take the total permission under the Schemes up to three years.

UES participants are allowed to work, study, rent private accommodation, use the NHS, access English language tuition and claim benefits in the UK. UES is not however a route to settlement in the UK, so individuals who are currently on a route to settlement may prefer to extend in that capacity if eligible.

For further information on the UES, see Apply to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Ukraine Extension Scheme: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

For specific queries, applicants can contact a free UKVI helpline on +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 from within the UK), or +44 (0)175 390 7510 for those who cannot contact UK 0808 numbers. Opening hours are available here .

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UK to ease entry requirements for Ukrainian refugees, says Priti Patel

Change means people with passports can apply for entry online and do not have to give biometric details until they are in UK

• Ukraine-Russia war – latest updates

The UK is to ease its rigid entry requirements for Ukrainian refugees, meaning those with passports can apply for entry online and only have to give biometric details when they are in the UK, Priti Patel has said.

The home secretary’s announcement, responding to an urgent Commons question from her Labour shadow, Yvette Cooper, follows increasing criticism about the bureaucratic delays facing Ukrainians with family ties to the UK.

Many have gone to Calais , to find out they could not apply for visas there, and were sent to other cities. A number of UK consular offices had very limited numbers of appointments.

From Tuesday, Patel told the Commons, such appointments would no longer be needed for Ukrainian nationals with passports. They could apply remotely and would be told when they could travel.

“In short, Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come here fully online from wherever they are, and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain,” she said.

“This will mean that visa application centres across Europe can focus their efforts on helping Ukrainians without passports.” This will only be the case for people with passports, not ID cards, she said.

Cooper welcomed the change, but castigated Patel for the system thus far, calling the treatment “a total, total disgrace, bringing shame on to our country”.

“I have to say to the home secretary – why does it always take being hauled into the House of Commons to make basic changes to help vulnerable people who are fleeing from Ukraine ?” Cooper asked.

Cooper queried why the changes were only being made now “when she has had intelligence for weeks, if not months, that she needed to prepare for a Russian invasion of Ukraine”, saying Patel should accept an offer of help from the armed forces.

“It is deeply wrong to leave people in this terrible state,” Cooper said. “Our country is better than this. If she can’t get this sorted out, frankly she should hand the job over to somebody else who can.”

In her statement, Patel defended the decision to make checks on Ukrainian nationals before they came, saying she had sought advice from the security services before making the change.

Replying to Cooper, Patel insisted the government was taking a “pragmatic and agile approach” to visas. It was important for arrivals in the country to have proper documentation, she added, citing the Windrush scandal as an example of the problems that can otherwise occur.

Patel has also come under increasing pressure over recent days from fellow Conservative MPs to speed up the visa process.

Responding to her statement, a series of Tory backbenchers praised the change of stance but called for more to be done. One, Steve Baker, queried why a visa centre in Warsaw was closed from 5pm at weekdays, and all weekend, while former minister Robert Buckland asked her to better coordinate UK officials in the response, calling it “a crisis that will not wait”.

While EU nations are allowing Ukrainian nationals to stay long-term without visas, the only routes to the UK are existing ones, either for people with family ties, or if they are sponsored by an individual or organisation.

Patel’s announcement came as armed forces minister James Heappey said that British troops would be sent to help speed up the processing of visas for Ukrainian refugees in Poland but not France .

Heappey told Sky News that the Home Office believed it could reinforce the visa application centre in northern France without help from the Ministry of Defence. But the MoD had been asked to “supply manpower to Poland, which is the busiest of the visa application centres by some margin” and that the department was “in the process of making that happen”, he added.

• Priti Patel
• Immigration and asylum

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UK Standard Visitor Visa for the citizens of Ukraine

If you're a Ukrainian citizen planning to visit the United Kingdom for tourism, business, or to visit family and friends, the UK Standard Visitor Visa is what you need. This complete guide will walk you through all the essential details, requirements, and procedures to get your visa successfully.

Rely on our handy online platform or the user-friendly iVisa app to get assistance from our iVisa Experts throughout the process, boosting your chances of visa approval.

Let's dive into the options for Ukrainians visiting the United Kingdom!

What is the UK Standard Visitor Visa?

The UK Standard Visitor Visa is designed for tourists traveling to the United Kingdom for tourism, business, and visiting family and friends. You must apply online and attend an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) or British Embassy in Kyiv, where you'll provide biometric information, submit your documents, and, if necessary, undergo an interview.

If all this seems overwhelming, don't worry! Count on our expert services to guide you through the application process and increase your chances of getting that visa approved.

Do Ukrainian citizens need a Standard Visitor Visa for the United Kingdom?

Yes, if you're a Ukrainian citizen, you'll need a Standard Visitor Visa to enter the United Kingdom for short stays. It allows travelers to embark on various activities in the United Kingdom: tourism, business, visiting loved ones, making stopovers, exchange programs, recreational courses, medical treatments, or volunteering .

The visa application center that processes visitor visa applications on behalf of the UK government reopened in January 2023. This means most Ukrainian passport holders can apply for this visa to visit the country.

Other UK Visas available for Ukrainian citizens

If you're a Ukrainian looking for other visas to the United Kingdom, for example, to join family members or live and work temporarily in the country, the following options are available:

• Ukraine Family Scheme: The Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the United Kingdom. You can live, work, study in the UK, and access public funds under this Ukraine Scheme. Apply for this visa on our simple online platform.

This scheme enables you to stay in the UK if you're a Ukrainian family member of a British citizen, a person with permission to settle or EU-settled or pre-settled status, or a refugee in the United Kingdom.

• Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine): If you don't have family in the UK and want to live and work for up to three years, you can apply for the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme via the UK government website .

If your visa application is approved, you must travel to the VAC in Warsaw with a valid international passport to pick up your visa vignette to enter the country. Once you enter the UK, you'll get a biometric residence permit.

Benefits of a UK Standard Visitor Visa for Ukrainian citizens

The UK Standard Visitor Visa opens up many exciting opportunities for Ukrainian nationals in the UK! Here are some travel purposes this visa covers:

Tourism and leisure: Experience the country's rich history, culture, and tourist attractions.

Business opportunities: Attend business meetings and conferences or explore potential business ventures in the UK.

Family and friends visits: Visit family members or friends residing in the UK, enjoying quality time together for a short period of time.

Enroll in short courses: Enjoy a school exchange program or enroll in a course of up to 30 days, for example, a dance course or to study the English language.

Seek healthcare: Use the extensive medical care facilities available in the UK.

Volunteer work: Do volunteer activities for up to 30 days with a registered charity.

Transit in the UK: Transit at UK airports without the need for additional transit visas.

Remember, you can't work or take long courses in the UK with a Standard Visitor Visa.

Benefits of applying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa with us

We offer some great perks if you choose to apply for the UK Standard Visitor Visa with us:

Best chances of visa approval – Our experts will help you submit a flawless application, boosting your chances of getting your visa approved.

Flexible form completion – No rush! Complete the visa application form at your own pace and take breaks whenever necessary.

Guaranteed appointment scheduling – We'll get that visa appointment sorted without hassle.

Expert agent support – If you have any questions or worries during the application process, our team of iVisa Experts is here to help you.

Real-time order tracking – Easily keep track of your visa application through your iVisa account and stay updated at all times.

UK Visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens

The UK government requires some documents to prove your travel purpose and eligibility. When applying through us, we'll send you a tailored document list with everything you must bring to the visa appointment.

In the next sections, you'll find more info on the documents you need to prove your eligibility.

UK Visitor Visa: Eligibility criteria for Ukrainian citizens

As a Ukrainian citizen, you're eligible for the UK Standard Visitor Visa, but there are some additional requirements you must meet:

Intention to leave the UK: You must show that you plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit.

Financial capability: Prove that you can support yourself and anyone else you're responsible for during your trip. If someone else is funding your journey, you must provide evidence of their financial support.

Return or onward journey: Show that you can pay for your return or onward trip from the UK.

Short-term stay: Your visit should be short-term, and you can't live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits.

UK Standard Visitor Visa: Required documents for citizens from Ukraine

Valid passport – Your valid Ukrainian international passport must have at least six months of validity left beyond your intended stay. Please note that applying with an expired Ukrainian international passport or refugee passport is impossible.

Completed visa application form , which you'll get during the online process.

Proof of finances – There's no specific amount, but you must indicate how much your trip will cost and provide bank statements and financial documents proving you can cover the expenses.

Proof of residence (if applicable) – It could be a green card, a residence permit, or a visa sticker in your passport of the country you're residing in if you aren't applying from Ukraine.

Travel itinerary – A detailed plan of your trip, including the purpose, travel dates, and planned activities in the United Kingdom.

Accommodation details – Show proof of your accommodation arrangements in the UK, such as hotel reservations or an invitation letter from a host.

Proof of employment (if applicable) – For employed applicants, a letter from their employer stating their position, salary, and approved leave for the travel period.

Details of any criminal, civil, or immigration offenses you may have committed.

Remember, you might need additional documents depending on your situation.

How long can Ukrainian citizens stay in the UK with the Standard Visitor Visa?

As a Ukrainian citizen, the UK Visitor Visa lets you stay in the United Kingdom for up to 180 days in Total per visit . This visa allows multiple entries and is valid for 180 days after issued .

However, the immigration officer will determine the actual duration of your stay based on your visit purpose and individual situation. For example, if you're seeking medical treatment, you may be allowed to stay in the country for up to 11 months.

Costs and processing times for the UK Standard Visitor Visa in Ukraine

When applying for the UK Standard Visitor Visa with our assistance, the total cost for citizens of Ukraine is USD $238.99 . This includes our service fee of USD $111.99 and the government fee of USD $127.00 .

However, please note that these costs may change over time. For the latest fees, start the application process .

The processing time involves two stages:

iVisa processing time: This stage takes approximately 30 days , during which you'll complete your form, have it reviewed by our iVisa Experts, and we'll schedule a visa appointment in Kyiv.

Government processing time: After the visa appointment, the government usually takes 1 to 3 weeks to process your visa application.

How to apply for the UK Standard Visitor Visa in Ukraine?

Applying for the United Kingdom Standard Visitor Visa with our assistance is a breeze and involves three simple steps:

Step 1: Provide your travel and basic contact details on our website or iVisa App . Double-check the details to avoid errors and pay the visa fees.

Step 2: Complete the UK visa application form and upload the required documents. Our iVisa Experts will review your application and schedule a visa appointment.

Step 3: Attend the visa appointment at the UK Visa Application Center (VAC) or UK Embassy to provide biometric data and undergo the interview. We'll help you find the nearest location, prepare for the interview, and provide tips for a successful appointment.

After your interview, the United Kingdom immigration authorities will need your passport to issue the approved UK Visitor Visa.

Tips for a successful UK Standard Visitor Visa application in Ukraine

Follow these tips to improve your chances of success:

Complete and accurate information: Be careful while completing the visa form to ensure you provide all required information accurately and truthfully.

Supporting documents: Submit all relevant documents to prove your trip's purpose and financial sufficiency.

Travel itinerary: Present a comprehensive travel itinerary outlining the planned activities during your stay in the United Kingdom. Review everything before the interview to explain it confidently to the visa officer.

Ties to Ukraine: Highlight ties to Ukraine, such as family, employment, or property, to demonstrate your intention to return after the visit.

Seek professional guidance: Rely on our iVisa Experts' assistance to ensure all aspects of the application are properly addressed and increase your chances of visa approval.

Common reasons for UK Standard Visitor Visa refusals in Ukraine

Insufficient financial proof: Failure to provide satisfactory evidence of sufficient funds to support your visit.

Lack of genuine intentions: Not convincingly demonstrating the genuine purpose of the visit.

Previous visa violations: A history of violating visa rules or overstaying in any country may negatively impact the UK Visitor Visa application.

Criminal record: If you have a criminal record or previous convictions, you may face visa refusal, especially if your past offenses are severe or raise security concerns.

Where can I find more information about the UK Visitor Visa?

Do you have more questions or concerns regarding the Standard Visitor Visa or other UK visas and immigration details? Contact us via online chat or [email protected] . We're always available to help.

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Travel Advisory May 22, 2023

Ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

• Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
• Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
• Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
• Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

Embassy Message

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Quick Facts

Must be valid at time of entry and exit

One page required for entry stamp

Not required for tourism stays of less than 90 days within a 180-day period

Anything over €10,000 or foreign currency equivalent must be declared in writing

Same as restrictions for entry

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy kyiv.

4 A.I. Sikorsky St. (formerly Tankova) 04112 Kyiv, Ukraine Telephone:  +38 (044) 521-5000 Fax: +38 (044) 521-5544 Email:  [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

• You do not need a visa to enter Ukraine for tourism purposes for visits of up to 90 days in any 180 day period, but must be able to provide proof of valid health insurance and sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.
• No vaccinations are required for entry, but you should be up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations .
• A visa and residency permit is required for stays over 90 days. You must receive the visa in advance at a Ukrainian embassy or consulate. You cannot get a Ukrainian visa at the airport or at the border. For information regarding visa requirements and to find the nearest Ukrainian embassy or consulate, visit the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S.
• You must have a visa to apply for a Ukrainian residency permit; you may not do so while on visa-free tourist travel. You must apply with the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) for a residency permit no later than 15 working days before your visa’s expiration date. Once you have a residency permit you can reside in Ukraine for as long as it remains valid. More information is available at the SMS website (limited information available in English).

Crimea: There is an extensive Russian Federation military presence in the Crimean Peninsula. Follow the guidance in our Travel Advisory for Ukraine and defer all travel to Crimea. If you choose to travel there, you should be aware:

• U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to Crimea and are unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens there.
• You may only legally enter Crimea from mainland Ukraine.
• Entrance into Crimea by any other entry point other than from mainland Ukraine, such as air, sea, or the Kerch Strait Bridge is illegal. You will be denied entry into mainland Ukraine and banned from entering Ukraine for five years.
• Time spent in Crimea will count against the 90 day visa-free period. 

Eastern Ukraine: Russia-led forces continue to control areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and the ongoing armed conflict has resulted in more than 10,000 deaths. Follow the guidance in our Travel Advisory for Ukraine , and do not travel there. If you choose to travel to these areas, you should be aware:

• U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to the eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and to adjacent regions, and the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens there.
• Entering Ukraine through the area of armed conflict is a violation of Ukrainian law. U.S. citizens who enter Ukraine illegally through the area of armed conflict along the Russian border will not be allowed to pass through government checkpoints to territory controlled by the government of Ukraine.
• Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) procedures at entry/exit points require that permit applications be submitted and approved electronically prior to travel in the zone of armed conflict.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Ukraine. However, anyone with tuberculosis cannot get permanent residency in Ukraine. There are no waivers or exceptions to this rule.

Information about customs rules can be found on the Ukrainian State Customs Service website and on our Customs Information page.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our website.

Safety and Security

Terrorism Activity: Credible information indicates that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Europe. European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations.

Small-scale bombings continue to occur throughout Ukraine. While most attacks are at night and appear intended to cause property damage and incite fear, multiple attacks within the past year have been fatal, sometimes occurring in populated areas during daylight hours.

Please read the Travel Advisory for Ukraine before traveling. While in Ukraine, you should carry travel documents with you at all times.

Potential for civil disturbances: Large-scale protests have occurred from time to time in cities throughout Ukraine.

• You should avoid large gatherings or protests and adjacent areas.
• In the past, some protests have turned violent and resulted in deaths and injuries. 
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to local news media.
• The Embassy will post information about sizeable planned protests on the Embassy website .

Crimea: There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in Crimea as part of Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of this part of Ukraine, which the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, does not recognize. There are continuing abuses against and arbitrary imprisonment of foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in Crimea, particularly abuses against individuals who are seen as challenging Russian authority on the peninsula. The U.S. government prohibits employees from traveling to Crimea and is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens there.

Eastern Ukraine : U.S. citizens should not travel to the eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts due to ongoing armed conflict.

• The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in this area.
• U.S. citizens have been specifically targeted by gunmen representing the self-proclaimed authorities and threatened, detained, or kidnapped for hours or days.
• Shortages of water, power, medicine, and food supplies have also been reported in Russian-proxy-controlled territory, and widespread disorder and looting has been confirmed in these areas.

Crime: Criminals may target tourists due to perceived wealth. A new professional and well-trained police force (Patrol Police) has been implemented, but police corruption remains an issue.

• Criminal activity, including burglaries, robberies, muggings, and pickpocketing is increasingly a problem in Ukraine.
• Law enforcement and emergency officials rarely speak English, and interpreters are not readily available.
• Muggings, attacks, armed robberies, harassment, or the drugging at nightspots of unsuspecting victims (who are then robbed and/or assaulted) have been reported.
• Cases of assaults in apartment building corridors, elevators, and stairwells, as well as armed break-ins and crimes involving firearms, have also been reported.
• Recently, there has been an increase in reports of criminals luring unsuspecting visitors to Ukraine with promises of cheap lodging and/or companionship. The criminals then forcibly abduct the visitors and proceed to make unauthorized transactions via their victims’ bank cards and accounts.
• Many incidents of criminal activity occur on the public transport system, including the metro. When riding on public transportation or moving in crowded areas, keep your purse, bag, or backpack tightly under your arm and/or in front of your body. 

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime: U.S. citizen victim of sexual assault should report crimes to the local police at 102 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +38 (044) 521-5000 after hours. 

Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• provide you with information about medical facilities
• provide information about reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution (subject to approval)
• help you find temporary accommodation and arrange flights home in cases of destitution
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance. The Embassy will be able to assist with contacting police and provide you with a list of local shelters.

Tourism: The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not occur everywhere. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally able to access areas outside of major cities and to provide necessary medical treatment, but it may take time for them to arrive. Local law requires foreigners to have medical insurance when traveling to Ukraine. U.S. citizens are encouraged to consider purchasing additional medical evacuation insurance when arranging their medical insurance for traveling to Ukraine. 

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. If you are arrested, you can face extended periods, even years, in pre-trial detention. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs are severe, and if convicted you can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Furthermore, some violations of laws in Ukraine are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrests: When in a foreign country, you are subject the country’s laws. If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

• Ukrainian law permits police to stop you for any reason and check your identification documents.
• You are required to carry your passport at all times; police may check to verify your legal presence in Ukraine.
• Police are permitted to detain you for up to 72 hours without formal charges.
• If stopped by the police for an unclear reason, call the U.S. Embassy at +38 (044) 521 5000.

Faith-Based Travelers: See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report and the following webpages for details

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers: Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is a problem in Ukraine, as LGBTI individuals have been the target of harassment, threats, and acts of violence. For more detailed information about LGBTI rights in Ukraine, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 .  For further information on LGBTI travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section six of our Human Rights Report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Accessibility is an issue in Ukraine. Public transport systems are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Some newer buildings feature ramps and elevators, but older buildings do not. You should check ahead with your hotel/destination to learn more about options to accommodate disabled traveler needs before visiting Ukraine. See our Traveling with Disabilities page.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for women travelers .

By Ukrainian law, all foreigners coming to Ukraine must have medical insurance covering their period of travel. Note that the general quality of healthcare in Ukraine does not meet U.S. standards.

• Fees at government clinics and hospitals are lower than those at private clinics, but there have been reports that doctors request bribes or additional payments before treating patients.
• Private physicians and private hospitals charge fees for services, and some do not accept local health insurance. 
• Public facilities only accept cash payments, while most private clinics accept credit cards.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. See our webpage for more information on insurance overseas.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas . We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Medication: If traveling with prescription medication, check with the State Register of Medicines (Ukrainian language only) to ensure the medication is legal to bring into the country, as many medications that are legal in the United States are prohibited in Ukraine. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. 

The following diseases are prevalent in Ukraine:

• Tuberculosis

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:

• Generally, roads outside major urban areas are in bad condition and poorly lit.
• U.S. drivers licenses are not valid in Ukraine as their vehicle categories do not meet the standards enumerated in the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (as amended in 2011). Travelers who do not have a foreign driver’s license that meets these requirements must obtain either a Ukrainian driver’s license or an International Driving Permit .
• You should drive defensively at all times.
• Drivers are often poorly trained; many drive without a valid driver's license.
• Drivers can also be dangerously aggressive; often do not respect the rights of pedestrians, even at clearly marked pedestrian crossings; and sometimes drive on the sidewalks.
• Many cars, including some taxis, do not meet U.S. safety standards.

In case of accidents:

• Emergency number: Dial 103 for ambulance service and 102 for police. Ambulance crews do not respond quickly and do not often include trained paramedics.
• Notify the police immediately. By law, police must be notified in the event of an accident. Remain at the scene until the police arrive to conduct an investigation.
• It is a criminal offense to move the vehicle from the site of the accident unless it presents a clear safety concern (causing a traffic jam is not considered a safety concern). In practice, this even includes moving a vehicle to the side of the road.
• You must wait until the police arrive and complete their report; often this can take several hours.
• The police will decide preliminary responsibility, take the drivers’ personal information, seize driver’s licenses, and file an accident report. Temporary driver’s licenses will be issued. Once a court decision has been made regarding responsibility, the original driver’s licenses can be recovered from police. Note that in the vast majority of cases, the police will not speak English.

Traffic Laws:  

• Ukraine has a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Violations may result in fines, imprisonment, and/or deportation.
• Non-payment of traffic or parking fines may result in travel bans, which means you cannot leave the country until the fines (plus penalties) are paid.
• Using a cellular telephone or texting while driving is illegal.
• Do not turn right on a red light, unless there is a special green arrow sign attached to the stoplight.
• Front seat belts are mandatory.

Public Transportation:

• Only use marked taxis. Fares are given in advance when you order a taxi by phone, but prices are typically negotiated with the driver in advance if hailing a cab in the street.
• Do not sit in the front seat of the taxi, enter a taxi with unknown passengers, or travel to unfamiliar areas.
• Buses and trams are widely used.

See our Road Safety page for more information. 

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Ukraine’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Ukraine’s air carrier operations. You can find further information on the FAA website at the FAA safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Ukraine should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts at www.marad.dot.gov/msci . Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website ( https:homeport.uscg.mil ), and the NGA broadcast warnings website ( http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal - select “broadcast warnings”).

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Ukraine . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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Offering to let someone from Ukraine stay with you

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

You can volunteer for someone from Ukraine to come to the UK and live with you. This is called the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme.

If you know who you want to host, they can apply to come to the UK. If you don’t know who you want to host, you can sign up to be matched with one or more people.

Your local council will give you a £350 'thank you payment' each month while you host someone. This will go up to £500 each month after a year, until the end of the second year.

If you want to bring your family members to the UK

Your family members can no longer apply for a Ukraine family visa. You can still bring your family members to the UK under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme if you or a host:

are a British citizen

are an Irish citizen - you must be living or have lived in the UK

have indefinite leave to remain

have settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme

If your family members get a visa under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, they can stay in the UK for 18 months.

Check if you can apply to the scheme

You must have space for someone to live with you. It can be a spare room or an empty property.

The space you’re offering must be safe, suitable and large enough for the number of people you want to live there. It must have smoke alarms and it must have had a gas safety check in the last year. If you’re not sure if the space is big enough, check your local council’s rules about overcrowding.

You can find your local council on GOV.UK .

If you’re in the UK on a visa, you must have the right to live in the UK for at least another 6 months.

Safety checks will be carried out on you, your guests and other adults in your home, including:

police and criminal record checks

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

The council will also visit you before your guest arrives to check the space you’re offering is suitable.

Check if you’re allowed to have someone stay with you

Before you apply to the scheme, get permission from your landlord or mortgage provider, if you have one.

If they’re happy for you to apply to the scheme, ask them to confirm this in writing. This means you can prove it later if you have to.

Check who you can apply to host

If you know who you want to host, you’ll need to check you’re allowed to host them. You can only host them if they’re one of the following:

a Ukrainian citizen

the partner of a Ukrainian citizen - this means their husband, wife, fiancé(e), civil partner, proposed civil partner, or a partner they’ve lived with for at least 2 years

the child aged under 18 of a Ukrainian citizen

the parent of a Ukrainian citizen who you’re also planning to host

You can sponsor them if they were living in Ukraine by 31 December 2021 - or they’re a child born after 31 December 2021.

It’s worth them applying even if they weren’t living in Ukraine by 31 December 2021 - the Home Office will consider their application.

Hosting a child without their parent or guardian

There are extra rules if you want to host a child aged under 18 who isn’t with their parent or guardian. You must:

be able to show you knew the child’s parent or guardian before 24 February 2022

agree to look after them for 3 years or until they reach 18 years old

pass safeguarding checks

Check the full rules about hosting a child without their parent or guardian on GOV.UK .

Check if hosting will affect your finances

You must be willing to let someone live with you for at least 6 months - the longer the better.

You can’t charge your guests rent. The government will give you a single thank you payment each month - it doesn’t matter how many people you’re hosting. If you host people in different properties, you’ll get a thank you payment for each property.

The government say you will not have to pay tax on the thank you payment and it will not count as income when calculating your benefits.

The government has said hosting people will not affect your benefits. For example, this means it will not stop you being affected by the ‘bedroom tax’.

Hosting people also will not affect any council tax discounts you get - for example a single person discount.

If you host people in a separate property which has an empty homes premium, you won’t have to pay the premium while they’re there and the council tax should be reduced.

If you get Council Tax Reduction, ask your local council if hosting people will affect it. You can find your local council on GOV.UK .

Hosting people in your home will not affect your home insurance for the first 12 months. You should check with your insurance provider if:

you want your guest to stay in a separate property like a second home

you want to know if the insurance will cover your guests’ possessions

Check what hosting involves

It’s worth knowing that your guests might:

not speak English fluently or at all

have been separated from their family members

have trauma because of what’s happening in their country

Your guests might also be disabled or have extra needs. You should be told about any extra needs before you commit to hosting them.

Check what you can do for your guests

The government say you should do the following for your guests:

give them somewhere to stay

meet them when they arrive in the UK - you’ll need to contact them to arrange this before they travel

help them sign up to local services like a GP and dentist

You might also want to do other things like make them meals, in particular when they first arrive.

Your guests will probably want access to the internet. This will let them check the news, contact their friends and family and meet other people from Ukraine in your local area.

Check what support your guests can get

Your guests will have the right to:

work or study

claim benefits

use the NHS

go to school

rent or buy somewhere to live

go to free English language classes

It might take some time for your guests to start getting benefits and for GPs to agree to register them.

You can find more information about what your guests can do in the UK on GOV.UK .

It’s worth checking what support there is in your local area, for example:

Ukrainian community groups

interpreter services

mental health and trauma support groups

support from your local council

Your local council should check on your guests after they arrive and help them get the support they need.

Your guests will also be able to contact the Ukraine Support Helpline, which is run by Barnardo’s. They can give advice and support and help your guests access therapy services.

Ukraine Support Helpline

Phone: 0800 148 8586

Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm

Saturday, 10am to 3pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

Email: [email protected]

Contact form: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/helping-families/ukrainian-helpline

If you need to stop hosting your guests

You can decide at any time that you can’t keep hosting your guests under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. You’ll need to tell your local council so the council don’t keep paying you the thank you payment.

If you need your guests to leave before 6 months, you should give them at least 2 months’ notice - the council should help them find a new host.

If your guests have enough money, they might be able to afford to move into rented housing after living with you.

If you and your guests agree, they can start renting a room or rooms from you. The government’s ‘Rent a Room scheme’ means you can get up to £7,500 in rent each year without having to pay tax on it. Check how the Rent a Room scheme works on GOV.UK .

If you can’t keep hosting your guests and they can’t find anywhere else to live, they can apply for help as homeless. They will have the same right to apply as British citizens. 

Check the rules about applying for help as homeless .

Check how to apply

If you don’t already know who you want to host, you can sign up to be matched with someone on GOV.UK .

If you know who you want to host, they should apply online to come to the UK on GOV.UK . You’ll need to give them details like your name, address and passport number.

You can also apply for them - you’ll need to get their permission. Try to be in contact with them while you apply so you can get all the details you need.

What they need to do depends on whether they have a Ukrainian international passport with them. It doesn’t matter if their passport has expired as long as it has an extension stamp.

If there are children who have been added to a parent’s passport, the children will need to follow the rules for people without a passport.

If the people you want to host have Ukrainian passports with them

They should scan or take a photo of their passport and upload it when they apply.

They will get a confirmation email when they apply - this will let them travel to the UK and stay for up to 6 months.

When they arrive, they'll need to book an appointment to have their photograph and fingerprints taken to complete their application. When they complete their application, they’ll get permission to stay in the UK for 3 years starting from the day they arrived.

They can apply to complete their application on GOV.UK .

If the people you want to host don’t have Ukrainian passports with them

They will need to go to a visa application centre before they travel. They can book an appointment when they apply. You can find their nearest visa application centre on GOV.UK .

The visa application centre will ask them for proof of their identity - for example an identity card or non-Ukrainian passport.

If possible, they should scan or take photos of their documents and upload them on the visa application centre’s website before their appointment.

If the documents are in Ukrainian, it’s worth them translating the documents into English - or asking someone else to translate them. They can get templates to help translate documents on the Charity Translators website . They should apply as soon as possible even if they don’t have translated documents - they can upload them later.

If they don’t have any evidence, they should explain why. The visa application centre should accept their application if there’s a good reason they can’t get any evidence.

The visa application centre should take their photo and fingerprints. They will usually have to come back later to pick up a visa - this will let them enter the UK.

They will get permission to stay in the UK for 3 years.

Check what will happen when your guests arrive in the UK

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move - as Germany follows Washington in approving strikes inside Russia with its weapons

Germany has followed the US in approving strikes inside Russia using its weapons - as Moscow warns the moves could cause a war with NATO. Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly launched a large missile and drone attack overnight.

Saturday 1 June 2024 08:31, UK

• Biden partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US arms to attack Russia, US officials say - with cross-border strikes allowed  
• Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move - as Putin ally says Russia 'not bluffing' over nuclear threats
• Germany follows US in announcing Ukraine can now use its weapons to strike targets in Russia
• At least four dead in Kharkiv from overnight Russian missile strikes
• Watch: Freed Ukrainian prisoners weep as they sing on way home after two years in captivity
• Analysis: Sharp change of US policy increases chance of direct confrontation with Russia
• The big picture : What you need to know about the war right now
• Live reporting by Lauren Russell and Dylan Donnelly

We'll be back with live updates soon.

Scroll down to read today's news.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has wrapped up a flurry of negotiations in Sweden and signed long-term security deals with Norway and Iceland.

Earlier, we reported that the Ukrainian president had struck an agreement while in Stockholm (see 13.26 post).

Now, Mr Zelenskyy has signed a 10-year deal with Norway, through which Oslo will focus on supporting Ukraine's maritime and air defence needs.

Norway would be "open" to the Norwegian defence industry localising production in Ukraine under the deal. Iceland has also committed to a 10-year pact.

The new agreements mean Mr Zelenskyy now has 15 written pacts with Western nations, including all five Nordic countries - which are all NATO countries.

He previously agreed security pacts with Denmark and Finland in February and April respectively.

Sweden's agreement means Stockholm will transfer two ASC 890 surveillance aircraft as well as its entire stock of armoured tracked personnel carriers.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said earlier: "You are literally fighting not only for your own freedom but also for our freedom and our security."

A Russian-American journalist will be detained until at least 5 August ahead of an investigation and trial.

Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the US government-funded Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was taken into custody on 18 October.

She's been charged with failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information about the Russian military.

Later, she was also charged with spreading "false information" about the Russian military.

Ms Kurmasheva told reporters she suffered from various health conditions which could not be properly treated in detention. 

She also said she had last heard her children's voices in October, and held up two children's drawings for reporters which she said had been sent to her and had lifted her spirits.

She was the second American journalist detained in Russia last year, after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

He was arrested on espionage charges in March. A year later, President Joe Biden said  the US was "working every day"  to secure his release.

Read more about her charges  here...

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is trying to disrupt Ukraine's peace summit in June by blackmailing world leaders.

Speaking in Stockholm after signing a security pact with Sweden, the Ukrainian president said: "The most important thing right now is the peace summit. It should become a truly global summit.

"At this moment, we already have about 100 states and international organisations that will participate in the summit, but Russia is blackmailing some leaders and trying to block the participation of some countries."

Earlier, China's foreign ministry spokesperson defended Beijing's refusal to attend the summit - held 15-16 June in Switzerland - which Russia is not invited to.

Mao Ning insisted its demands for an international peace conference that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine are "fair" and "impartial" (see 10.53 post).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said China's decision shows Beijing understands that holding a peace summit without Russia would be futile.

Mr Zelenskyy also said it's "a question of time" before Ukraine uses Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia (see 13.26 post).

The Kremlin has dismissed France's refusal to invite Russian officials to events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the Second World War.

Yesterday, the French presidency said Russia would not be invited next week over what Paris called "Moscow's war of aggression" against Ukraine.

Despite Vladimir Putin and officials accusing the West of trying to "erase" Russia's contributions to the war effort, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was planning for next year's Victory Day.

He said "next year, you know, is an extremely important year for us", as it marks 80 years since the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany.

"This is our main priority in terms of memorial actions."

Earlier this week, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western countries of presenting D-Day as "the main event that decided the outcome of World War Two".

She said: "Of course, nothing is said in the West about the fact that no landing in Normandy would have been possible without the successes of the Red Army. 

"They are trying not only not to remember, but to erase it."

Kremlin officials have today been issuing various statements - including dire threats of war with NATO - in response to Western powers' decisions to let Ukraine use weapons they have supplied to attack inside Russia.

But Jens Stoltenberg, the military alliance's secretary-general, has dismissed the threats and insisted NATO was simply helping Kyiv defend itself.

"This is nothing new. It has… been the case for a long time that every time NATO allies are providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us to not do that," he said in Prague.

"And an escalation – well, Russia has escalated by invading another country."

Citing Russia's northern offensive against the Kharkiv region in Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg added: "Ukraine has the right for self-defence, we have the right to help Ukraine uphold the right for self-defence, and that does not make NATO allies a party to the conflict.

"That was the case back in February 2022, that was the case last year, that remains the case."

Ten foreign ministers, including Lord Cameron, are demanding North Korea stop supplying weapons to Russia.

Earlier this month, Russia dismissed claims it was working with Pyongyang on military matters and said the relationship between the countries was not a threat to others.

But the ministers say Russia is using North Korean arms transfers "to strike Ukraine's critical infrastructure, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people".

They also called for North Korea to end its nuclear weapons programme.

Yesterday, North Korea fired a barrage of ballistic missile to show it is willing to strike South Korea's "gangsters' regime" pre-emptively.

Meanwhile, some of the officials are in Prague for a two-day NATO summit, where they've discussed allowing Ukraine to use weapons they have supplied to strike inside of Russia.

Germany announced it will allow Kyiv to do so, to the anger of Russian officials (see 10.30am post).

Earlier, we reported that Ukraine and Russia had carried out their first prisoner swap since February (see 13.05 post).

Now, Ukraine's defence ministry has shared a video of freed prisoners singing Ukraine, originally by Taras Petrynenko, as they're brought back home.

Leading the sing-along is Kostyantyn Myrhorodskyi, who was in Russian captivity for more than two years.

Some of the men with him on the coach can be seen weeping as they are overcome with emotion by the moment. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed Joe Biden approved for US weapons to be used inside Russia. 

Speaking to reporters in the Czech Republic following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Mr Blinken said Ukraine asked for authorisation to allow its forces to defend itself against Russian attacks, particularly in the city of Kharkiv.

The meeting of NATO foreign ministers comes before a summit in Washington from 9 -11 July. 

Mr Blinken said during the summit, "concrete steps" will be taken to bring Ukraine closer to NATO and the US will "ensure there's a bridge for Ukraine to NATO membership".

He said the summit is happening at a "pivotal time" when Russia is intensifying its attacks against frontline regions in Ukraine.

After last night's missile strike on a block of flats, Russia's defence ministry says it has carried out 25 attacks in Kharkiv.

According to the Interfax news agency, the strikes were carried out between 25 May and 31 May with precision-guided weapons, and targeted Ukrainian military facilities.

The ministry adds Russian troops are advancing in several directions - and have captured two villages - Berestove and Ivanivka - in the Kharkiv region.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

British man walks 300km to fight in Ukraine after Putin’s forces kill friend

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A British volunteer walked more than 300 kilometres to fight for Ukraine after a close friend serving in the country’s military was killed by Russian forces. 

Marcus Smith had been in Spain learning the country’s language when he received the devastating news that the soldier had died in a drone strike.  

The 32-year-old cut his long curly hair and flew from Barcelona to Budapest before spending eight days walking to the Ukrainian border after his money ran out.  

The recruit, from Manchester, was then helped by a Ukrainian border guard to cross by train from Záhony in Hungary to the city of Chop in the western Zakarpattia Oblast. 

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘I had a really close friend out here in Ukraine.

‘We used to play video games, hang out online a lot and always talk.

‘He used to tell me about his family. His mother rang me and told me about the drone attack, it made me very angry.’

Marcus, who was born in Blackburn, is currently in Uzhhorod, a city in western Ukraine, where he has enlisted and is undergoing military training so he can take arms against Vladimir Putin ’s invasion forces.

‘I’m going to join the military indefinitely,’ he said.  

‘I’m looking for a lifelong career. I believe that it would be more beneficial for me to put my heart, mind and soul into something I am very passionate about. I’m disgusted by what I’m hearing about this war, so I’m doing my best to train, be the best of the best, and hopefully we can end this war.’ 

The Mancunian said he is a professional hunter who has experience of living in mountains and surviving difficult conditions.

Between the ages of 14 and 17 he gained some military experience at a boarding school in the UK. The volunteer described himself as having no family but regarding his friends as his family. 

‘I believe the skills I have will be useful in this war,’ he said.  

‘I served in the cadets, which was a medical corps, and I was trained with assault rifles and received basic medical training provided by the British government. I’ve been trained with basic weapons in England and have earned a marksmanship badge.

‘I’m very proficient with some of these firearms.

‘Depending on where my talents are needed, I’m prepared to take on any position in the army.’ 

The would-be legionnaire believes that stopping Russian aggression in Ukraine is a matter of critical importance for the free world.  

‘I grew up with stories about the devastation caused by World War One and World War Two in my country,’ he said.  

‘It affects people, especially children.

‘I would like to live in a world where we are all at peace, but sadly, that is not the case at the moment, and there are conflicts happening on our planet that I would love to stop.’ 

Marcus plans to join the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine or the International Legion after medical checks and a training programme.  

His story was first revealed on Facebook by the Zakarpattia enlistment office, which said his 300km trek from Hungary had taken eight days, six hours, 36 minutes and 14 seconds.  

‘I’ve just had my blood taken, my weight checked and a chest X-ray,’ Marcus told Metro.co.uk.

‘The doctors and nurses said that I’m in perfect condition, so the choice will be mine regarding which unit to select.

‘I am going to apply for the special forces, and if I don’t get through, I will then join the International Legion.’

British citizens who travel to Ukraine to fight could be prosecuted when they return, according to UK government travel advice.

The stance contrasts with the backing given by Liz Truss to those wanting to take up arms with the embattled nation when she was foreign secretary, although she later distanced herself from the comments.

Guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office states that ‘British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured’. 

A number of UK nationals have become casualties or prisoners of war, including Aiden Aislen, who was sentenced to death after being captured while fighting for the Ukrainian marines in the siege of Mariupol.  

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office has established the International Legion for foreign recruits, although others, including Brits, have joined various units in Kyiv’s military structure, including the Georgian National Legion. 

Around 20,000 foreigners were reported to have poured in to Ukraine to take up arms for the country in the months after Putin launched the unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Numbers are thought to have declined since but an unknown quota of British nationals are understood to be in frontline combat roles away from the media glare which accompanied recruits at the start of the war.  

Marcus insisted that he is in for the long haul. 

‘I am joining the Ukrainian army indefinitely, and I never plan on leaving,’ he said. ‘I have so much respect for all the Ukrainian people who are sadly affected by this war, and I will fight for their freedom.’ 

The volunteer spoke as Russian forces continued their brutal ground and air offensive in the northern Kharkiv Oblast.  

The UK Ministry of Defence said that Putin has ‘currently not succeeded’ in his stated aim of creating a ‘buffer zone’ in the border region.  

The intelligence update on X stated: ‘Russia’s gains in this axis will be limited in the coming week, as Russia’s initial momentum has been contained by Ukrainian resistance.’ 

The Institute for the Study of War said Russia is ‘reportedly concentrating forces of unspecified size’ in the western Belgorod Oblast, across the border from the city of Sumy.

The US think-tank said the likely aim was to ‘fix and draw’ Kyiv’s forces and prepare for ‘offensive operations’ aiming to expand Moscow’s footprint in the north-eastern border region of Ukraine.  

MORE : British volunteer hails ‘mind-blowing Ukrainian unity’ as Russia bombards frontline city

MORE : Inside Ukraine shadow warriors’ daring missions within sights of Russian guns

MORE : Why a Brit is standing firm in embattled city despite Putin’s forces closing in

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Donald Trump’s felony conviction now means he’s banned from a host of countries including Canada and UK

There are 37 countries that bar felons from entering, even to visit., article bookmarked.

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Now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, his list of countries to visit has gotten much shorter.

Trump was found guilty on Thursday of 34 counts of falsifying records in an effort to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels quiet about an affair that occurred in the 2000s. That means certain freedoms Mr Trump once enjoyed may be out of his reach — and could have a serious effect on his ability to carry out his presidential duties, including traveling to foreign countries.

Nearly 40 nations - inlcuding Canada and the UK - have strict policies when it comes to allowing individuals with criminal records across their borders, and barring a special accommodation, Trump would be held to those same standards. It’s unclear if he would be allowed to visit if he wins the presidental election in November, but remains a felon.

Here are just five of the 37 nations that can now ban Trump from entry now that he's a felon:

Despite Trump once retweeting someone who referred to him as the "King of Israel" and bragging that he moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Trump may not be able to visit the nation now that he's a felon.

Israel reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone with a criminal record, including felonies. Border control forces in Israel have the authority to bar entry for anyone suspected of committing a crime or with a record, and Trump meets both of those qualifiers.

According to the Canadian government's tourist hub, any "US Citizen or permanent resident that has a felony conviction on their criminal record may be deemed inadmissible to Canada for the purposes of immigrating, or even if they're merely coming to Canada to visit."

Canada even retains the right to bar individuals "arrested or accused of a felony crime ... even though you have not been convicted," meaning Trump would have faced issues visiting the US's northern neighbor the moment he faced charges.

The government notes that "a felony will likely result in inadmissibility."

Japan is fairly strict with its immigration and visitation rules, including laws preventing convicted criminals from entry.

Under Japanese law anyone convicted of a violation of "any law of regulation" of any country and has been sentenced to "imprisonment with or without work for 1 year or more, or to an equivalent penalty" can be barred from entry.

Japanese law does note that individuals convicted of a "political offense" are not subject to those rules. In Trump's mind, at least, he could qualify to visit under those terms. It's unclear if Japan would buy his version of events.

Under UK law, a felon can visit Ireland and Scotland with some restrictions and requirements in place. However, Britain can bar access to convicted felons.

Unless an “Immigration Officer is satisfied that admission would be justified for strong compassionate reasons,” they can refuse access to any convicted, so long as the crime they committed would also be punishable by imprisonment in the UK.

China has strict policies when admitting anyone over its borders. Chinese officials conduct character assessments for anyone applying for a visa, and that includes a criminal history check, including felonies.

Even minor offenses can get someone barred from entering China, so Mr Trump may not be able to chide the Chinese in person if he were ever so inclined.

Full list of countries that restrict visits from felons

• Dominican Republic
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• South Africa
• South Korea
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

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