Sponsoring a Ukrainian guest
Refugees at Home is one of the recognised providers of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, allowing people to sign up to host Ukrainians who are applying to come to the UK, or already in the UK.
Please note that the scheme is run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and the process is different to making a placement with non-Ukrainian guests.
At present, you are only able to sponsor Ukrainian guests if you hold British or Irish citizenship or have settled status in the UK, and can commit to host for a minimum of six months.
In August 2023, we were welcomed into the home of our hosts. These are extraordinary people who have become a new, British family for us.
We are very grateful to them for their care, safety, and the opportunity to start a new life without war.
Thank you payments
Hosts under the scheme are eligible for ‘thank you’ payments totalling £350 per month.
Refugees at Home does not process the thank you payments, this is done through your local authority, and the amount is fixed regardless of the number of guests or location of the placement, although some councils do top up the payment.
For more information, visit the dedicated gov.uk web page.
Applying for a guest’s visa
One key difference with hosting a Ukrainian guest is the need to apply for a visa. As a sponsor, you must be involved with this process and due to the need to share personal information, we strongly recommend that you lead on it and ask the guest to provide you with their details rather than the other way around.
This process is entirely managed by the Home Office and we do not have any input or influence on the application.
You can read more about the visa application process and how to apply on the gov.uk website.
If there are any issues or delays, please let your Placement Coordinator know. While we cannot provide advice for the visa process, we recommend contacting Here For Good Law or JCWI.
Your guest’s arrival
Once your guest’s visa is issued, they are responsible for arranging their travel to the UK. While you’ll need to stay in contact with them throughout, you should not contribute financially to their journey.
As soon as they know their arrival date, please confirm a time where you can welcome them that is convenient for you both. Due to the language barrier and being unfamiliar with public transport in the UK, it’s possible they may be delayed. Many of our hosts arrange to pick their guest up in their car from the nearest transport hub.
During the placement
Once your guest has arrived, the placement will carry on much like any other. You can read our Information for Hosts page for more guidance. Our Placement Team will continue to check in with you and your guest periodically to make sure everything is going ok. We’ll also reach out towards the end of the placement to discuss moving on plans, or whether you’d be happy to extend it.
Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme
Guests who arrived before February 2024 received a three-year visa to stay in the UK. Currently, Ukrainians arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme are issued an 18-month visa. Once this expires they are able to apply for a further 18-month extension under the UPE. From August 2026, this period will increase to 24 months, with more details due to be published by the government.
The scheme is free to apply to, but applications can only be made if there are 28 days or fewer before their existing visa expires.
It may take up to eight weeks for the Home Office to make a decision.
