Key takeaways
- The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme lets people already in the UK under a Ukraine scheme stay longer, free of charge and without the health surcharge.
- A first UPE application gives 18 months; since 8 April 2026, UPE holders can apply for a further 24 months, up to 3.5 years in total.
- You can apply within 90 days before your current permission expires; applying after it expires means losing the right to work, rent and claim benefits until a decision.
- You must be in the UK when you apply and should not travel outside the UK or the Common Travel Area while the application is pending, or it will be withdrawn.
- UPE holders can work, study, use the NHS and access benefits, but the time does not count towards settlement in the UK.
- There is no right of appeal or administrative review if a UPE application is refused, so the application should be right first time.
- Ukrainians can switch from UPE to other visas, such as Skilled Worker or Global Talent, if they want a route that can lead to settlement.
The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme is the UK’s route for Ukrainians and their family members who came under the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family or Ukraine Extension schemes and need more time in the UK, and it is now the main way to get a Ukraine visa extension without switching routes. It opened on 4 February 2025, and in 2026 the government added a second, longer extension.
Table of contents
- What is the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme?
- Who can apply for UPE?
- How long does UPE last?
- When should you apply? The 90-day window
- How to apply for UPE: step by step
- Your rights while waiting: 3C leave, travel and eVisa
- What can you do with UPE permission?
- What if your UPE application is refused?
- Does UPE lead to settlement?
- Switching from UPE to another UK visa
- How Sterling Law helps Ukrainians extend their stay
- Frequently asked questions
What is the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme?
The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme is a temporary sanctuary route set out in Appendix Ukraine Scheme of the Immigration Rules. It allows people whose permission under an earlier Ukraine scheme is coming to an end to extend their stay without changing to a different visa. The application is made online, and it is free.
UPE replaced the Ukraine Extension Scheme, which closed on 4 February 2025. It is not a new visa for people arriving from abroad: you can only apply from inside the UK.
Who can apply for UPE?
You can usually apply if you are in the UK and one of the following applies to you:
- you hold, or have held, permission under the Homes for Ukraine (Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme), the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme
- you previously held permission under one of the Ukraine schemes and now hold a different valid visa
- you already hold UPE permission and are applying for the second, 24-month extension
- your child was born in the UK after 18 March 2022 to a Ukrainian national parent who holds permission under the Ukraine schemes
Family members who are not Ukrainian nationals can apply if they remain the partner or child of a Ukrainian national, or meet another relationship set out in the rules. Someone who was granted permission as a partner but is no longer in that relationship will not meet the nationality requirement, unless they are the parent or legal guardian of a child in the UK with permission under the Ukraine schemes.
Time spent outside the UK
You must have lived in the UK since you arrived with, or were granted, Ukraine scheme permission, or since you were born here. Short visits and holidays do not usually count as living outside the UK, and neither do temporary periods of living in Ukraine of less than 12 months. Temporary periods in other countries, generally under 12 months, usually require evidence of ongoing ties to the UK. Absences of 12 months or more are considered case by case, and you will need to show your ongoing ties to the UK. If you spent a long time abroad, it is worth taking advice before you apply.
Children born in the UK
A child born in the UK after 18 March 2022 to a Ukrainian national parent who holds Ukraine scheme permission can apply without having held Ukraine scheme permission before. You will need the child’s full birth certificate showing the parents’ details and evidence of the parent’s status. The child’s permission is aligned with the parent’s, so it ends on the same date.
How long does UPE last?
The length of permission depends on whether it is your first or second UPE application.
| Application | Who applies | Length of permission | Available since |
|---|---|---|---|
| First UPE application | People with permission under an earlier Ukraine scheme | 18 months | 4 February 2025 |
| Second UPE application | People granted the initial 18 months of UPE | 24 months | 8 April 2026 |
Together, the two grants give up to 3.5 years under UPE, in addition to any time already spent under the earlier Ukraine schemes. When permission is granted, any unexpired permission you still hold at the date of decision is added to the new grant, up to a maximum of 90 days. The first UPE permissions began to expire in August 2026, so many families are now applying for the second extension.
When should you apply? The 90-day window
You can apply within 90 days before your current permission expires. The Home Office has discretion to accept an earlier application where it considers that reasonable, but applying inside the 90-day window is the safest approach.
Timing matters for your rights. If you apply before your current permission expires, you keep your existing rights while the Home Office decides. If you apply after it has expired, you lose your entitlement to work, rent and receive benefits until a decision is made.
How to apply for UPE: step by step
- Check the date. Find the expiry date of your current permission in your UKVI account or eVisa and count back 90 days.
- Prepare identity documents. A valid international passport is the main document. An expired biometric residence permit (BRP) can be used if you have already provided a passport to the Home Office. If you have no valid passport, you should apply for one as soon as possible or explain why you cannot.
- Apply online. Submit the form through your UKVI account, making sure an application is made for every family member who needs to extend. For a child born in the UK, include the full birth certificate and evidence of the parent’s status.
- Confirm your identity. Most applicants use the UK Immigration: ID Check app; others attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment for fingerprints and a photograph.
- Wait for the decision. You will usually receive a decision within 8 weeks. If the Home Office asks for more information, respond quickly and in full.
There is no application fee and no Immigration Health Surcharge for UPE.
Your rights while waiting: 3C leave, travel and eVisa
If you applied before your permission expired, your current permission continues under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 until a decision is made. In practice, this means you can keep working, renting and receiving benefits on the same terms. Employers and landlords can confirm your status through the Home Office checking services.
Do not travel outside the UK or the Common Travel Area while your application is pending. If you do, the application will be withdrawn and will not be considered.
Once permission is granted, your eVisa is updated automatically. Check that the eVisa is linked to your current passport before you travel, because expired BRPs can no longer be used to enter the UK.
What can you do with UPE permission?
UPE permission gives broadly the same rights as the earlier Ukraine schemes:
- work, including self-employment and voluntary work
- study, subject to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) for certain subjects
- access to public funds, including benefits and housing support
- access to the NHS and schools
There is no minimum salary, no sponsor and no English language requirement for UPE.
What if your UPE application is refused?
There is no right of appeal or administrative review against a UPE refusal. This makes preparation especially important, particularly in cases involving long absences, missing documents, name changes, previous refusals or changes in family relationships.
After a refusal, the options depend on your circumstances. They may include making a new application with better evidence, applying for a different visa, or, in limited cases, challenging the decision through judicial review. Some people may also need advice on asylum. Because time limits can be short, seek advice as soon as you receive the decision.
Does UPE lead to settlement?
No. The Ukraine schemes, including UPE, are not a route to settlement, and time spent on UPE does not count towards indefinite leave to remain. If you want to stay in the UK permanently, you will usually need to switch to a route that leads to settlement.
Switching from UPE to another UK visa
GOV.UK guidance for Ukrainian nationals says you can extend or switch your visa even if your current visa does not usually allow this, provided you meet the requirements of the new route. Switching gives you a path to settlement, but it also means paying the usual visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and meeting the conditions of the new visa.
| Route | Who it suits | Key requirement | Can lead to settlement? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | Employees with a UK job offer | A job with a licensed sponsor that meets skill and salary thresholds | Yes, under the rules in force |
| Global Talent visa | Leaders or potential leaders in research, arts and culture, or digital technology | Endorsement or an eligible prize | Yes, after 3 or 5 years |
| Innovator Founder visa | Founders of new businesses | An endorsed, innovative business idea | Yes, after 3 years |
| Spouse or partner visa | Partners of British citizens or settled persons | Relationship, financial and English language requirements | Yes, under the rules in force |
| Student visa | People accepted onto a course | An unconditional offer (CAS) from a licensed student sponsor | No, but can lead to other routes |
The right time to switch depends on your job, family and finances. Many people keep UPE while they prepare a switching application, then apply when they meet all the requirements.
How Sterling Law helps Ukrainians extend their stay
Our immigration lawyers handle UPE applications, Homes for Ukraine cases and switching to long-term visas, and they are particularly experienced in the difficult cases where a refusal cannot be appealed.
We help you to:
- check your eligibility and the right date to apply
- prepare applications where passports or original documents are missing
- address long absences, name changes and previous refusals
- apply for children born in the UK and other family members
- deal with Home Office delays, requests for information and eVisa errors
- plan a switch to Skilled Worker, Global Talent, family or other routes that lead to settlement
Recent cases
- UPE without original documents: permission granted with copies only
- Positive UPE decision: approved the day after further evidence was sent
- Home Office system errors resolved: incorrect status updates corrected, extension granted
- Extension despite previous refusals: name changes and absences addressed
- Homes for Ukraine for an elderly couple: visas granted within a month after earlier refusals
- Ukrainian film producer: Global Talent endorsement within a month
To discuss your situation, contact us and book a free initial call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for UPE more than 90 days before my permission expires?
Usually not. Applications should be made within 90 days before your current permission expires.
How do I apply for the 24-month UPE extension?
If you were granted the initial 18 months of UPE, you can apply for a further 24 months within 90 days before that permission expires. You use the same online application, and it is free.
Can I travel abroad while my UPE application is being decided?
No. If you travel outside the UK or the Common Travel Area while the application is pending, it will be withdrawn. After permission is granted, you can travel, but check that your eVisa is linked to your current passport.
What happens if my permission has already expired?
You may still be able to apply, but you will lose your right to work, rent and receive benefits until a decision is made. Take advice quickly if you have missed your deadline.
Can I apply for UPE if I am now on a different visa?
Yes, if you previously held permission under one of the Ukraine schemes and now hold a different valid visa, and you meet the other requirements.
Does time on UPE count towards indefinite leave to remain?
No. The Ukraine schemes are not a route to settlement. To settle in the UK, you will usually need to switch to a route such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent or a family visa.
Can I appeal if my UPE application is refused?
No. There is no right of appeal or administrative review against a UPE refusal. Depending on your case, you may be able to reapply with stronger evidence or apply under a different route.
