Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the eligibility to apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa published on 4 March 2022, whether the definition of extended family of a Ukrainian national living in the UK will be extended to include (a) aunts and (b) uncles.

As set out in the Home Secretary’s statement to the House on 1 March, a fee free, bespoke Ukraine Family Scheme has been introduced. The route allows both the immediate (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, minor children) and extended (parent, grandparent, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and their immediate family) family members to join their relatives in the UK. The UK-based sponsoring relative must be a British citizen, a person who is present and settled in the UK (including those with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), a person in the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection or a person in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU (pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme). This route was launched on 4 March.

Ukraine nationals under a spouse visa route who have not obtained settlement are not permitted to sponsor under the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, if their spouse is a British or settled person, they may be able to sponsor some of their family members concerned under the in-law category.

Ukrainian spouse visa holders may also wish to consider sponsoring a relative under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This bespoke scheme offers a route to those who want to come to the UK who have someone here willing to provide them with a home. It will enable individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland.

Further information on the process and how to apply to sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can be found here:

https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

We are setting no limit on the numbers of people who can come here. We will be glad to welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come.