FAQ for employers, landlords and services encountering Ukraine Scheme visa holders

The Ukraine Scheme contains three visa routes for Ukrainians and their family who wish to come to the UK or extend their stay in the UK where they are already lawfully present here. The three routes are the Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme.

The visa can be granted leave (permission to stay) for a period of up to three years. However, some people who have applied from outside the UK and have used the deferred biometrics process will initially be granted six months leave outside the rules at the UK border before later being provided with up to three years leave upon registering biometrics in the UK.

There are several types of documentation that can evidence that someone has a visa under the Ukraine Scheme. Possession of these may depend on the application process undertaken and whether they undertook biometrics abroad or in the UK: Visa holders may hold the following:

• a biometric residence permit (BRP) card, or 
• The vignette ‘sticker’ in their passport.
• A Form for Affixing Visa (FAV).
• A permission to travel letter from the Home Office.

You can also check someone’s immigration status using their shared code.

Holders of any one of the three visas will have the right to work, rent and study in the UK. They have access to public funds and so can claim welfare benefit or homelessness and housing assistance. They can access free NHS healthcare at all levels.

Employers can check someone’s right-to-work as they would normally – by submitting physical documents. Visa holders can prove their right-to-work status by generating a share code needed for online verification.

The government’s right to rent check system enables landlords whether they can legally let to a prospective tenant.

Services like the DWP or local authority can check someone’s immigration status if they have a shared code. This can be used to check things like ability access to welfare benefits and public funded services, and permission to stay in the UK.

You can contact Home Office helpline for employers and landlords by phone on 0300 790 6268.

Yes, those who don’t yet have a NINo can undertake employment providing they can show they have the right to work.

Generally, it will be the responsibility of employers to carry out DBS checks for appropriate roles but in some circumstances individuals may need to obtain a DBS themselves. Obtaining a valid DBS could be an issue for some due to the length of time in the UK, however Ukrainian’s may be able to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate through the Ukrainian embassy which can be used to evidence that someone has no criminal record in Ukraine prior to coming to the UK.