UK gives Ukrainians two more years of protection under support program
The UK has decided to extend the Ukraine Permission Extension program for another 24 months, said British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper during a speech in the House of Commons.
"We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine – extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme by a further 24 months, with further details to be set out in due course," Yvette Cooper said.
She also clarified that assistance for families from Ukraine, Syria, and Hong Kong is proof that the UK continues to support people fleeing persecution or conflict.
Ukraine Permission Extension
The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) is a UK Home Office scheme that allows Ukrainian nationals (and their families) who already have status under one of the Ukrainian visa programs (Homes for Ukraine/Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Extension Scheme) or a permission to remain outside immigration control to extend their legal stay in the country for up to 18 months.
Applications are free of charge and grant the same rights as the original statuses: the right to work, rent housing, access benefits, and education. Applications are submitted online within 28 days before the current permission expires. The updated status is issued via eVisa, and applicants may be asked to provide biometrics additionally. The scheme opens for applications on February 4, 2025.
In early August, reports emerged that Britain had begun rejecting asylum applications from Ukrainians, as the western regions of Ukraine remain safe to live in.
