In a written statement to Parliament on 24 February, Home Office minister Mike Tapp confirmed that Ukrainians in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme will be able to apply for a further two years of leave. The decision means beneficiaries may now accumulate up to 3.5 years of temporary protection, maintaining their right to work, study, claim benefits and access the NHS.
The announcement follows consultations with Ukrainian community groups who argued that the original 18-month extension, announced in 2025, did not provide sufficient certainty. To make the process smoother, applicants may now submit requests in the final 90 days of their current permission rather than the previous 28-day window.
![UK extends Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme by additional 24 months]()
For applicants who would value tailored guidance through the online extension process, VisaHQ can help. The firm’s UK portal offers clear checklists, deadline reminders, and one-to-one support for both individuals and employers handling right-to-work compliance—see https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/ for details.
The scheme remains fee-free and does not count towards settlement, reflecting Kyiv’s wish for citizens to return when safe. Employers of Ukrainian nationals should diarise expiry dates and support staff through the online extension, ensuring right-to-work records are updated.
Local authorities will continue to receive per-capita integration funding, and the Home Office pledged a further policy paper later this year on long-term pathways once temporary protection ends.
The announcement follows consultations with Ukrainian community groups who argued that the original 18-month extension, announced in 2025, did not provide sufficient certainty. To make the process smoother, applicants may now submit requests in the final 90 days of their current permission rather than the previous 28-day window.
For applicants who would value tailored guidance through the online extension process, VisaHQ can help. The firm’s UK portal offers clear checklists, deadline reminders, and one-to-one support for both individuals and employers handling right-to-work compliance—see https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/ for details.
The scheme remains fee-free and does not count towards settlement, reflecting Kyiv’s wish for citizens to return when safe. Employers of Ukrainian nationals should diarise expiry dates and support staff through the online extension, ensuring right-to-work records are updated.
Local authorities will continue to receive per-capita integration funding, and the Home Office pledged a further policy paper later this year on long-term pathways once temporary protection ends.
