Ukraine Scheme in the UK: Documents, Translation and Visa Extension 2026

Your three-year Homes for Ukraine visa is running out, BRP card expired, and you’re not even sure if you can still stay in the UK. Short answer: you can. In February 2026, the government announced a further Ukraine Permission Extension for an additional 24 months. But you need to act before your current permission expires - and with the right documents.

What Ukraine Schemes exist and how they differ¶

After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the UK opened three visa schemes for Ukrainians. Each had its own specifics.

Homes for Ukraine (Sponsorship Scheme) - launched on March 14, 2022. A UK-based sponsor (individual or organisation) applies to host you and provide accommodation for at least 6 months. Originally granted a 3-year visa, from February 2024 - 18 months for new applicants.

Ukraine Family Scheme - for those who had family members in the UK. Closed to new applications in February 2024, so you can’t apply through this route anymore.

Ukraine Extension Scheme - for Ukrainians who were already in the UK on another visa (student, work, tourist) and needed to extend their stay.

What all three have in common: the right to work without a separate permit, access to NHS (free healthcare), eligibility for benefits, free education for children. And they’re all free of charge - no application fees at all.

Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE): how to extend your status in 2026¶

When your initial visa expires - don’t panic. Since February 2025, the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) has been available for those already in the UK under one of the three Ukrainian schemes.

What changed in February 2026¶

On February 24, 2026, the Home Office announced:

• A second extension of 24 months. Those who already extended for 18 months can apply for an additional 24 months. Maximum total under UPE - up to 3.5 years, plus time under the original visa
• Apply up to 90 days before expiry. From April 8, 2026, you can submit your extension application up to 90 days before your current permission expires. Until April 8, the old rule applies - 28 days
• Still free of charge. Application, extension, eVisa - no fees whatsoever

How to apply for an extension¶

1. Go to GOV.UK and fill in the online form
2. Update your documents in your UKVI account (passport, photo)
3. Provide housing information (address, landlord or property owner)
4. Fill in your travel history - dates of any trips outside the UK or Ukraine
5. If you’re not a Ukrainian national but a family member - add proof of your relationship with a certified translation

Decisions usually come through within a few weeks. While your application is being considered, you keep full rights to work and live in the UK - even if your current visa has technically expired.

Which documents need translation for UKVI¶

For the UPE extension itself, the document requirements are minimal - Home Office already has most of your information in their system. But there are situations where you’ll need translated documents.

Here’s the key point: if you’re applying as a Ukrainian national with a valid passport, you probably won’t need translations for the UPE itself. But if you’re applying for a non-Ukrainian family member, or if Home Office requests additional documents - the translation must be certified.

What certified translation means and what UKVI requires¶

Certified translation in the UK isn’t the same as a notarised translation in Ukraine or a sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) in Germany. It’s simpler here, but there are clear rules.

UKVI requires a translation to include:

• Full text - no summaries or abridged versions. Every word of the original document
• Certificate of accuracy - a statement by the translator confirming the translation accurately represents the original
• Date of translation - when exactly the translation was done
• Translator’s name and contact details or company name and credentials
• Translator’s qualifications - for example, membership in ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting), DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting), or other professional accreditation

What you DON’T need:

• Notarisation - UKVI doesn’t require it (unlike Germany or Czech Republic)
• Apostille - not needed for UK Immigration
• Sworn translator status - the UK doesn’t have a sworn translator system like Germany does

One more rule: you can’t translate your own documents. Even if you’re a qualified translator yourself - for UKVI, the translation must come from an independent third party.

One user on a forum for Ukrainians in the UK shared their experience: “I applied for UPE and attached my marriage certificate without a translation - figured Home Office wouldn’t check. A week later I got a request to provide a certified translation. Wasted time and stress, when I could’ve just done it from the start.”

How much does document translation cost in the UK¶

Certified translation prices depend on the document type and language pair. Ukrainian isn’t the most common language, so prices tend to be slightly higher than for, say, French or Spanish.

Prices shown exclude VAT (20%). Some companies offer a fixed price per document (certificate), others charge per word (£0.10-0.18 per word).

For comparison: in Germany, a sworn translation of a single certificate costs €30-60 (≈£25-50), so prices are roughly similar. But in the UK you don’t need a notary on top - that saves you an additional £20-50.

If you need a preliminary translation of your documents from Ukrainian to English - to understand the content or as a base for certified translation - ChatsControl can quickly produce a quality AI translation that just needs certification on top.

Is there a path to permanent residence (ILR)?¶

This is the toughest question for Ukrainians in the UK. Short answer: time spent under Ukraine Scheme does NOT count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR - the UK’s version of permanent residence).

On February 24, 2026, the ministerial statement confirmed this once again: Ukraine Scheme is a temporary sanctuary, and the UK government expects Ukrainians to return home when it’s safe to do so.

But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. There are legal paths to ILR:

• Skilled Worker visa - if you have an employer willing to sponsor you. After 5 years on this visa, you can apply for ILR
• Student visa → Graduate visa → Skilled Worker - a longer route, but realistic
• Partner/Spouse visa - if your partner is a UK citizen or has settled status
• Health and Care Worker visa - a simpler route for medical professionals

To switch to any of these visas, you’ll definitely need translated documents - degrees, qualifications, employment references. The translation needs to be not just certified, but accurate down to the last detail - because it determines whether your qualifications get recognised. For a comparison of translation requirements across different countries, check out our guide on immigration translation requirements.

Ukrainians in the UK have a unique advantage: they’re allowed to switch to other visa routes without leaving the country (this is called a concession). Normally, you’d have to return to your country of citizenship and apply from an embassy - but for Ukrainians there’s an exception.

Common mistakes Ukrainians make in the UK¶

Not applying for extension in time. Your application must be submitted BEFORE your current permission expires. If your visa runs out and you haven’t applied - you lose the right to work, benefits, NHS, and even housing. From April 8, 2026 you can apply up to 90 days early - use that window.

Not updating documents in your UKVI account. If you got a new passport, changed address, or your marital status changed - update your information BEFORE applying for UPE. Otherwise the system might reject your application due to mismatched data.

Thinking you don’t need translations. Home Office can request a certified translation of any document you attach to your application. Better to have translations ready in advance than to scramble for a translator at the last minute.

Translating your own documents. UKVI explicitly requires translation by a third party - a professional translator or translation company. Even a flawless translation done by you personally won’t be accepted.

Ignoring the Skilled Worker route. If you’re working in the UK in a solid role - talk to your employer about Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. That’s your real path to ILR and eventually citizenship. The sooner you start, the better.

Not keeping copies. Always keep copies of all submitted documents and translations - both digital and paper. If Home Office asks you to resubmit a document - you’ll spend 5 minutes instead of a week. If originals were lost due to the war - read about restoring documents.

FAQ¶

How much does it cost to extend the Ukraine Scheme in the UK?¶

The extension through Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) is completely free. No application fees, no eVisa fees, no processing charges. The only potential expense is certified translation of documents if Home Office requests them. Translating a single certificate or reference costs £35-60.

Will UKVI accept a translation done in Ukraine?¶

UKVI doesn’t require translations to be done in the UK specifically. What matters is that the translation includes a certificate of accuracy, the translator’s name and contact details, the date of translation, and proof of qualifications. If your translation from Ukraine meets these requirements, it should be accepted. In practice though, Ukrainian notarised translations often don’t include a certificate of accuracy in the format UKVI expects, so it’s safer to use a translator familiar with British requirements.

What happens if I don’t apply for extension before my visa expires?¶

If your visa expires without a submitted extension application, you’ll be in the UK without legal status. That means: no right to work, no access to NHS (except emergencies), no benefits, no access to social housing. Home Office may begin removal proceedings. Apply in advance - from April 8, 2026 you can submit your application up to 90 days before your current permission expires.

Does time under Ukraine Scheme count towards ILR?¶

No. Time spent in the UK under any of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Family Scheme, Extension Scheme, UPE) does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain. To get ILR, you need to switch to a different visa - Skilled Worker, Partner, Health and Care Worker - and spend 5 years on it.

How do I switch from Ukraine Scheme to a Skilled Worker or Student visa?¶

Ukrainians have a concession - permission to switch to another visa route without leaving the UK. For Skilled Worker, you need an employer with a sponsor licence and a salary meeting the minimum threshold. For a Student visa, you need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from an educational institution. In both cases, you’ll need translated education and qualification documents. Speak to a qualified immigration solicitor - first consultations are often free.