The British government has introduced a system for displaced Ukrainians to move to the United Kingdom. The Homes for Ukraine program has a website where individual families, community groups, charities and businesses can register to offer housing.

According to the latest government information this offer is primarily aimed at Ukrainians who have a family connection in the UK. These Ukrainians will be able to apply for a special visa that will allow them to live and work in the UK for three years. It will also offer them social benefits, including access to healthcare.

The initial phase of this program allows British residents to nominate a Ukrainian family or individual by name. These sponsors will then need to provide housing for a minimum of six months. Sponsors will receive a subsidy grant of £350 per month to facilitate this.

Since the website opened for registrations, there has been a huge number of applications lodged. Within 24 hours there were already over 100,000. At one stage more than 10,000 people were registering every hour. This influx caused the website to temporarily crash, but it was quickly restored.

There is still some uncertainty as to how Ukrainians that do not have a connection with a British resident can apply for the scheme. Ukrainians that are not already connected with a sponsor in the UK can find more information from the following websites:

  • Shelter for UA
  • Room for Refugees
  • Refugees at Home

The official advice for these Ukrainians is to contact British charity organizations and faith groups to connect them with a sponsor. Social media is another way that these people can find sponsors to host them.

The British government has said that there is no limit on the number of refugees that can be accommodated under the system. Visa applications for Ukrainians who already have a sponsor will open on Friday the 18th of March.

Local British authorities will also be receiving funding to support the Ukrainians who move to the UK as part of this scheme. This will help them to find work, access benefits, find school placements and integrate into the local communities.

All British residents who are offering accommodation will be subject to security checks. This will ensure that the level of accommodation is suitable and comfortable for refugees. Sponsors will not be expected to provide food for the refugees, although they are encouraged to do so.

The program is open to all Ukrainians adults and children that are part of family units. The only requirement for applicants is that they must have been resident in Ukraine from before January the 1st 2022.

Refugees that hold a valid passport will not need to make an appointment at a visa application office. Instead, they can simply fill in the online application form much like when signing up for apuestas deportivas Peru activities. There is no charge to apply, and children do not need to have a valid passport.

Latest figures suggest that close to 3 million Ukrainian refugees have already fled their country to escape the fighting. Hopefully this British refugee housing program will encourage other countries to provide similar assistance.