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The temporary UK visas worrying Ukrainian refugees

Helen Mulroy
BBC News, Buckinghamshire
BBC A lady, Viktoria Shtanko, looks directly at the camera. Her blonde hair is tied back and she wears a blue dressBBC
Viktoria Shtanko founded the charity Ukraine Appeal which helped those who arrived in Milton Keynes after fleeing Ukraine

A charity is calling on the government to rethink the visas it offers Ukrainians living in the UK and include a permanent route to settlement.

Many Ukrainian nationals, who moved to the UK after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, will soon have to apply to extend their visa via the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE).

While it offered an 18-month extension, it does not offer any permanent option to remain.

The Home Office said the "offer of sanctuary is in line with the Ukrainian government's strong desire for the future return of its citizens, and other routes are available for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK".

Ukraine Appeal, which supports migrants in Buckinghamshire, said it was "very very difficult" for those who have fled war to deal with uncertainty surrounding their future.

Viktoriya Shtanko, who has lived in Milton Keynes since 2008, set up the charity to help fellow Ukrainians arriving in the area.

She believed Ukrainians who wanted to, should be allowed to remain in Britain long-term to help grow the economy.

"No-one expected the war would go for so long," she said.

"Now as the children are settled, and as adults are in work trying to contribute to society... they are the people who Britain needs."

Two woman sit side by side next to a vase of sunflowers. They both wear white shirts with blazers - one blazer is purple the other black.
Valeriia Pavliuk and Iryna Maracine want the government to provide a route to permanent settlement in the UK

Iryna Maracine and Valeriia Pavliuk were just two of the women the charity has supported.

Ms Maracine, 38, works as a carer in a care home in Milton Keynes. Her hometown of Lysychansk, in eastern Ukraine, was under occupation by the Russian army.

She told the BBC: "Everything is destroyed. A lot of buildings are burned, it's absolutely heartbreaking."

She said she had no home to return to and wanted certainty for her two sons, aged 12 and 16, who were settled in school here.

"I'm worried about my future," she added.

"We are very appreciative of what we have and this chance to stay safe, but my kids - they ask me all the time, 'Mum, what is our future?' and I don't have an answer for them."

Ukraine Appeal The picture shows a woman, Iryna Maracine, pictured inbetween her 12 and 16 year old sons. It is night time, they are outside and wear winter coats.Ukraine Appeal
Iryna Maracine left Lysychansk with her two sons and found safe haven in Milton Keynes

Ms Pavliuk, 26, works as an administrator. She believes her employment opportunities have been limited because of the temporary nature of the UK's visa scheme.

She said some employers were reluctant to hire Ukrainians because they "see this temporary visa and see uncertainty with this person".

Ukraine Appeal has been in contact with the MP for Milton Keynes, Emily Darlington.

Darlington told the BBC that when she recently spoke to the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, he assured her that the visa schemes currently in place would remain in place until the end of the war.

She acknowledged that some Ukrainians who have built businesses may want to stay beyond the conclusion of the war and said she "would welcome that".

However, she stated she could not offer any guarantees that a permanent route to settlement would be offered.

"I know some will want to stay - now that happened during the Bosnian war and the UK government successfully made sure that they could," Darlington said.

"So for the few that do want to stay, the discussions will happen post the war."

The Home Office said since Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion, more than 300,000 Ukrainians and their families had been given sanctuary in the UK.

They added the UPE visas "allow those with permission... to apply for 18 months additional permission to remain in the UK".

"Given the unpredictable nature of this conflict, we continue to keep our Ukraine schemes under review," it continued.

Last month, the government reversed visa rule changes to allow Ukrainians to bring their children to join them in the UK.

It came after the Conservative government restricted eligibility in February 2024, which meant that Ukrainians, without the right to live in the UK permanently, could no longer sponsor people under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allowed people to host those fleeing the war.

However, at the end of January 2025, the government announced a parent or legal guardian who is in the UK under any of the visa schemes for Ukrainians can apply to sponsor their child under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.