Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Letter from the Minister for Migration & Citizenship relating to visa routes for Ukrainian nationals 02.07.2026
From: Home Affairs Committee
Summary
Minister for Migration & Citizenship Mike Tapp responds to the Home Affairs Committee's June concerns about visa routes and long-term status for Ukrainian nationals. The letter outlines that over 320,000 Ukrainians have been granted sanctuary; Ukraine visa schemes remain temporary humanitarian routes not counting toward settlement; the Government is considering the schemes' future; and asylum grant rates for Ukrainian nationals have declined significantly since 2022.
Key findings
- Over 320,000 Ukrainians have arrived or extended permission under UK humanitarian schemes since February 2022; 270,000+ have come through the Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine, and Ukraine Extension Scheme.
- Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme extended by 24 months, allowing eligible individuals up to three-and-a-half years' total permission; application window expanded to final 90 days of existing permission.
- Ukraine Schemes are temporary humanitarian routes not providing direct path to settlement; time spent does not count toward long-term residence, reflecting the Ukrainian Government's position on eventual return.
- Asylum grant rates for Ukrainian main applicants have fallen from 97% (2023) to 8% (year-end March 2026), reflecting revised policy on internal relocation within Ukraine.
- Government reviewing earned settlement model following 12-week consultation (20 Nov 2025–12 Feb 2026), excluding Ukraine scheme participants, and will consider exemptions and transitional protections.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
immigrationasylumukrainehumanitarian-policyvisa-routes
Key actors
Mike Tapp MP, Dame Karen Bradley MP, Home Affairs Select Committee, Ukrainian Government, Home Office
Notable line
“The UK's support for Ukraine remains unwavering. Together with our international partners, we continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and condemn Russia's illegal invasion.”
Key Quotes
“… the UK has offered sanctuary to more than 320,000 Ukrainians and their families, with over 270,000 individuals either arriving in the UK or extending their permission under the Ukraine Family …”
“… the Ukraine Schemes are temporary humanitarian routes and do not provide a direct route to settlement. Time spent on these routes does not count towards long-term residence.”
“We are actively considering the future of the Ukraine Schemes, informed by operational experience, engagement with stakeholders in the UK and Ukraine and the lived experience of those currently in the UK.”
“… the Government undertook a 12-week public consultation (20 November 2025 to 12 February 2026) to gather views on these proposals. The consultation excluded those on the Ukraine schemes for the reasons set out above.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗