News

Mar 02, 2022 - What sanctions are being imposed on Russia as of 02 March 2022?

It is the latest of a wide range of sanctions carried out against Russia by the international community, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Financial sanctions

Western leaders have frozen the assets of Russia's central bank, limiting its ability to access $630bn in international dollar reserves.

In co-ordination with the US and the EU, the UK government has also banned British people and businesses from making transactions with the Russian central bank, its finance ministry and its wealth fund.

The European Union, US, UK and allies have also agreed to remove selected Russian banks (Bank Otkrit...

Mar 02, 2022 - Visa extensions for nationals of Ukraine who live in the UK

The Work Rights Centre reports that people whose permission is about to expire can apply for an “exceptional assurance”.

To request exceptional assurance, please write to the Home Office to [email protected] with the subject header “Request for an assurance”.

Include your full name, date of birth, nationality, Home Office reference number, type of visa, expiry date of visa, and reason for request (eg: war in Ukraine).

Exceptional assurance is essentially a promise not to remove you from the UK. It is important to be aware that it is not formal immigration permission: getting a...

Mar 01, 2022 - Ukraine conflict: Boris Johnson says more than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in UK

The prime minister announced today that the UK will "make it easier for Ukrainians already living in the UK to bring their relatives to our country". Exact numbers are "hard to calculate", he says, but "they could be more than 200,000".

More than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in the UK amid the Russian invasion, Boris Johnson has said.

Speaking during a visit to Poland, the prime minister said the UK will "make it easier for Ukrainians already living in the UK to bring their relatives to our country".

The PM's spokesman said Ukrainians living in the UK will be allowed to b...

Feb 27, 2022 - The UK has promised to accept refugees from Ukraine

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised that the United Kingdom would accept those fleeing Ukraine in fear of persecution.

Speaking about the Ukrainian crisis in the House of Commons, Johnson said that the UK "will continue to do what it has always done" and help people displaced as a result of the conflict.

However, it is reported that the UK government has not yet developed an official plan for accepting potential refugees from Ukraine, and its creation will be announced separately.

Feb 27, 2022 - Ukraine conflict: Settled Ukrainians relatives able to come to UK

People who are settled in the UK will be able to bring their Ukrainian immediate family members to join them, the prime minister has announced.

Boris Johnson said the UK would not "turn our backs in Ukraine's hour of need".

The government has been facing growing calls to waive visa rules for Ukrainians seeking sanctuary in the UK amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Before the latest announcement, only those Ukrainians who were deemed to be "dependants" of those already in the UK were being guaranteed entry.

Downing Street said the change would "benefit many thousands of people who at this momen...

Feb 25, 2022 - UK imposes package of sanctions on Russia in response to Ukraine invasion

The prime minister told the House of Commons they were "the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen".

Boris Johnson announced 10 measures the UK was taking immediately. The assets of all major Russian banks in the UK will be frozen, including VTB, the country’s second largest bank with assets totalling £154bn.


Individual sanctions will be imposed on over 120 individuals, entities and subsidiaries, including Rostec, the country’s biggest defence company, which exports £10bn in arms a year, as well as four other defence companies.

Full list of planned san...

Feb 25, 2022 - Ukrainians in the UK – new immigration concessions

The Home Office has agreed some temporary concessions to support Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK who are now unable to return when their existing visa expires. These concessions will assist Ukrainian nationals in extending their stay in the UK without having to leave and re-apply from overseas.

If you’re in the UK and unable to return to Ukraine, you may be able to extend your visa or switch to another one even if your visa does not normally allow you to do so.

Visitor Visa

The Home Office has introduced a temporary concession to allow Ukrainian nationals in the UK on a visitor visa to...

Feb 24, 2022 - New temporary UK Visa Application Centres for applicants from Ukraine

As announced previously, the UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Kyiv is now closed and all UK visa services in Kyiv are suspended.

Dependents of British nationals who need a UK visa can apply through the new, temporary location in the Lemberg Business Centre in the city of Lviv.

Alternatively, you can apply through a UK Visa Application Centre in a nearby country. UK Visa Application Centres are currently also operating and accepting visa applications in:

  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Hungary
  • Moldova

All other visa applicants will be required to apply through a UK Visa Application Centre i...

Feb 24, 2022 - Issue of passports for British nationals in Ukraine – new update

From today and until further notice, Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) is prioritising already submitted passport applications for British nationals in Ukraine.

HMPO are proactively contacting people to get more information where needed so their pending applications can be decided as soon as possible.

As of 24 February 2022 and until further notice, HMPO are unable to accept any new applications for British passports from Ukraine.

Feb 24, 2022 - Closure of the UK Visa Application Centre and suspension of UK visa services in the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv

From today and until further notice, the UK Visa Application Centre located in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, is closed due to the current military actions taking place in the territory of Ukraine.

All other UK visa services in Kyiv are also suspended until further notice.