Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy to provide support to Commonwealth nationals who are fleeing war in Ukraine.

ur humanitarian response has been developed in close consultation with the government of Ukraine and we will continue to support those who wish to come to the UK as a result of the current situation.

A fee free, bespoke Ukraine Family Scheme was introduced and set out by the Home Secretary in her statement on 1 March. The route allows both the immediate family members (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, minor children) and extended family members (parent, grandparent, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and their immediate family) to join their relatives in the UK. The UK-based sponsoring relative must be a British citizen, a person who is present and settled in the UK (including those with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), a person in the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection or an EEA or Swiss national in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU (pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme). This route was launched on 4 March.

Furthermore, the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ Scheme launched by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 18 March, will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK. There will be no limit on the number of arrivals, and those who come to the UK on the scheme will have permission to live and work here for up to three years. They will also have access to healthcare, benefits, employment support and education.

Commonwealth nationals can apply for visas to come to the UK via existing routes. The Home Office has no plans to establish further routes to support Commonwealth nationals fleeing the conflict given most will be able to seek safety in the country they are a national of.