1 How we are providing support
West Sussex County Council is supporting eligible families, couples and individuals leaving Ukraine in response to the current situation in the country.
We are working with the government, local authorities, charities and volunteer groups to provide appropriate support to resettle refugees in line with government policy.
2 Homes for Ukraine Scheme guidance for hosts
The county council are working alongside the government and our local partners in the delivery of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme and the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. The two different schemes are in place to support those Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family who wish to either come to or remain in the UK in accordance with their visa type and provides access to healthcare, benefits, employment support, education, and English language tuition.
If you would like to offer a home to Ukrainian families on the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Visa, and you are a British or Irish citizen, or you’re settled in the UK (known as having indefinite leave to remain) you can become a host as part of the scheme.
You will need to be able to offer a spare room or home for at least 6 months. If you know who you want to sponsor you can help them apply for a visa.
In advance of the arrival of your guests, West Sussex County Council are required to undertake the following checks:
Complete a DBS check
If you are hosting adult guests only (over the age of 18) then a basic DBS check is required for every member of your household over the age of 16. We will send you an email with instructions to complete this and we pay for this on your behalf.
If you are hosting children or vulnerable adults, then an enhanced DBS check is required for every member of your household over the age of 16. The Community Hub will arrange an online document check using Microsoft Teams.
You will need to present three valid and original types of identification, for example, driving licence, passport and utility bill. Further details are available on GOV.UK.
In addition, we are required to verify these documents in person. We can do this during a home visit, or you can present your document at selected libraries for verification. For further information, email communities@westsussex.gov.uk.
We are unable to progress any DBS checks or property visits until we have received the visa approval from central government and will contact you as soon as possible after we receive this.
Complete a property visit
We are required to visit the accommodation set aside for your guests. This is to ensure that the property is fit for purpose and has working smoke and (where applicable) carbon monoxide alarms. This will enable the matching process to be completed, including vetting and security checks, to help as many people as possible find somewhere safe to live.
See our frequently asked questions (FAQs) for sponsors and their Ukrainian guests.
You can also find information about the Homes for Ukraine scheme on GOV.UK.
When you have hosted for 6 months
If you can continue hosting for longer than 6 months - we greatly appreciate it. However, we understand that this may not always be possible. We encourage you to talk to your guest(s) 4 months after their arrival in the UK, about the options for their next steps, including continuing to host, finding your guest(s) a new host (re-matching), renting private accommodation or contacting us for an alternative provision.
When your guests leave or are temporarily absent
You are responsible for letting us know when your guests leave, are temporarily absent for more than 28 days or return.
When your guests leave permanently, please email communities@westsussex.gov.uk and provide a date of departure. Failure to do this may result in an overpayment and us requesting that funds are recovered.
If your guests are absent from your property for more than 28 days, you will also need to let us know. The thank-you payments will be paused until your guests return.
3 Homes for Ukraine Scheme guidance for guests
When your visa has been issued, we will send you an email detailing the support available to you and your family. Your host will also receive a copy of this email. In advance of your arrival, a useful web page to review is GOV.UK's guidance for guests.
If you need any further assistance, email communities@westsussex.gov.uk. We are open Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm except for bank holidays when our hours are 10am to 2pm.
Ukraine Permission Extension scheme
The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) enables you to apply to extend your stay in the UK for a further 18 months after your Homes for Ukraine, or other valid Ukrainian visa expires.
It is free to apply for the UPE scheme. If your application is successful, you will be able to continue to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
See further guidance on applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.
You must have been granted permission under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Ukraine family scheme, or Ukraine extension scheme to apply for the UPE scheme.
On 1 September 2025, the UK announced that guests will be able to apply for a second Ukraine Permission Extension visa (UPE2), extending their leave to remain by a further 2 years. Applications to UPE2 must also be made in the 90 day window before a guest’s UPE1 visa expires.
When to apply
You may apply to the UPE scheme 90 days before your current eVisa ends. You must have a UKVI account and access to your eVisa. You must be in the UK when you apply. Applications will not be valid and may be rejected if you apply from outside the UK.
To apply you will need to:
- prove your identity
- confirm you are in the UK when you apply
- confirm you have permission to be in the UK on a Ukraine scheme
- provide information about your accommodation in the UK
- provide information about any time you have spent living outside of the UK or Ukraine since you were granted permission under the Ukraine schemes
To prove your identity, you will need a passport or eVisa. If you have a biometric residents permit (BRP), you must ensure you keep hold of this as it will be requested as part of the UPE scheme application process.
To apply for a child under 18 you will need to provide:
- the child’s full birth or adoption certificate which shows their parents’ details
- evidence of the child’s parent or legal guardian’s nationality or identity document
- evidence of the parent or legal guardian’s immigration status, for example their passport number or Unique Application Number (UAN)
After you apply:
- you should receive a decision on your UPE application within 8 weeks of applying
- you should not travel outside of the UK or any other part of the Common Travel Area (this includes Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man) whilst waiting for a decision on your application - if you do travel, your application will be withdrawn and will not be considered
If your current permission expires before a decision is made on your UPE application you do not need to take any action, as your current permission will continue under section 3C leave. The purpose of section 3C leave is to prevent a person who makes an in-time application to extend their leave from becoming an overstayer while they are awaiting a decision on that application.
4 Ukraine Family Visa Scheme
The Ukraine Family Scheme closed on 19 February 2024. Those who were granted permission under the Ukraine Family scheme can live, work and study in the UK and access public funds for up to 3 years.
If you wish to join a settled family member in the UK who can accommodate you for 6 months or more, you may be eligible to apply under the homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme.
5 Donating to the Ukraine crisis
If you wish to donate money, there are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Many organisations across the UK and internationally have launched appeals that you may wish to donate through.
All donations are welcome and should be directed to recognised and registered volunteer organisations, for example:
6 Ukraine Support contact details
The Ukraine Support Team is available to help hosts and guests Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
If you require any assistance, you can email us at ukrainesupport@westsussex.gov.uk.
For assistance over the weekend or bank holidays, contact the Community Hub at communities@westsussex.gov.uk.
For enquiries relating to unaccompanied minors, email UkraineUAM@westsussex.gov.uk.
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