Ukraine refugees: How UK's scheme will work, how you can sign up, and what's involved

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There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainian refugees who can come to the UK as they face their “hour of greatest need”, cabinet minister Michael Gove has told MPs.

Announcing the details of the UK’s new sponsorship scheme for those fleeing Russia’s invasion, Mr Gove expressed his hope that many Britons would “open their homes” and accept Ukrainian refugees.

This would help those “fleeing persecution to find peace, healing and the prospect of a brighter future”, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary told the House of Commons on Monday.

Mr Gove said the new scheme would be based on “the enormous goodwill and generosity of the British public and our proud history of supporting the vulnerable in their hour of greatest need”.

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How many Ukrainian refugees will the UK take in?

Mr Gove’s department confirmed there will be no limit on the number of Ukrainians taken into the UK under the new sponsorship route, with the government ready to welcome as many as wish to come and for whom there are sponsors.

“This is a huge humanitarian crisis, and we are urging the British public to come forward and help where they can,” the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said in its guidance about the new scheme.

Any Ukrainian national or immediate family member of a Ukrainian national, if they were resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January this year, is eligible for the scheme.

They do not need to have existing family ties to the UK.