Information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern Ireland

What to expect

A welcome information pack is available at:

• Information for Ukrainians arriving in Northern Ireland 

The key information within this document is also available on this website. 

The website can be translated into the language of your choice by using the orange bar at the top of this page.

If you arrive in Northern Ireland through either the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme (which closed at 3.00 pm on 19 February 2024 ) or you are staying in Northern Ireland under the Ukraine Extension Scheme you are entitled to:

• £200 financial gift per person in your party (including children) from the government to help with your basic needs - you can receive your £200 by applying at Ukrainian Cash Support Scheme
• stay in the UK for three years with the option to extend your stay by 18 months under the new Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme
• the right to work in the UK
• the right to access services including education, health services and legal advice

If you have applied to the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme after 3.00 pm on 19 February 2024 and your application is successful, you can stay in the UK for up to 18 months.

You may also be eligible to apply for help from Discretionary Support or a Universal Credit Contingency Fund payment to get help towards short-term living expenses and household items until you receive your first benefit. 

More details on eligibility and how to apply can be found at the following link: 

• Accessing Financial Support

You should not be asked by your host to pay any extra  rent or make any extra financial contribution to the household. But, you may want to agree some house rules. For example, making a reasonable and proportionate contribution to household expenses, like utilities used or supplied to the accommodation or to any shared facilities, that works for both of you.

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the two Ukraine Schemes (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme), you may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.

Applications will be open online from early 2025, and individuals will be able to make their applications within the last 3 months of an existing visa. More information about the new scheme will be available soon.

Ukraine assistance centres

The walk-in Ukraine assistance centres are no longer running. See below information on how to get support.

Housing

Finding other accommodation

Your living arrangements six months after moving to the UK.

You should talk to your host about your future plans four months after your arrival in the UK. This will give you plenty of time to decide and prepare for your next steps. 

More information about your accommodation choices can be found below, or you can contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) Ukrainian Resettlement Team on:

• phone: 03448 920900
• email: HomesforUkraine@nihe.gov.uk

An advisor will take your contact details and arrange for a housing advisor to contact you. Interpreting support will be given if needed.

You can also go to the NIHE Housing Clinic for Ukrainians which takes place every Tuesday from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm at:

Emergency accommodation

If there is an immediate need to secure other accommodation urgently (if you decide you can no longer live with your sponsor or your sponsor asks you to leave) you can call the NIHE emergency number on:

• phone: 03448 920 900 (Monday to Friday during office hours)
• phone: 03448 920 908 (after 5.00 pm Monday to Friday or at the weekends)

If your sponsorship arrangement ends before six months

If for any reason either you or your host does not want to continue with the sponsorship arrangement for the full six months, there are other accommodation choices available - and you can get help with this.

If your sponsorship ends or is at risk of ending, you should contact the NIHE Ukrainian Resettlement Team:

• email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk

Finding a new host/rematching

A process to ‘rematch’ Ukrainian people with a new host has been put in place where the initial arrangement cannot be sustained.

It may be possible to ‘rematch’ you with a new sponsor who has offered accommodation through the Homes for Ukraine scheme but who has not yet had a Ukrainian guest placed with them.

Before a rematch is made, the new sponsor’s home will be assessed to make sure it is suitable. 

After you have moved into the new accommodation, a home visit will be made by either Extern or Barnardos to check that you are satisfied with the new placement.

Support will be given to try and find accommodation that meets the needs of your family, and a rematch will only be arranged with your full agreement. 

If you would like to find another sponsorship arrangement you can attend the NIHE Housing Clinic for Ukrainians or email the NIHE Ukrainian Resettlement Team: 

• email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk

Staying with your host after six months

Your host may be happy for you to stay with them for another six months. Where this is the case, this is likely to be the best choice for you until you are ready to move on. 

Not every host can continue to offer accommodation after six months. Where that is the case, you should make a plan with your host about how you move on.

Moving to another area of the UK outside Northern Ireland

If you want to move to another area of the UK, you should contact Homes for Ukraine by email so they can make any necessary checks and can confirm your new living arrangements are suitable.

• email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk 

Community groups, local charities and local councils in England, Scotland and Wales have dedicated websites to give you more information about an area before you decide to move. 

You can search for the different council areas outside of Northern Ireland at the following link:

• Find your local council

If you have a child aged between four and 16 it is important to consider the availability of school places in the area that you are thinking of moving to.

Renting private accommodation

If you are considering renting your own accommodation you can contact the NIHE Ukrainian Resettlement Team for advice and help particularly about accessing and financing private rented sector accommodation. You can go to the NIHE Housing Clinic for Ukrainians or contact the team by email:

•        email: homesforukraine@nihe.gov.uk

It is important that you know what your rights and responsibilities are if you do become a tenant. Find out more about renting at the following links:

• Housing Advice NI
• Private renting

This information will help you when you are ready and able to move out of your host’s accommodation.

You may get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, which could help with the cost of rent. 

The Make the Call Team can offer you some advice on this. 

Calls to Make the Call are free or you can email them:

• freephone: 0800 232 1271 or for a call back text ADVICE to 079 8440 5248
• email: makethecall@dfcni.gov.uk

Information is also available on renting in England,  Scotland and Wales

Social housing

You may want to join the waiting list for social housing. This is rented accommodation provided by the NIHE or through registered Housing Associations at affordable rent levels. These are typically lower than average private market rents.

There is, however, a very large demand for social housing with over 40,000 people on the waiting list. 

You can contact NIHE Housing Solutions Support on:

• phone: 03448 920900

 An advisor will take your contact details and arrange for a housing advisor to contact you. Interpreting support will be given if needed.

Banking and National Insurance Number

Information about opening a bank account, access to local currency and getting a National Insurance Number for those arriving in Northern Ireland from Ukraine.

• Ukrainian nationals: banking and getting a National Insurance (NI) Number

Applying for benefits

Information about applying for welfare benefits in Northern Ireland for those arriving from Ukraine. It includes the types of benefits available and how to apply.

• Asylum seekers and refugees: applying for benefits

Employment

Information about employment for those arriving in Northern Ireland from Ukraine and how to get a professional qualification recognised in the UK.

• Asylum seekers and refugees: getting a job

Healthcare

Information on health and social care services for those arriving in Northern Ireland from Ukraine.

• Asylum seekers and refugees: accessing health care

Education and childcare

Every child aged between four and 16 is entitled to a school place. Children who have arrived in Northern Ireland from Ukraine have the same right to schooling as any other child. 

• Asylum seekers and refugees: education and childcare

English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)

Improving your English can help you get more out of your life in the UK. It will also help if you want to study, improve your CV, or apply to become a British citizen.

• English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)

Immigration advice

Information on immigration can be found at:

• Law Centre (NI)
• The Law Society of Northern Ireland

Emotional and Practical support

There are many local charities, community organisations and faith-based organisations that are giving practical support.

The Trussell Trust will be able to help by giving you basic essential items or food if there are delays with accessing financial support.

You can search for your local food bank at the following link:

• Find a food bank

British Red Cross

Having been through such a traumatic experience, you may feel you need emotional support.

You can call the British Red Cross support line. It offers help in more than 200 languages.

It helps people who are lonely, worried and finding it hard to get the help they need in the UK. 

You can phone the British Red Cross free and confidentially - choose option 1 for information about Ukraine:

• phone: 0808 196 3651 (open daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm) 

Ukrainians living in Belfast can also contact the Ukraine Advice Line:

• phone: 077 5174 5190 (open Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm)

You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.

For support outside of these hours, 24-hour emergency help is also available. 

Barnardo’s

Barnardo's has set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline to offer a holistic support. They also have a wrap-around service for Ukrainian people who are struggling to settle in Northern Ireland. 

The support is flexible and can help with a range of issues. It will be offered by a support worker from the Ukrainian Refugee Service. 

Examples may include:

• helping with dentist registration
• accessing community supports and college
• support to access food if you are struggling financially
• support when moving to a new home such as sourcing furniture and household goods
• changing addresses with relevant bodies

A helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

• phone: 0800 148 8586

There are many local charities, community organisations and faith-based organisations that are giving practical support.

The Trussell Trust will be able to help by giving you basic essential items or food if there are delays with accessing financial support.

You can search for your local food bank at the following link:

• Find a food bank

More information

You can learn what to expect when you arrive in Northern Ireland on the following pages:

• Arrival and transport to your accommodation
• Travelling to Northern Ireland from Ukraine with pets
• Homes for Ukraine scheme: accommodation and emergency accommodation
• Homes for Ukraine scheme: visas and biometrics
• Help and support for victims of human trafficking and slavery
• Dealing with emergency situations

• Privacy notice - Support arrangements for Ukrainian Citizens travelling to Northern Ireland