Securing Extension to UPE Scheme

Wendy with Ukrainian students in North East Fife

Over the past year, I have been working alongside Liberal Democrat colleagues and MPs from across Parliament to press the Government to provide greater certainty and stability for Ukrainians who have made their lives here since fleeing the war.

I am pleased to say that this sustained pressure has now delivered an important breakthrough.

The Government has announced a further 24-month extension to the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme. This means that Ukrainian nationals and their family members who are already in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family or Extension visa routes will be able to extend their stay for a further 18 months. Crucially, the application window has also been widened from just 28 days before a visa expires to 90 days. That change alone will make a real difference for thousands of families, offering them more time, security and peace of mind.

This builds on progress we secured last year, when Liberal Democrats forced a debate in Parliament and successfully argued for a two-year extension to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. At that time, I made clear that short-term fixes were not enough and that people needed real certainty about their future.

Since then, I have continued to campaign for longer extensions and clearer guarantees. I have written to Ministers, supported cross-party efforts to raise concerns about the UPE Scheme, and worked closely with colleagues to argue that Ukrainians who are working, studying and contributing to our communities deserve stability, not ongoing uncertainty.

I am grateful to colleagues across the House who worked constructively on this issue, including those who led parliamentary letters and the Ukraine APPG, as well as to universities, local authorities, sponsors and Ukrainian advocacy groups who helped make the case for change.

The Minister has also confirmed that the Government will set out a longer-term framework later this year. That commitment matters, because families need to be able to plan their lives, their work and their education without fearing sudden changes to their status.

This is a significant and welcome step forward. It will give reassurance to many Ukrainian families who have already endured so much. But there is still more to do, and I will continue to press for long-term security and proper support for Ukrainians here in the UK, as well as for continued solidarity with Ukraine itself.

Progress like this shows what can be achieved when Parliament listens and acts. I will keep working to make sure that those who sought safety here are treated with the dignity, stability and fairness they deserve.