Guidance for Sponsors and Hosts
Under the Homes for Ukraine visa, Ukrainians will need to be matched with a sponsor in the UK who can provide housing for a minimum of 6 months. Here you will find advice and support highlighting important considerations when becoming a sponsor, how much you can be paid to be a Homes for Ukraine sponsor, and training and guidance to enable to you to provide the best possible support when hosting. The UK government have written Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guides – GOV.UK
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Homes for Ukraine Sponsoring and Hosting
Thank you for looking into how to become a sponsor/ host for Ukrainians seeking safety in the UK. Your offer of support will make a big difference, but it is important to fully consider what it means to be a host and ensure that everyone in your household is happy to do this.
You will see the terms sponsor and host used a lot, but what is the difference?
A Sponsor an individual that has successfully completed a visa application with a person from Ukraine under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and has been approved to accommodate them. A sponsor may not always be a host.
A Host is an individual who provides accommodation to people from Ukraine. A host does not need to be a sponsor.
The government has created a page of guidance on Things you need to consider before hosting or sponsoring: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK which includes:
- Making sure the accommodation has enough space for guests, with transport links, schools, and employment opportunities nearby.
- Ensuring you have considered extra costs to your household, including utility bills.
- Communicating with guests who may not speak English.
- Sharing your home with others who may have different living habits.
It is important to think about who can share a room as there are set regulations about ages and genders and more information on this can be found in the updated hosting ‘good practice’ guidance – NACCOM
The Government provides links to other toolkits, training and advice on the Becoming a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK guidance page.
When you are ready to start the process, you can sponsor someone from outside of the UK or be a rematch host for Ukrainians who are already in the UK.
Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor
To become a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK you must be over the age of 18, based in the UK and be a British or Irish citizen, or have the right to live in the UK permanently (be ‘settled in the UK’)
Further details on eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK can be read on the government website.
If you do not own the accommodation that will be used by the guest, there is guidance with information on if you own or rent your home: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
The safest way to find a Ukrainian guest is to find a sponsor using recognised providers: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK, which are organisations that has been approved by the UK government to help Ukrainian guests and UK sponsors match with each other. Each recognised provider will support you though the process and information about them can be found on the links to their websites.
As a Homes for Ukraine sponsor, you will be entitled to Homes for Ukraine Thank You Payments – GOV>UK from the UK government:
- From 1 April 2025 all sponsors/hosts will receive a flat rate of £350 a month for while a homes for Ukraine guest is living in their property.
- As of 1 October 2024, close family members of Homes for Ukraine visa holders will not be eligible to start claiming thank you payments. This applies to new arrivals and those who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member.
These thank you payments should not affect benefits that you already receive, and they will not affect council tax discounts received for ‘single occupancy’.
When you are ready to start the process, you can sponsor someone from outside of the UK by becoming a Homes for Ukraine Sponsor or be a rematch host for Ukrainians who are already in the UK.
Becoming a Homes for Ukraine rematch host
If you would like to host Ukrainians that have already travelled to the UK, then you will be known as a rematch host: Hosting someone already in the UK (rematching): Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
There are lots of reasons why Ukrainians may have needed to leave their original sponsor accommodation and find a new host to live with, for example the initial sponsorship period has come to an end, or the sponsor has had a change in circumstance and can no longer provide accommodation.
Sometimes, guests looking for a rematch host need less support than someone who has just arrived in the UK, as they may have already found work and know the area. However, it is still very important that you understand your responsibilities as a host and feel comfortable that hosting is right for you.
To be a rematch host, you must be over the age of 18 and be based in the UK, with at least 6 months permission to stay in the UK. The same checks on you, your family and the accommodation you will be providing will need to be carried out, and more details can be found here: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine – GOV.UK
To find a guest, contact your local council – GOV.UK who will be aware of Ukrainians looking for a new host. If you want to host via community connections, you must still let the council know as they will need to carry out the checks, mentioned above.
As a rematch host, you may be entitled to Thank You Payments from the UK government, even if you have not hosted before, but these can only be issued by your local council once they have completed the above checks.
- From 1 April 2025 all sponsors/hosts will receive a flat rate of £350 a month for while a homes for Ukraine guest is living in their property.
- As of 1 October 2024, close family members of Homes for Ukraine visa holders will not be eligible to start claiming thank you payments. This applies to new arrivals and those who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member.
UK Visa application for Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship
It is generally considered safest for the sponsor to take charge of the visa process and complete the application on your guest’s behalf.
You may need to provide your guests with proof of your identity when they are applying at a visa application centre. This is not mandatory, but it can help support the application, and more information can be found in this government guidance on Provide evidence that you’re eligible for the scheme – GOVUK.
You can see our guidance for Ukrainians on applying for a visa and if you need any help with the process, hereforgoodlaw.org have resources that may be useful.
UK Sponsors Waiting for Homes for Ukraine guest to arrive
The government have created a guide on how to meet basic accommodation needs on GOV.UK including information about gas safety and information about bills and paying rent.
There is also a guide about meeting your guests and helping them settle in – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) including details about what to do if things aren’t going as planned (www.gov.uk), how to improve communication (www.gov.uk) and looking after your wellbeing (www,gov.uk) and your guests wellbeing (www.gov.uk)
If you will be sponsoring Ukrainian children who are staying in the UK without their parent or legal guardian (www.gov.uk), there is separate guidance which should be read and understood.
UK Sponsors supporting Homes for Ukraine guests
The Ukrainian guest may need to leave your home for a period of time to take a holiday or visit friends and family. Under the Homes for Ukraine visa, a person can be away for up to 4 weeks. After this time, you should notify your local council on GOV.UK.
The council should also be told if your guest has left permanently, and more information on this can be found in the GOV.UK guide on if your guest will be absent temporarily.
It is important that if you have any concerns or if you’re worried about a Homes for Ukraine guest or their children (www.gov.uk) these are reported as soon as possible so they can be investigated. The GOV.UK sponsor guidance provides links to report Modern slavery and exploitation and Concerns about children (www.gov.uk). In an emergency, you should contact 999.
Hosting is a rewarding, but sometimes challenging experience. You should consider your mental health, self-care and being aware of trauma. as well as supporting the wellbeing of your guest. You can also get trauma tips for yourself and your guest, and watch a video about how to give a trauma informed welcome to survivors of trauma as a host from Trauma Treatment International.
Ending Homes for Ukraine hosting arrangements
It is important to talk to your guest about what happens after hosting as soon as possible. Be clear about how long you will be able to host and explain to your guest what happens after hosting. More information can be found in the GOV.UK guidance on ending your hosting arrangements, and helping your guest with their next steps.
By planning for the end of hosting, you can provide guests with practical support, like looking at different housing options, how this may impact any benefits that are being received and speaking about the impact of the cost of living.
You can also refer your guests to our website where we have information for them on Moving on from hosting.
Ukraine Permission Extension Visa (UPE)
Ukrainians already in the UK on a Ukraine scheme visa now have an options to extend their stay for up to 18 months by applying applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – GOV.UK,, also known as a UPE visa.
Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – guidance for sponsors – GOV.UK has been produced to give you information as a sponsor or host.
- To help support guests still living in accommodation that you have provided, the government have extended thank you payments and you may be eligible for up to 18 months of payments at £350.
- Note: Sponsors/hosts who are related to their guests and are currently receiving thank you payments will no longer be eligible for thank you payments once their guest applies to the UPE visa scheme.
- In order to receive Thank You Payments when a guest has a UPE visa, you must contact your local council (www.gov.uk) and make a new application for Thank You Payments.. Payments will not automatically keep being paid and will stop if you do not speak to the council.
- When the guest has received a decision on their UPE visa application, please let the council know, otherwise payments will stop after 6 months.
During the 18 months a guest is on a UPE visa, you can support them move on from a hosting arrangement and find independent accommodation. The local council, voluntary sector, and local community can also provide help and guidance.
Other ways to help Ukrainians
If you feel that sponsoring or hosting a guest is not right for you, there are lots of others ways to help Ukrainians by volunteering or supporting your community, or by donating to organisations like DEC that are providing support.
Ukraine nationals in the UK already with a visa
Only trained immigration adviser can give advice about visas and any immigration questions.
Here are some organisations that could provide help:
- Ukraine Advice Service – accredited by the UK Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) with links with the UK Home Office.
- Europia – free immigration advice for Ukrainian nationals
- East European Resource Centre (EERC) – provide immigration, welfare, housing, and destitution advice, as well as general information and assistance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a host for Ukrainian refugees?
To understand who can be a sponsor for Ukrainians in the UK, please see the above section on Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor.
Do you get paid for housing Ukrainian refugees UK?
Yes, you can receive a payment from the government once safeguarding and accommodation checks have been passed. The payment is between £350 and £500, and more information can be found in the section above on Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor.
Is the Homes for Ukraine thank you payment taxable?
The sponsorship/ hosting thank you payment will be tax free and should not affect your Council Tax status or entitlement to benefits.