The UK government has published official guidance confirming that Ukrainian nationals are the only group eligible to apply for certain UK visa schemes without holding a valid international passport. The guidance, published as part of the support scheme for Ukrainian nationals and family members of British nationals in Ukraine, outlines exactly which documents applicants must bring to their biometric appointment at a visa application centre.
Alternative Documents Accepted for Ukrainian Nationals
For most applicants, a valid international passport remains the standard requirement. However, Ukrainian nationals have access to a broader range of alternatives that no other nationality is offered under the scheme. Accepted alternatives include: a recently expired international passport, a valid or recently expired Ukrainian national identity card, or an emergency certificate issued by a Ukrainian authority since March 2022. Applicants who hold none of these options may also combine a photo driving license with a birth certificate, provided the two documents together establish the individual's full name, date of birth, nationality, and determined gender.
This flexibility, which has been in effect since February 17, 2022, reflects the practical difficulties many Ukrainians face in obtaining or renewing travel documents amid the ongoing conflict in their country, which has disrupted normal administrative processes since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Biometric Appointment Requirements for All Applicants
Regardless of which documents people from Ukraine present, attendance at a visa application centre for biometric enrolment remains mandatory. At the appointment, applicants are required to provide a photograph and fingerprints. Children under the age of five are exempt from the fingerprint requirement and need only provide a photograph.
Broader UK Visa Exemptions
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the UK government has published the full list of nationalities that do not need to prove their knowledge of English when applying for settlement or citizenship. Nineteen countries and territories appear on the exemption list, covering nationals from the Caribbean, North America, the Pacific, and Europe.
