Now minors CAN get a visa

UKRAINIAN children will be able to come to the UK without a parent or guardian after the Government announced a policy change to the Homes for Ukraine scheme yesterday.

Unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 can apply for a visa if they have parental consent. A thousand youngsters have previously had their entry blocked, but security checks may mean it is a few weeks before their visas are issued. It is understood the scheme will be open to new applicants later this summer.

For weeks after it opened in March, there was no mention of minors needing to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, leading to confusion when applications were rejected. The change was set out by Communities Secretary Michael Gove, who said consent must be certified by an authority approved by the Ukrainian government.