The States of Guernsey has taken a number of steps to offer support to Ukrainian nationals with links to the island, following the invasion by Russia.
Financial support for Ukraine and how you can help
- The Policy & Resources Committee has made a commitment of £500,000 to support the people of Ukraine. This donation on behalf of the people of Guernsey and Alderney is one of the largest the Government of Guernsey has made in its recent history, reflecting the strength of local feeling and solidarity for Ukraine and its people who are having their sovereignty and safety threatened by Russia waging an unjust war in their country. The donation will be split equally between two organisations, the British Red Cross and UK for UNHCR.
- Red Cross teams are working both within Ukraine and in neighbouring countries providing essential aid to people impacted by the conflict. Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers are providing first aid, warm clothes, and support in shelters and metro stations. Red Cross teams in bordering countries are providing psycho-social support, hot food and drinks, and helping families to stay connected, and will be providing cash assistance, so that families can purchase what they need locally.
- UK for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) partner charity, supporting refugees. UNHCR is registering internally displaced people in Ukraine and those who cross borders into neighbouring countries. It is running transit centres, providing safe spaces to rest, distributing emergency supply kits, providing small cash grants to families, and providing shelter materials to reinforce damaged houses.
- How can I help?
- Everyone wants to do their bit to support, if you want to donate money, there are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
- The Bailiff has opened the Bailiff's Disaster Relief Fund Ukraine Appeal. The Fund provides a facility through which donations by islanders can be channelled to the Disasters Emergency Committee, an English-registered charity. For all the details, including how to make a donation, go to: http://www.guernseyroyalcourt.gg/
- Donate to registered charities
- War in Ukraine poses immediate threat to children UNICEF is working to scale up life-saving support for children and their families find out more: https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en
- The Red Cross is supporting people in Ukraine, providing psychosocial support and essentials such as food and fuel. Find out more: https://www.redcross.org.uk/
Ukrainian Sponsorship scheme
- UPDATE: As of the 24th of August 2022, the Policy & Resources Committee agreed to support the Committee for Home Affairs in enhancing the existing Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme with financial assistance for those islanders who become sponsors.
- The new payment is intended to assist sponsor households in meeting the additional financial costs that will be incurred as a result of accommodating Ukrainian beneficiaries, and is in line with similar schemes in the UK and the Isle of Man.
- £349 will be paid a month, per sponsor, for a maximum of 12 months whilst you have a beneficiary staying with you. Please contact the Ukraine Co-ordination Support team for details on how to make a claim.
- The Bailiwick of Guernsey Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme has now officially launched, following extensive work to ensure all appropriate support and legal measures are in place. The
Bailiwick of Guernsey Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme policy [276kb] has been agreed by the Committee for Home Affairs.
- If you are interested in expressing an interest in the sponsorship scheme, please complete the online form, which can be accessed here.
- This online form is for Guernsey, Alderney and Sark residents, who wish to express an interest in supporting Ukrainians who have been displaced by the war via a potential refugee sponsor scheme.
- For frequently asked questions, go to: Frequently asked questions
Immigration and the UK Ukraine Family Visa Scheme
- Any Ukrainian national who ordinarily lives in Ukraine and is an extended family member of a locally-resident British citizen can now apply for a visa free of charge through the UK Family Visa Scheme and come to the Bailiwick.
- Any Ukrainian national who has settled status in the Bailiwick can apply for their extended family to come to the Bailiwick. Extended family means parents, grandparents, adult children, siblings and immediate family members (spouse and dependent children).
- Anyone who has made an application under this scheme and who intends to bring a family member to the Bailiwick, is asked to make contact with the Immigration Team of the Guernsey Border Agency by emailing: immigration@gba.gov.gg as soon as possible to ensure that we can provide any assistance and to ensure we are prepared to deliver the necessary 'in-country' processing required for their stay without delay.
- You are also asked to make contact if you are considering making an application through the UK Family Visa Scheme in the future.
- Further information about the UK Ukraine Family Visa Scheme is available at: www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-ukraine-family-scheme-visa
- In taking these steps, the Guernsey Border Agency has aligned with the developing UK immigration policy as a direct result of the war in Ukraine. This policy is rapidly developing and further changes may be made. The GBA is working with the UK to ensure any visa applications from Ukraine are processed expediently.
- Ukrainian nationals, ordinarily resident in Ukraine, can apply for a free visa at one of the visa application posts that have been urgently set up in the neighbouring countries to Ukraine.
- For frequently asked questions, go to: Frequently asked questions
Existing Visa and Permit Advice
- If a Ukrainian national is already in the island but their visa is due to expire, they are encouraged to contact the Immigration Team of the Guernsey Border Agency by emailing immigration@gba.gov.gg to discuss their options.
- In addition, any extended family member covered by this visa arrangement may require a Population Management Permit to stay and/or work in Guernsey. Those individuals are asked to email the Population Management Office at population@gov.gg with details of their full name, date of birth and the name of the family member they will be staying with during their time in Guernsey.
Cyber Security
- The States of Guernsey continues to prepare for the possibility that the situation in Ukraine could impact the island's cyber security. While there remains no identified cyber-attack threat at the moment, it is very important that all islanders remain vigilant. Everyone needs to be aware of the potential risks that phishing emails and suspicious requests for personal data could materialise.
Sanctions
- The States of Guernsey has implemented a number of sanctions against the Russian Federation in response to its actions in Ukraine. Guernsey follows the UK Government's sanctions regime and UK foreign policy, and will continue to do so. This includes regulations that further restrict the ability for the trade of Russian securities and other money market instruments. Regulations have also been made which prohibit the trade of military goods, certain dual use goods and critical industry goods, as well of the provision of technical assistance, financial services, funding and brokering services in relation to these goods.
- The Acting Director of Civil Aviation has published new regulations meaning with immediate effect no aircraft which is owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia, or which is registered in Russia, is permitted to fly in airspace above the Bailiwick of Guernsey or its territorial waters.
- Guernsey has also banned access to our ports for vessels registered in Russia, flying the Russian flag as well as vessels owned, controlled chartered or operated any person connected with Russia or a designated person.
- Sanctions against named Russian companies and individuals remain in place, aligning with the UK. Regulated companies are informed directly when new sanctions are imposed.
- The Policy & Resources Committee has also directed the newly formed States Investment Board (SIB) to begin divesting from Russian investments in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Details of sanctions implemented by Guernsey, including links to the relevant UK sanctions, are available here.
- Regulations can be viewed at 2022 (guernseylegalresources.gg)
Український переклад (Ukrainian translation)
For frequently asked questions about the Family Visa Scheme and the Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme, please go here: Frequently asked questions
