“Britain has totally lost control of its borders."
Indian nationals are among the thousands of nationals reportedly granted UK visas under a refugee scheme designed for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Data revealed by The Telegraph shows the Government’s Ukrainian visa programme has issued nearly 3,500 travel documents to people from 112 countries. The beneficiaries include migrants from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran, India and the Palestinian territories.
The schemes were introduced to support those escaping Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. However, non-Ukrainians are eligible if they are immediate family members of a Ukrainian national.
Applicants can travel to Britain if they have relatives already living in the UK. They may also qualify if a British host offers accommodation through the Homes for Ukraine programme.
The rules were introduced by the previous Conservative government and have been retained by Labour as the war enters its fifth year.
Figures from the Home Office show that 3,464 visas were granted to non-Ukrainians. This represents one in every 80 visas issued under the scheme.
Russians account for the largest number of non-Ukrainian arrivals, with 588 visas granted.
They are followed by 408 Nigerians, 294 Afghans, 161 Iraqis, 152 Moldovans, 149 Turks, 124 Indians, 107 Belarusians, 107 Iranians and 106 Egyptians.
Other recipients include 81 Ghanaians, 65 Syrians, 34 Libyans, 27 Palestinians, 18 Vietnamese, 17 Yemenis, seven Chileans and three Argentines.
The latest disclosures follow a separate case revealed in 2025 involving a Palestinian family fleeing the Gaza war. They won an immigration court ruling allowing them to use the scheme.
The family argued their circumstances were exceptional and sought refuge with the father’s brother in the UK, claiming there was no other safe route available.
The ruling was later overturned on appeal by Shabana Mahmood.
The new data has triggered a political backlash across the UK.
Zia Yusuf, the Home Office spokesman for Reform UK, criticised the scheme and the Government’s border policies.
He said: “It is astonishing that Tory and Labour betrayal means the Ukraine refugee scheme has been used to import Afghans, Russians, Nigerians and Iraqis.
“Britain has totally lost control of its borders. Reform will end this madness and deport all those here illegally.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp argued the scheme should remain exclusively for Ukrainians.
He said:
“The Government should not be allowing non-Ukrainians into the UK under the Ukrainian visa scheme.”
“It is supposed to be for Ukrainians, not Afghans and Iraqis.
“The recent court case is also disgraceful. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was abused by a judge to allow the Ukrainian scheme to be twisted into a route for Palestinians to come to the UK.
“In that case, the Palestinians concerned were in fact in Egypt, so not even at any risk.
“This is further evidence that we need to leave the ECHR, which is what will happen if we have a Conservative government and I become home secretary.”
A Home Office spokesperson defended the programme and clarified its eligibility criteria:
“The Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme is primarily for Ukrainian nationals.
“Third country nationals can only be eligible if they apply as part of a family group which must include an immediate family member who is a Ukrainian national, and they must apply at the same time.
“The Ukraine schemes remain temporary, in line with the Ukrainian government’s strong desire for the future return of its citizens, and do not lead to settlement.”
Loading ...