United Kingdom: Information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine Can stateless and/or undocumented persons apply? Where to apply? Procedure & rights Rights upon recognition Yes Application is free and must be made using an online form (only in English) Individuals must be in the UK to apply; submit documentation within 10 days of completing the online application (if available, e.g. identity, immigration and travel documents, birth and/or marriage certificates, documents that prove where the applicant lived before arriving in the UK); authorities may request further information and an interview (interpreter available); legal aid is not available for applications in England and Wales, unless Exceptional Case Funding is granted (people are advised to find free legal advice (see contacts below); no time limit for the procedure set in law; applications can take up to 18-24 months to decide; no right to stay in the UK during the procedure; no guarantee against expulsion; no right to work pending application; administrative and judicial reviews possible but no automatic right to appeal Right to stay in the UK for five years (known as ‘leave to remain’, renewable); apply online for a Stateless Persons Travel Document; apply for work; right to access education; welfare benefits (e.g. public housing, subject to eligibility criteria); medical care; right to apply for naturalisation after five years’ lawful residence and one additional year of permanent residence (subject to high fees) 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR ONWARD TRAVEL TO THIRD COUNTRIES Beneficiaries of refugee status or humanitarian protection, and recognised stateless persons in the UK who are granted leave to remain on that basis, can apply for a refugee travel document or stateless person’s travel document, which allow travel to most countries. A refugee travel document will usually permit travel to all countries except the country of persecution. People should check that the destination country accepts such travel documents before travelling. Travel documents are usually valid for up to 10 years if the person is settled in the UK, and cost £75 for most adults and £49 for children aged 15 or under. 5. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION The Home Office has confirmed that Ukrainian surrogate mothers of British intended parents will be entitled to travel to the UK outside of the usual immigration rules, which may help prevent cases of statelessness among children born through surrogacy.