TL;DR: The HC 1691 explanatory memorandum describes a further extension of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, implementing an additional 24 months of permission described in connection with an earlier September 2025 ministerial announcement. The memorandum also records a change from 28 to 90 days before expiry as the earliest point at which eligible individuals may apply, described as improving certainty for Ukrainian nationals and family members with permission under the Ukraine schemes. The statement of changes implementation section lists Appendix Ukraine Scheme paragraphs APP UKR1 to APP UKR20 among provisions expressed as taking effect on 8 April 2026 (alongside other appendices in that commencement band).
The memorandum links the extension to reducing incentives for eligible individuals to pursue asylum claims where UPE remains available, and to providing continuity while the conflict continues.
How this relates to other Ukraine scheme materials on GOV.UK
Operational guidance for applicants (for example how to apply and when to apply) is published separately under GOV.UK guidance pages for the Ukraine schemes. Those pages are updated when policy changes take effect; the Immigration Rules amendments in HC 1691 are the underlying legal instrument described here.
Official source (Rules instrument)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1619-5-march-2026
For application steps, the GOV.UK guidance collection for Ukraine schemes remains the practical entry point once updated for the new Rules dates.