Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK
Published 23 February 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-december-2022/statistics-on-ukrainians-in-the-uk
‘Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2022’ contents page.
This is not the latest release. View latest release.
Data relate to the calendar year 2022. All data include dependants, unless indicated otherwise.
During March 2022, the UK Government introduced 2 new visa routes to allow persons affected by the war in Ukraine to come to the UK.
Introduced on 4 March 2022, the Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was introduced on 18 March 2022, and allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Additionally, from 3 May 2022, the Ukraine Extension Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to stay in the UK. They can apply if one of the following is true:
- they held permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 May 2023 – the permission does not need to cover the whole period
- they previously held permission to be in the UK and that permission expired on or after 1 January 2022
1. Visas issued to Ukrainian nationals
During 2022, there were a total of 281,107 visa applications made across all UK visa routes by Ukrainian nationals, with 41,798 applications in the most recent quarter (October to December 2022). In 2022, 89% (248,843) of Ukraine visa applications were in one of the two new Ukraine Scheme visa routes introduced in response to the war in the Ukraine.
Table 1: Applications for visas made by Ukraine nationals by year, 2018 to 2022
| Visa Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other, Family and Dep Joining or Accompanying | 1,835 | 2,423 | 2,936 | 2,810 | 700 |
| Study | 4,309 | 4,852 | 1,405 | 917 | 716 |
| Visitor | 45,247 | 51,364 | 19,448 | 20,405 | 21,513 |
| Work | 761 | 3,177 | 6,993 | 21,076 | 9,335 |
| Seasonal Workers | - | 2,262 | 6,359 | 20,131 | 7,925 |
| Ukraine Visa Schemes1 | - | - | - | - | 248,843 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 77,460 |
| Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme | - | - | - | - | 171,383 |
| Total | 52,152 | 61,816 | 30,782 | 45,208 | 281,107 |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D01
Notes:
- 9,076 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals applied for a visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes since they began (3,178 under the family scheme and 5,898 under the Sponsorship scheme).
Table 1 shows that there was an increase in the number of work visa applications made by Ukrainian nationals between 2019 and 2021, due to Ukrainians granted a seasonal work visa. More information on the seasonal worker route can be found in Why do people come to the UK? For work.
Home Office data show that as of 21 February 2023, there were a total of 271,600 applications received under the 2 new Ukraine visa schemes, of these 87,600 were under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 184,000 were under the Ukraine sponsorship scheme. More information can be found in the weekly Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data.
Table 2: Visas granted to Ukraine nationals by year, 2018 to 2022
| Visa Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other, Family and Dependents Joining or Accompanying | 1,623 | 2,101 | 2,033 | 2,613 | 906 |
| Study | 4,051 | 4,598 | 1,411 | 904 | 695 |
| Visitor | 40,448 | 46,856 | 17,306 | 15,737 | 19,821 |
| Work | 728 | 3,140 | 6,926 | 20,756 | 8,751 |
| Seasonal Workers | - | 2,261 | 6,297 | 19,894 | 7,318 |
| Ukraine Visa Schemes1 | - | - | - | - | 208,389 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 61,786 |
| Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme | - | - | - | - | 146,603 |
| Total | 46,850 | 56,695 | 27,676 | 40,010 | 238,562 |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02
Notes:
- 2,517 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals were issued a visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes since they began (836 under the Family Scheme and 1,681 under the Sponsorship Scheme).
During 2022, there were a total of 238,562 visas granted across all UK visa routes for Ukrainian nationals, with 87% being in one of the two new Ukraine Scheme visa routes.
Data from the 2 Ukraine visa schemes show that as of 21 February 2023, there were a total of 219,400 applications granted, of these 66,100 were under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 153,300 were under the Ukraine sponsorship scheme. More information can be found in the weekly Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data.
Figure 1: Visa grants to Ukrainian nationals by route, for each quarter between 2019 and 2022
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02
In 2022, there were a total of 238,562 visas granted across all UK visa routes for Ukrainian nationals, of which more than half (122,584 51%) were granted in the first 4 months of the Ukraine visas schemes opening (March to June 2022).
Figure 1 shows visa grants to Ukrainian nationals from 2019 to 2022, showing total grants through the different routes in each quarter. Since the Ukraine Visa Schemes were opened in March 2022, they have been the majority of grants, peaking in April to June 2022, but with much lower numbers in both quarters since. As Table 2 shows, immigration routes not related to the Ukraine Visa Scheme, Visitor and Work (predominantly Seasonal Worker grants) are the main routes, with Study, Other, Family and Dependants joining or accompanying making up a very small proportion of grants. Grants of Visitor visas have increased over the last 2 quarters since the sharp decrease in quarter 2 but have not returned to levels seen before the war and prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions.
Figure 2: Visa grants on Ukrainian Visa Schemes, by week, for weeks ending 8 March 2022 to 27 December 2022, with cumulative totals for Applications, Grants and Arrivals on Ukrainian Visa Schemes
Source: Ukraine visa schemes summary tables
Figure 2 shows data on grants on the Ukraine Visa Schemes each week, and the cumulative applications and grants. Grants peaked in the weeks ending 12 April, 19 April and 26 April (around 15,000 to 16,000 in each of these weeks). Numbers granted on both schemes have reduced since that time, with the Ukraine Family Scheme reducing more quickly after its initial high take-up. After the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme saw large numbers of early grants, numbers have reduced, and since August have been a much lower but steady stream. There were more grants on the Ukraine Family Scheme than on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in the last 8 weeks of 2022. More weekly information can be found in the new Ukraine visa schemes summary tables.
2. Ukraine Scheme visa arrivals in the UK
Ukraine arrival figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 and relate to individuals who arrived into the UK, where the arrival has been linked to a Ukraine scheme visa. Where individuals have multiple visits, their earliest arrival after the grant, has been taken. This data therefore counts people, rather than arrivals. Individuals arriving during the latest quarter may have received their grant in an earlier quarter. The data used to record arrivals on a Ukraine scheme visa may undercount the total number of arrivals. For example, any person travelling into the UK from the Common Travel Area (from Ireland) will not be recorded in the data. See the Home Office statistics on exit checks: user guide for more details.
As of 20 February, 163,500 Ukraine Scheme visa-holders had arrived in the UK since the schemes began. The latest figures can be found in the weekly Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data.
As of 31 December 2022, over 154,500 people had arrived in the UK on one of the Ukraine visa Schemes since they began, although some of these will have since left the UK either temporarily or permanently. Of those who were recorded as arriving, 44,200 (29%) were on the Ukraine Family Scheme and 110,300 (71%) were on the Ukraine sponsorship scheme. These numbers include non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals.
The Ukraine visa Schemes opened in March 2022 and total arrivals peaked in May 2022 at 33,900 arrivals that month. Numbers have since decreased and there were 6,300 arrivals in December 2022.
Figure 3: Weekly number of people arriving in the UK, using a Ukraine Scheme visa for the first time
Source: Ukraine visa schemes summary tables
Figure 3 shows that arrivals on the Ukraine Family Scheme peaked at almost 4,000 in the last week of March 2022. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) opened on the 18 March 2022 and arrivals on the Scheme peaked at over 8,000 in the first week of May 2022. Arrivals on both schemes have fallen since. In October, the total weekly arrivals fell below 2,000 for the first time and have remained at similar levels since.
2.1 Demographic characteristics of new Ukrainians arrivals
As of the end of December 2022, adult females aged 18 to 64 accounted for 48% of total arrivals since the schemes began, children (aged 17 and under ) accounted for 30%, and adult males aged 18 to 64 accounted for 17%.
Table 3: Demographic (age/sex) breakdown for those arriving on Ukraine Schemes as at 31 December 2022
| U18 | 18-64 | 65+ | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Scheme | 11,600 (8%) | 27,400 (18%) | 5,200 (3%) | 44,200 (29%) |
| Male | 5,900 (4%) | 8,000 (5%) | 1,700 (1%) | 15,600 (10%) |
| Female | 5,600 (4%) | 19,400 (13%) | 3,500 (2%) | 28,500 (19%) |
| Sponsorship Scheme | 34,400 (22%) | 73,200 (47%) | 2,700 (2%) | 110,300 (72%) |
| Male | 17,300 (11%) | 17,800 (12%) | 700 (1%) | 35,800 (23%) |
| Female | 17,100 (11%) | 55,300 (36%) | 2,000 (1%) | 74,400 (48%) |
| Total | 46,000 (30%) | 100,500 (65%) | 8,000 (5%) | 154,500 (100%) |
| Male | 23,200 (15%) | 25,800 (17%) | 2,500 (2%) | 51,500 (33%) |
| Female | 22,800 (15%) | 74,700 (48%) | 5,500 (4%) | 103,000 (67%) |
Source: Ukraine visa schemes summary tables
Figure 4: Number of people arriving on one of the Ukraine schemes by age and sex
Source: Ukraine visa schemes summary tables
Figure 4 shows that arrivals peaked for all age groups in early May 2022, with the exception of those aged 65 and over, which peaked in April 2022. Arrivals have since declined across all age groups, and stabilized towards the end of 2022.
3. Ukrainian visa extensions to stay in the UK
In 2022, there were a total of 24,999 extensions granted to Ukrainian nationals across all UK visa routes with 4,300 in the latest quarter (October to December 2022). Table 4 shows 91% of the 24,999 Ukrainians granted extensions in 2022 were in one of the two new Ukrainian Extension schemes introduced in response to the war in Ukraine, and 9% (2,338) were on other visas.
Table 4: Extensions of temporary stay by reason1,2 to Ukrainian nationals by year, 2018 to 2022
| Grants of extension by reason | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | 664 | 670 | 520 | 884 | 978 |
| Other | 125 | 110 | 53 | 68 | 402 |
| Study | 105 | 107 | 120 | 109 | 155 |
| Work | 644 | 556 | 423 | 716 | 803 |
| Ukraine Schemes | - | - | - | - | 22,661 |
| Ukraine Extension Scheme | - | - | - | - | 15,159 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 7,502 |
| Total grants | 1,538 | 1,443 | 1,116 | 1,777 | 24,999 |
Source: Extensions – Exe_D01
Notes:
- ‘Other’ excludes extensions granted to individuals who were unable to travel home because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to COVID-19 (577 in the year ending September 2020).
- 203 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals were granted extensions under one of the Ukrainian schemes (122 under the Extension Scheme and 81 under the Family Scheme).
Home Office data shows that as of 21 February 2023, there were a total of 23,700 permissions granted for Ukrainians to extend their stay in the UK under the 2 new visa schemes. Of the extensions granted, 7,700 were into the Ukraine Family Scheme (in-UK permissions) and 16,000 were into the Ukraine Extension Scheme. More information and notes on data can be found in the weekly Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data.
4. Asylum applications from Ukraine nationals
4.1 Applications
The introduction of the Ukraine Family, Ukraine Sponsorship and Ukraine Extension Schemes has meant there are a wide range of options available to Ukrainians seeking to come to or stay in the UK, and only very limited circumstances in which a Ukrainian national might choose to claim asylum.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Home Office temporarily paused making decisions on Ukrainian asylum cases to conduct an assessment of the situation. Updated country policy and information was published on 7 July 2022 and asylum decision making resumed on this date.
In 2022, the UK received 388 asylum applications (relating to 588 people) from Ukrainian nationals, more than double the number of Ukrainian applications typically received across a whole year previously (see Figure 5). Over half (202) of the applications in this period were lodged between the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 and the Ukraine extension scheme being launched on 3 May 2022. Some Ukrainian asylum applicants may choose to withdraw their claim if they are eligible for the Ukraine-specific visa schemes.
Figure 5: Asylum applications lodged in the UK by Ukrainian nationals1, quarterly, from October to December 2017 to October to December 2022
Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01
Notes:
- Includes main applicants only
In addition to asylum applications from Ukrainians, there were 409 asylum applications from Russian nationals in 2022. This is a higher level than seen in recent years (an average of around 100 Russian applications per quarter in 2022, compared to around 30 per quarter between 2012 and 2021).
4.2 Grant rate and Initial decisions
From 2018 to 2021, the asylum grant rate for Ukrainian nationals was very low at initial decision, ranging between 5% to 12%. In 2022, the number of initial decisions made was too small to report a meaningful grant rate.
In 2022, 2 Ukrainian nationals were granted protection following an asylum application, and 2 Ukrainian nationals were refused asylum. Both refusals were issued prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. During this period, 92 Ukrainian nationals withdrew asylum claims, some of whom will have done so because they applied to one of the new visa schemes.
5. Data tables
Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:
- Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D01
- Extensions – Exe_D01
- Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01
- Ukraine visa schemes summary tables – UVS_01
Further information on the latest data on applications to come to or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) or Ukraine Extension Scheme. The data includes totals for visa applications received and visas issued to people. Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data.
More information Sponsorship Scheme data split by parts of the UK and local authorities, provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is available.
Demographic Data for Ukraine Visas Schemes, split by parts of the UK, is provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
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