Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK
Published 24 November 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2022/statistics-on-ukrainians-in-the-uk
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Data relate to the year ending September 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
In the year ending September 2022, there had been a total of 250,889 visa applications made across all UK visa routes by Ukrainian nationals, with 57,862 applications in the most recent quarter (July to September 2022).
Table 1: Applications for visas made by Ukraine nationals by year ending September 2018 to September 2022
| Visa Type | YE Sep-18 | YE Sep-19 | YE Sep-20 | YE Sep-21 | YE Sep-22 | Q2 and Q3 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other, Family and Dep Joining or Accompanying | 1,658 | 2,243 | 2,466 | 3,604 | 981 | 179 |
| Study | 4,317 | 4,796 | 1,718 | 1,011 | 730 | 628 |
| Visitor | 42,584 | 50,444 | 28,368 | 15,738 | 24,060 | 9,556 |
| Work | 856 | 3,084 | 6,263 | 18,945 | 11,811 | 5,073 |
| Seasonal Workers | - | 2,230 | 5,558 | 18,136 | 10,482 | 4,337 |
| Ukraine Visa Schemes1 | - | - | - | - | 213,307 | 158,316 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 60,899 | 33,180 |
| Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme | - | - | - | - | 152,408 | 125,136 |
| Total | 49,415 | 60,567 | 38,815 | 39,298 | 250,889 | 173,752 |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D01
Notes:
- 6,918 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals applied for a visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (2,175 under the family scheme and 4,743 under the Sponsorship scheme).
There had been an increase in the number of work visa applicants (and subsequently grants) for Ukrainian nationals since 2019, due to the number of Ukrainians granted a seasonal work visa. Table 1 shows that in the 6 months between April to September 2022, 91% (158,316) of Ukraine visa applications were in one of the 2 new Ukraine Scheme visa routes introduced in response to the war in the Ukraine and 9% (15,436) were on other immigration routes.
Home Office data show that as of 15 November 2022, there were a total of 245,700 applications received under the 2 new Ukraine visa schemes, of these 75,200 were under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 170,600 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 ending September 2018 to September 2022
| Visa Type | YE Sep-18 | YE Sep-19 | YE Sep-20 | YE Sep-21 | YE Sep-22 | Q2 and Q3 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other, Family and Dep Joining or Accompanying | 1,450 | 1,934 | 2,039 | 2,692 | 1,339 | 242 |
| Study | 4,000 | 4,590 | 1,680 | 976 | 712 | 604 |
| Visitor | 38,140 | 45,878 | 26,028 | 11,421 | 20,542 | 8,169 |
| Work | 809 | 3,042 | 6,232 | 18,786 | 11,009 | 5,093 |
| Seasonal Workers | - | 2,228 | 5,533 | 17,996 | 9,729 | 4,358 |
| Ukraine Visa Schemes1 | - | - | - | - | 186,893 | 160,216 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 52,353 | 29,437 |
| Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme | - | - | - | - | 134,540 | 130,779 |
| Total | 44,399 | 55,444 | 35,979 | 33,875 | 220,495 | 174,324 |
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02
Notes:
- 2,238 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals were issued a visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (764 under the Family Scheme and 1,474 under the Sponsorship Scheme).
In the year ending September 2022, there were a total of 220,495 visas granted across all UK visa routes for Ukrainian nationals, of which 51,740 were in the final quarter (July to September 2022). Table 2 shows that in the 6 months between April to September 2022, 92% (160,216) of the grants to Ukrainian nationals were in one of the 2 new Ukraine Scheme visa routes introduced in response to the war and 8% (14,108) were on other immigration routes.
Data from the 2 Ukraine visa schemes show that as of 15 November 2022, there were a total of 199,500 applications granted, of these 57,900 were under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 141,600 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 across the year ending September 2022
Source: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes – Vis_D02
Figure 1 shows visa grants to Ukrainian nationals over the year ending September 2022, showing total grants through the different routes in each quarter. Since the new Ukraine Visa Schemes were opened in January to March 2022 they have been the majority of grants, peaking in April to June 2022. In 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.
Figure 2: Visa applications and grants on Ukrainian Visa Schemes, by week, for weeks ending 8 March 2022 to 27 September 2022
Source: Ukraine visa schemes summary tables
Figure 2 shows data on applications and grants on the Ukraine Visa Schemes each week. Applications peaked in the third week, week ending 22 March (28,693), following the introduction of the Sponsorship scheme. Grants peaked in the sixth week, week ending 12 April (15,933). Numbers applying to both schemes have reduced since that time, with the Ukraine Family Scheme reducing more quickly after its initial high take-up. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme saw small increases in applications in the week ending 12 July, but since then has been receiving comparatively low numbers of new applications. More weekly information can be found in the new Ukraine visa schemes summary tables.
2. Ukraine Scheme visa arrivals in the UK
As of 14 November, 144,600 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 30 September 2022, over 133,500 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, over 37,200 (28%) were on the Ukraine Family Scheme and 96,300 (72%) 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 arrivals peaked in May 2022 at 33,900 arrivals that month. Numbers have since decreased to 12,300 in September 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 the 2 Ukraine visas schemes have fallen since and there were 2,000 arrivals in the final week of September.
2.1 Demographic characteristics of new Ukrainians arrivals
As of the end of September 2022, adult females aged 18 to 64 accounted for 49% of total arrivals since the schemes began, children (under 18s) accounted for 31%, and adult males aged 18 to 64 accounted for 15%.
Table 3: Demographic (age/sex) breakdown for those arriving on Ukraine Schemes as at 30 September 2022
| U18 | 18-64 | 65+ | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Scheme | 10,310 (8%) | 22,410 (17%) | 4,500 (3%) | 37,230 (28%) |
| Male | 5,250 (4%) | 5,820 (4%) | 1,460 (1%) | 12,520 (9%) |
| Female | 5,060 (4%) | 16,590 (12%) | 3,040 (2%) | 24,700 (19%) |
| Sponsorship Scheme | 31,410 (24%) | 62,730 (47%) | 2,140 (2%) | 96,270 (72%) |
| Male | 15,730 (12%) | 13,990 (10%) | 560 (0%) | 30,270 (23%) |
| Female | 15,670 (12%) | 48,730 (37%) | 1,580 (1%) | 65,990 (49%) |
| Total | 41,720 (31%) | 85,140 (64%) | 6,640 (5%) | 133,500 (100%) |
| Male | 20,980 (16%) | 19,800 (15%) | 2,020 (2%) | 42,790 (32%) |
| Female | 20,740 (16%) | 65,320 (49%) | 4,630 (3%) | 90,690 (68%) |
Source: Home Office Management Information
Figure 4: Number of people arriving on one of the Ukraine schemes by age and sex
Source: Home Office Management Information
Figure 4 shows that arrivals peak for all age groups, apart from over 65s, in early May 2022. Males 18 to 64 see a lower and steadier tend in arrivals over time compared to Females 18 to 64, who saw high volumes across April, May and June, and lower levels across July to September.
3. Ukrainian visa extensions to stay in the UK
In the year ending September 2022, there were a total of 21,175 extensions granted to Ukrainian nationals across all UK visa routes with 5,524 in the latest quarter (July to September 2022). Table 4 shows 95% of the 19,257 Ukrainians granted extensions of stay in the 6 months between April to September 2022 were in one of the 2 new Ukrainian Extension schemes introduced in response to the war in Ukraine, and 5% (985) were in existing extension routes.
Table 4: Extensions of temporary stay by reason1,2 to Ukrainian nationals, year ending September 2018 to September 2022
| Grants of extension by reason | YE Sep-18 | YE Sep-19 | YE Sep-20 | YE Sep-21 | YE Sep-22 | Q2 and Q3 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | 645 | 665 | 466 | 908 | 984 | 381 |
| Other | 116 | 118 | 631 | 73 | 287 | 185 |
| Study | 114 | 105 | 76 | 146 | 125 | 45 |
| Work | 698 | 524 | 392 | 691 | 775 | 374 |
| Ukraine Schemes | - | - | - | - | 19,004 | 18,272 |
| Ukraine Extension Scheme | - | - | - | - | 11,803 | 11,803 |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | - | - | - | - | 7,201 | 6,469 |
| Total grants | 1,573 | 1,412 | 1,565 | 1,818 | 21,175 | 19,257 |
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).
- 169 non-Ukrainian family members of Ukrainian nationals were granted extensions under one of the Ukrainian schemes (98 under the Extension Scheme and 71 under the Family Scheme).
Home Office data shows that as of 15 November 2022, there were a total of 21,200 permissions granted for Ukrainians to extend their stay in the UK under the 2 new visa schemes. Of the extensions granted, 7,400 were into the Ukraine Family Scheme (in-UK permissions) and 13,700 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.
Between January and September 2022, the UK received 360 asylum applications (relating to 548 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, but prior to the Ukraine extension scheme being launched on 3 May 2022, with only a further 141 after the launch of that scheme (up to end of September 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 July to September 2017 to July to September 2022
Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01
Notes:
- Includes main applicants only.
In addition to asylum applications from Ukrainians, there were 269 asylum applications from Russian nationals in January to September 2022. These levels are higher than those seen in recent years (an average of around 90 applications per quarter in 2022, compared to around 30 per quarter between 2012 and 2021).
4.2 Grant rate and Initial decisions
In the previous 5 years (from the year ending September 2018 to the year ending September 2022), the asylum grant rate for Ukrainian nationals was very low at initial decision, ranging between 4% to 12%.
Between January and September 2022, no Ukrainian nationals were granted asylum, and 2 Ukrainian nationals were refused asylum, but both decisions were issued prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. During this period, 67 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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