UK Visa Sponsorship for Ukrainian Nationals
Grants by year
Of the 927 grants in 2025, 149 went to people applying from outside the UK and 778 to people already here who switched route or extended (84%). For all nationalities together, the Skilled Worker visa statistics show grants outside and inside the UK each quarter.
| Year | Outside the UK | Inside the UK | Skilled Worker | Health & Care Worker | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 308 | 270 | 578 | ||
| 2022 | 438 | 333 | 771 | ||
| 2023 | 222 | 317 | 539 | ||
| 2024 | 150 | 518 | 668 | ||
| 2025 | 149 | 778 | 927 |
† The Home Office published in-country grants for these years as one combined figure, so the route columns cover the visas granted outside the UK only. The combined amount is in the “inside the UK” column and in the total.
Select a Skilled Worker or Health & Care figure to see where those visas were granted. Grants to main applicants, not dependants. Counting starts in 2021, the first full year of these routes: the Skilled Worker visa opened in December 2020 and the Health & Care Worker visa in August 2020, replacing earlier Tier 2 categories. 2020 itself covers only those opening weeks, so it is left out rather than shown as a year.
Refusals and grants for Ukrainian applicants in 2025
Of the 147 Skilled Worker decisions on applications Ukrainian main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, 1 (0.7%) was a refusal, against 20% across all nationalities. Inside the UK, 1 of 730 (0.1%) was a refusal, against 2.1%.
Fewer than 50 Health and Care Worker decisions were made on applications Ukrainian main applicants made from outside the UK in 2025, so no share is shown for that side. Inside the UK, 1 of 50 (2%) was a refusal, against 2.1%.
Show the numbers for Ukrainian applicants
| Route | Granted outside | Refused outside | Withdrawn outside | Share outside | Granted inside | Refused inside | Share inside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 146 | 1 | 1 | 0.7% | 729 | 1 | 0.1% |
| Health and Care Worker | 3 | 1 | 1 | n/a | 49 | 1 | 2% |
This is what happened to decisions in 2025. It is not your chance of a visa. Counts are main applicants, not dependants.
See how often Skilled Worker visas are refused, for every nationality
Ukrainian students: what happens after study
Of the 440 Ukrainian students who arrived in 2020, 66% held a UK visa five years later and 5.7% were on a Skilled Worker visa. The 66% includes people on the BN(O), Ukraine and resettlement visas.
Share holding a UK visa three years after arriving, including students still studying, by year of arrival. Years with fewer than 300 students are left out.
- Ukrainian students
- All students
Show the numbers for Ukrainian students
| Arrived | Students | Visa after 3 years | All students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 562 | 52% | 43% |
| 2009 | 590 | 59% | 44% |
| 2010 | 575 | 62% | 41% |
| 2011 | 666 | 51% | 33% |
| 2012 | 664 | 50% | 33% |
| 2013 | 689 | 52% | 32% |
| 2014 | 580 | 57% | 32% |
| 2015 | 437 | 53% | 32% |
| 2016 | 379 | 60% | 34% |
| 2017 | 417 | 54% | 33% |
| 2018 | 411 | 60% | 34% |
| 2019 | 453 | 60% | 38% |
| 2020 | 440 | 80% | 56% |
| 2021 | 480 | 85% | 56% |
| 2022 | 607 | 81% | 58% |
In 2025, 927 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker routes went to Ukrainian nationals, up 39% on 2024. About 94% came through the Skilled Worker route, spanning professional, technical, and managerial jobs.
149 of those went to people applying from outside the UK. The other 778 went to people already here, switching from a Graduate, Student or other visa, or extending a sponsored job they already had. That second group is the larger one for most nationalities, and it is worth knowing about: if you are already in the UK on another visa, you are on the more common path, not the rare one.
Among the visas granted outside the UK, the most common occupation for Ukrainian nationals in 2025 was Programmers and software development professionals (44 grants), followed by Ship and hovercraft officers (17) and Marine and waterways transport operatives (11). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK, so these counts cover the entry clearance half only. Other eligible Skilled Worker occupations are sponsorable too, as long as the employer holds a Home Office sponsor licence and the role clears the salary and skill-level thresholds for its SOC code.
Search the roles below to see who's currently hiring Ukrainian nationals. Filter by sponsor licence, visa route, or occupation.
Top occupations for Ukrainian nationals
Visas granted outside the UK only: 149 of the 927 granted to Ukrainian nationals in 2025 (16%). The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
| # | Occupation | Grants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Programmers and software development professionals | 44 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 2 | Ship and hovercraft officers | 17 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 3 | Marine and waterways transport operatives | 11 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 4 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 7 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 5 | Mechanical engineers | 6 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 6 | Sales accounts and business development managers | 5 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 7 | Business and financial project management professionals | 4 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 8 | IT managers | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 9 | Information technology professionals n.e.c. | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
| 10 | Electricians and electrical fitters | 3 | SWSkilled Worker |
Full occupation distribution for Ukrainian nationals
Each rectangle is one occupation, sized by grant count and grouped by SOC major category. Color shows year-over-year change vs 2023. Total: 148 grants across 45 occupations, counting visas granted outside the UK only. That is 16% of the 927 granted to Ukrainian nationals in 2025. The Home Office publishes no job breakdown for the visas granted inside the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How many Ukrainian nationals got UK work visas in 2025?
In 2025, 927 UK work visas on the Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes went to Ukrainian nationals: 149 granted outside the UK and 778 granted inside it to people already here who switched route or extended. By route, that is 875 Skilled Worker and 52 Health & Care Worker.
Do Ukrainian nationals have to apply for a UK work visa from outside the UK?
No. You can be sponsored from abroad, or switch into a sponsored visa from inside the UK if you already hold another one, such as a Graduate, Student or dependant visa. In 2025, 778 of the 927 grants to Ukrainian nationals were made in the UK, so switching is a normal route rather than an exception. A few visa types can't be switched from, including visitor and short-term study visas, and those do mean leaving and applying from abroad.
What are the most common jobs Ukrainian nationals get sponsored for?
Home Office data shows the top occupations for Ukrainian nationals on Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visas are: Programmers and software development professionals, Ship and hovercraft officers, Marine and waterways transport operatives. Those counts cover visas granted outside the UK, the only half the Home Office publishes a job breakdown for. Full breakdown in the table above.
Can Ukrainian nationals apply for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Nationality doesn't affect Skilled Worker eligibility. Ukrainian nationals qualify if they have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor, the role is on the eligible occupations list, and the salary meets the threshold (usually £41,700 or the going rate for that SOC code, whichever is higher).
Which UK companies sponsor Ukrainian nationals?
Keep exploring
Current openings from Home Office licensed sponsors. Filter by visa route, salary, and occupation.
Visa trends and top occupations for every nationality, browsable by region.
See what a UK salary is really worth compared with Ukraine — tax, purchasing power and visa costs.