Displaced Ukrainians in the UK – Experiences and Future Intentions

Executive Summary

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, over 218,000 displaced Ukrainians have arrived in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes. These initially offered three-year stays, later supplemented by the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE), which now grants an additional 18 months of temporary residence, with a further extension of 2 years announced. However, there remains no pathway to permanent settlement, and time spent under these schemes does not count toward the UK’s 10-year Long Route to permanent residency. Our nationwide survey of nearly 3,000 Ukrainians reveals the deep emotional and practical toll of this uncertainty. Respondents report widespread challenges in employment, housing, education, and mental health, with many struggling to secure jobs or leases due to their temporary status. Although most found the UPE application process manageable, technical issues and confusion – especially around dependent children – have caused delays and distress.

Despite high levels of economic activity and improving English proficiency, many Ukrainians are working below their skill level, earning wages far below the threshold for Skilled Worker visas. Visa precarity has led to job rejections, contract terminations, and missed professional opportunities. Housing access is similarly strained, with many facing lease refusals or eviction risks due to visa expiry. Young people comprise a large share of the arrivals, with 28% of displaced Ukrainians in the UK being under 18. Education is another area of concern: children have integrated into UK schools, and parents fear the trauma of uprooting them again. Adults are hesitant or unable to pursue higher education or apprenticeships without long-term immigration status and security, or to commit to more senior roles where long-term training is needed. Mental health issues are prevalent, with significant numbers diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and many unable to access therapy in their preferred language.

The majority of respondents express a strong desire to remain in the UK – even if Ukraine becomes safe. Only 5% say they would return, citing fears of renewed Russian aggression, destroyed infrastructure, economic instability, and lack of personal safety. Many have no homes to return to, and some face risks due to conscription, ethnicity/language, or sexual orientation. For many, the UK has become more than a refuge – it is home. Yet the absence of a settlement pathway leaves them in a state of limbo, unable to plan for their futures or their children’s.

Recommendations

  1. Ensure that the 24-month extension to the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) is applied through a simple and accessible system with a minimum of bureaucracy – ideally automatically for those already holding UPE visas.
  2. Include the time spent in the UK on the Ukraine Scheme visas (including Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Extension Scheme, and Ukraine Permission Extension) in the qualifying period for the 10-year Long Route to permanent residency.
  3. Create a designated 5-year pathway to residency for displaced Ukrainians who have been continuously resident in the UK under the Ukraine Schemes.
  4. Ensure that displaced Ukrainians – especially displaced children – have continued access to Ukrainian culture and language, e.g., through the introduction of a Ukrainian GCSE.
  5. Work with employers, job centres and relevant NGOs to ensure that the qualifications, skills and experience of displaced Ukrainians are fully recognised (including formal recognition of professional qualifications).
  6. Improve access to dedicated mental health support for displaced Ukrainians, ideally in Ukrainian and making use of the skills of Ukrainian medical professionals.