How many visas do citizens of post-Soviet countries get in the UK?
Who enters legally and why. Home Office numbers for the year to March 2026 — work, study, family.
This is not immigration advice. The numbers show what happens on average. For visa advice about your situation, ask an IAA-accredited solicitor.
Post-Soviet countries in the UK visa system — what the numbers show
Four charts — four simple questions. Your country is highlighted.
Who gets visas from where?
All visas issued (work + study + family + other) for 12 countries, 2025. Sorted descending.
Which visas are most common: work, study, family?
Breakdown by category, 2025. 100% = all visas issued for that country.
Visa trends over the years
Selected country, 2015–2025. Work, study, family.
Who gets refused most often?
Refusal rate (refused / (issued + refused)) by country. Sorted descending.
UK-wide picture
Overall numbers for the year to March 2026 (Home Office, release 21 May 2026). Main Applicants only.
Frequently asked questions
Is a visa the same as asylum?
No. A visa is a legal entry to the UK for a specific purpose (work, study, family, tourism). Asylum is a request for protection for people who cannot return to their country. These are different procedures with different rights and obligations.
Can I apply for asylum while holding a visa?
Yes — you can apply while in the UK. But asylum-seeker status cancels visa rights (no automatic right to work, etc.). More: /en/asylum-claim/
Which visas are most common for citizens of my country?
Select a country in the dropdown above — you'll see the breakdown by category. Most common: Student route and Skilled Worker / Health & Care Worker.
What is a Skilled Worker visa?
The main work visa for the UK. You need a sponsor employer, minimum salary ~£41,700 (from July 2025). After 5 years — a path to ILR. → /en/careers/
How many refusals?
Depends on country and route. The chart "Who gets refused most often?" above shows refusal rate for 12 countries. Visitor visas are refused most often — they have the strictest criteria (prove ties to your home country).
Why is Ukraine missing from the general data?
Most Ukrainians enter the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme — that is not a regular visa. So their numbers are proportionally small in asylum/visa statistics.
What happens after 5 years?
Most work and family visas lead to ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after 5 years. More: /en/statistika/grazhdanstvo/
How often is this updated?
After each quarterly Home Office release. Last update — 21 May 2026.
Data: Home Office, release 21 May 2026 (year to March 2026). Page updated: 21 May 2026. Next release: 27 August 2026.