This guide covers UK visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens in 2026 — the tourist visa price, grant rates, the special Ukraine Schemes, and how to apply. Ukrainians need a visa for any UK trip; there is no visa-free or ETA option. The 6-month visitor visa costs $186, paid in US Dollars, with an excellent 93% grant rate. Separately, the Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open for those displaced by the war, with no fee.
UK Visas from Ukraine
UK Visa for Ukrainian Citizens 2026: Tourist Visa Price, Schemes & Requirements
UK Visa Requirements for Ukrainian Citizens 2026
Yes. Ukrainian citizens need a visa for the UK — there is no visa-free or ETA option. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs $186 and carries a 93% grant rate. Those displaced by the war may instead use the fee-free Homes for Ukraine scheme if they have a UK sponsor, while the Ukraine Family and Extension Schemes are now closed to new applicants.
A common misconception is that Ukrainians have visa-free access — they do not, and the ETA does not apply to them. What Ukrainians do have is one of the highest grant rates of any nationality: 93% on the visitor route, across more than 51,000 applications a year. For the visitor visa, the requirements are the standard set:
- Valid Ukrainian passport: with a blank page for the vignette.
- Completed online application: via gov.uk with the fee paid in US Dollars.
- Bank statements: six months where possible, showing steady funds for the trip.
- Employment evidence: a letter confirming role, salary, and approved leave.
- Accommodation details: bookings or a UK host's invitation letter.
- Ties evidence: employment, property, family, or studies showing return intent.
UK visa grant rates for Ukraine (year ending March 2026)
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 51,809 | 93% |
| Ukraine Schemes | 20,516 | 75% |
| Work | 1,209 | 98% |
| Study | 698 | 97% |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026.
Those figures put Ukraine in select company:
Ukraine's 93% visitor grant rate places it among the strongest visa-national markets, with work at 98% and study at 97%. Applicants from the wider region, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Turkey, follow the same VFS Global process. Our grant rate analysis sets these figures in context against other nationalities.
Ukraine Schemes: What's Still Open in 2026
The UK created three schemes after the 2022 invasion, and their status has changed significantly since — so it is important to apply to the right one. All carry no application fee and no Immigration Health Surcharge, but none counts towards indefinite leave to remain. Of the three, only Homes for Ukraine remains open to new applicants, and now grants 18 months rather than three years.
Ukraine scheme status (2026)
| Scheme | Status 2026 | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Homes for Ukraine | Open | New arrivals with a UK sponsor (18-month grant) |
| Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) | Open | Those already on a Ukraine scheme, extending their stay |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | Closed Feb 2024 | No longer accepting new applications |
| Ukraine Extension Scheme | Closed 2025 | Replaced by UPE |
Source: GOV.UK Ukraine scheme guidance, as linked below.
For new arrivals, the Homes for Ukraine scheme requires a named UK sponsor who can provide accommodation for at least six months. Those already in the UK on an earlier scheme should apply through the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme before their current permission expires; a second extension of 24 months opened in April 2026.
Tourist Visa to the UK for Ukrainian Citizens 2026
The Standard Visitor visa covers tourism, family visits, business, and short courses, with each visit capped at 180 days. Ukrainians succeed at 93%, but documentation still matters — bank statements, employment evidence, and reasons to return. Those visiting relatives should review the documents a UK host provides.
Tourist Visa to the UK for Ukrainian Citizens: Price
The price is $186 for the 6-month visa, $696 for 2 years, $1,242 for 5 years, and $1,552 for 10 years, paid in US Dollars during the online application. The 2-year visa breaks even at around four trips, and frequent travellers can hold a long-term visitor visa valid for up to ten years. The visitor visa itself carries no health surcharge.
UK Visa Fees for Ukrainian Citizens 2026
Standard UK visa fees from Ukraine are charged in US Dollars under the 8 April 2026 schedule. Work, study, and family visas also carry the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds sterling at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students. The Ukraine Schemes remain free of both the fee and the surcharge.
UK visa fees from Ukraine in US dollars (8 April 2026 schedule)
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Homes for Ukraine | FREE | — |
| 6-month Visitor | $186 | 93% |
| 2-year Visitor | $696 | 93% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,242 | 93% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,552 | 93% |
| Student | $768 | 97% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,127 | 98% |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,226 | 98% |
| Health and Care Worker | $446 | 98% |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,840 | 79% |
| Priority service | $688 | — |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; grant rates year ending March 2026.
UK Work Visa & Work Permit for Ukrainians 2026
Ukrainians on a Ukraine scheme need no separate work permit — Homes for Ukraine and the Permission Extension Scheme both carry full work rights at no extra cost, and holders can switch into the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK.
The Skilled Worker Route from Ukraine
For everyone else, the Skilled Worker visa costs $1,127 for up to three years, or $2,226 for longer, and needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer, a graduate-level job, and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation. The Ukrainian work grant rate is excellent at 98%; healthcare professionals use the Health and Care Worker route at $446, exempt from the health surcharge.
UK Spouse & Family Visa from Ukraine 2026
Many Ukrainians with UK family previously used the fee-free Family Scheme, but that route closed in February 2024, so the standard UK Spouse visa now applies: $2,840, with the UK sponsor earning at least £29,000 a year and the couple proving a genuine relationship under Appendix FM.
The initial visa runs 33 months and leads to settlement and citizenship over time. Unlike the closed Family Scheme, this route carries the full fee and the health surcharge — and unlike the schemes, it does count towards settlement.
UK Student Visa from Ukraine 2026
The UK Student visa costs $768 plus the health surcharge at £776 per year, with a 97% grant rate for Ukrainian applicants. It needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor, the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,529 per month for London or £1,171 elsewhere. Graduates can then use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Ukraine
Ukrainians apply online at gov.uk, pay in US Dollars, and give biometrics — many apply from a neighbouring country because of the war. For standard visas, Ukrainians can often use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, avoiding a centre visit; our application form guide walks through the online form.
- 1. Check the Ukraine Schemes first — Homes for Ukraine is free if you have a sponsor.
- 2. Otherwise choose the standard route — visitor, student, work, or family.
- 3. Complete the online application on gov.uk and select Ukraine.
- 4. Pay the visa fee in US Dollars (schemes are free).
- 5. Give biometrics via the ID Check app or at a visa centre.
- 6. Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
UK Visa Processing Time from Ukraine
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks, with settlement cases up to 12 weeks; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions where offered. If a decision runs over, our guides to processing times after biometrics and visa delays explain the next steps.
Sources: fees from the Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk; scheme rules from the GOV.UK Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Permission Extension guidance linked above; grant rates and application volumes from the Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Figures verified July 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas for Ukrainian Citizens
Yes. Ukrainian passport holders need a visa to enter the UK — there is no visa-free or ETA option, despite a common misconception otherwise. The standard 6-month visitor visa costs $186 and carries an excellent 93% grant rate. Separately, Ukrainians displaced by the war may use the fee-free Homes for Ukraine scheme if they have a UK sponsor. Ukrainians with dual citizenship of a visa-exempt country can travel on that passport instead.
The UK tourist visa for Ukrainian citizens costs $186 for six months, $696 for two years, $1,242 for five years, and $1,552 for ten years. Fees are paid in US Dollars during the online application. Each visit allows a stay of up to 180 days regardless of the visa's overall validity. Ukrainians enjoy a 93% visitor grant rate, among the highest of any nationality.
For the visitor visa: a valid Ukrainian passport, the online application with the $186 fee, bank statements showing funds for the trip, employment evidence, accommodation details, and ties showing you will leave at the end of the visit. Many Ukrainians can give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check app rather than attending a centre. The war schemes have different requirements — Homes for Ukraine needs a named UK sponsor, not financial evidence.
No. The Ukraine Family Scheme closed to new applicants on 19 February 2024, and the Ukraine Extension Scheme closed in early 2025. The only scheme still open to new arrivals is Homes for Ukraine, which needs a UK sponsor and now grants 18 months rather than three years. Ukrainians already in the UK on an earlier scheme extend their stay through the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. None of these routes counts towards settlement.
In the year ending March 2026, the Ukrainian visitor visa grant rate was 93% — of 51,809 applications, 48,583 were granted. Work visas succeeded at 98% and study at 97%. The Ukraine Schemes route ran at about 75% across roughly 20,500 applications. These figures place Ukraine among the most successful visa-national markets, reflecting strong documentation and established travel patterns.
Yes. Ukrainians on a Ukraine scheme (Homes for Ukraine or the Permission Extension Scheme) have full work rights at no extra cost — no separate work permit is needed. Others can apply for a work visa such as the Skilled Worker visa, costing $1,127 for up to three years, which has a 98% grant rate and needs a sponsored graduate-level job paying at least £41,700. Those on a scheme can switch into the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK.
Туристична віза на 6 місяців коштує $186, на 2 роки — $696, на 5 років — $1,242, на 10 років — $1,552. Студентська віза — $768, робоча Skilled Worker — $1,127 (до 3 років), віза дружини чи чоловіка — $2,840. Збори сплачуються в доларах США під час онлайн-заяви. Схема Homes for Ukraine залишається безкоштовною — без збору та без медичного внеску IHS, але потрібен спонсор у Великій Британії.
Туристическая виза на 6 месяцев стоит $186, на 2 года — $696, на 5 лет — $1,242, на 10 лет — $1,552. Студенческая виза — $768, рабочая Skilled Worker — $1,127 (до 3 лет), супружеская — $2,840. Сборы оплачиваются в долларах США при подаче онлайн-заявления; одобряется 93% гостевых виз. Программа Homes for Ukraine остаётся бесплатной — без сбора и без медицинского взноса, но требуется спонсор в Великобритании.
Standard processing is around 3 weeks for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a decision in about 5 working days for non-settlement visas where offered, and super priority the next working day. Many Ukrainians use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to give biometrics remotely, which can speed up the start of processing.