Beyond Sanctuary: Building the Future of Ukrainians in the UK
A University of Birmingham policy brief shows that displaced Ukrainians in the UK are working, studying and contributing, but remain held back by short-term visa status and lack of a route to permanent residence.
A new University of Birmingham policy brief shows that displaced Ukrainians in the UK are not simply seeking temporary safety — they are working, studying, building businesses, raising children and contributing to local communities.
Based on a survey of 5,454 displaced Ukrainians, 18 expert interviews and discussions within the Ukraine Policy Network, the research highlights a community with a strong record of integration:
- 90% of Ukrainian adults surveyed have worked in the UK, and 89.2% of those are currently employed.
- 71% work full-time, 63.9% have permanent contracts, and 12.9% own an active private business.
- 41.5% have gained a UK qualification.
Yet many Ukrainians remain held back by short-term visa status. Among those facing barriers to employment at their skill level, 63.6% identify temporary visa status as a barrier. 75.2% report barriers to working at their professional level, despite experience in sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, digital technology, law and business.
The brief also finds that 76.6% of respondents want to remain in the UK even when it is safe to return to Ukraine, while 87.5% see no available route to a visa status leading to permanent residence.
The policy recommendations are clear: create a timely and affordable pathway to permanent residence, and include time spent on Ukraine Scheme and UPE visas in qualifying time for existing settlement routes.
Source: University of Birmingham, Beyond Sanctuary: Building the Future of Ukrainians in the UK (Policy Brief, June 2026).
Read the full policy brief