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Russia → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Russia
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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RU9<GB5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migration from Russia to the United Kingdom

Inflows of nationals of Russia recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Russia living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,5003,00020132015
1,5003,00020132015
Data table
20131,000
20143,000
20151,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——2,274
2022——2,536
2021—49,0001,612
2020——1,619
2019——1,743
2018—20,0001,477
2017—33,0001,219
2016—41,0001,649
20151,00034,0001,527
20143,00035,0001,591
20131,00035,0002,085
2012—33,0001,863
2011—23,0001,442
2010—23,0001,706
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Russia, and students from Russia at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor45,259
  2. Work1,561
  3. Study1,038
  4. Family354
  5. Other194

Visas issued by year

114k227k201020122014201620182020202220242025
114k227k201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010142,586
2011175,414
2012189,575
2013227,469
2014196,821
2015122,262
2016116,983
2017154,485
2018143,898
2019159,166
202055,480
202130,573
202234,048
202338,783
202443,529
202548,406

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

2,1284,25520152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,1284,255201520172019202120232025
Data table
20154,255
20164,135
20174,135
20183,990
20193,650
20203,360
20213,320
20223,340
20233,050
20242,655
20252,340
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Russia (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019001,7433,640
20186,08201,4773,752
20178,21201,2203,920
20167,73901,6493,974
20159,00201,5364,092
20149,67601,5913,933
201310,08002,0733,604
20129,14201,8610
20118,81601,4420
20108,80901,7010
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United Kingdom in Russia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyArbat Districtgov.uk
Consulate-generalSaint Petersburggov.uk
ConsulateYekaterinburggov.uk
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Russia move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Russia, 2023
  1. Israel33,116
  2. Türkiye28,314
  3. Germany26,720
  4. Spain21,617
  5. South Korea17,550
  6. United States12,910
  7. Netherlands5,160
  8. France5,035
  9. Portugal4,893
  10. Italy4,633
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more