svoi.uk is an independent information hub by Mendee Digital Ltd (CH 14071822) for Russian-speaking migrants in the UK. Not a government body, not immigration advisers.

How much does it cost to use svoi.uk?

Free. No paywall. Some pages have affiliate links to UK financial products (Wise, Monzo, Lebara) — disclosed at /disclosure.

Who is this site for?

Migrants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Ukraine in the UK on any visa: seasonal worker, Skilled Worker, student, family, asylum, refugee.

Do you give immigration advice?

No. svoi.uk is NOT IAA-registered. We signpost to IAA-registered advisers at /en/lawyers.

What languages is the site in?

Russian (default), Uzbek, Kazakh, Ukrainian, English.

Updated: May 2026

svoi.uk — for people who just arrived

Updated 2026-05-21

svoi.uk is an independent guide for Russian-speaking migrants in the UK. We cover visas (Skilled Worker, Student, Family, Seasonal), taxes (PAYE, Self Assessment, P85), banking, NHS, housing, and work. We do not give immigration advice — for that we signpost to IAA-registered lawyers.

Farm work, taxes, banks, eVisa, doctor — step by step. No middlemen.

What I need now Go to farm work

42,900 seasonal places£12,570 tax-free£85,000 bank protection£41,700 SW minimum

01 · Where to start

5 areas of life in the UK

Choose the hub that fits your situation. Inside each — step-by-step guides, calculators, checklists. No middlemen.

Farm work

Seasonal work · 6 operators · visa · earnings £4.8-11k · P85 refund

Open →

Study

UCAS · personal statement · student visa · Graduate Route 2027

Open →

Skilled Worker

Work visa, sponsor check, scam protection, ILR after 5 years

Open →

Taxes

Calculators · self-assessment · refund · protection from refund agents

Open →

Living in the UK

eVisa · banks · SIM · NI Number · GP · council tax

Open →

📋Looking for something specific?All 50+ topics A–Z — banks, SIM, council tax, GP, operators, documents→

02 · Key numbers

What you need to know

All figures from gov.uk and HMRC. Updated: May 2026. Click a value to read more.

Work

Minimum wage 21+£12.71/hr
Skilled Worker minimum£41,700
Seasonal quota 202642,900/year

Taxes

Tax-free per year£12,570
Self Assessment deadline31 January
Average refund£1,000–2,500

Money

FSCS bank protection£85,000
Council Tax Band D~£199/mo
Wise/Paysend transfersCompare →

Health

NHS prescription£9.90/item
Ambulance (life-threat)999
Non-urgent (NHS 111)111

03 · Season in the UK

6 licensed operators for 2026

Only these 6 companies are licensed by the Home Office. Anyone else charging money for "visa help" is a scammer.

Operators do not charge workers for the application. Any other company asking money for "visa help" is a scammer.

Full comparison — 13 parameters

04 · Quick answers

Already in the UK — which services to choose

Comparisons and guides for services you need in your first month.

Which SIM to chooseVOXI vs SMARTY vs Giffgaff — plan comparison Where to open a bank accountRevolut, Monzo, Suits Me — what works for your status How to send money homeWise, Paysend, TransferGo — fees and speed Housing in the UKRenting a room, tenant rights, how to avoid scams

05 · Frequently asked questions

10 most common questions

Direct answers. No filler. Click a link inside the answer for more detail.

How much do you really earn on a farm per season?

£4,800–11,000 take-home over 6 months — after tax and accommodation deductions (typically £60-78/week). Depends on crop, farm, hours. Full calculation — /sezon.

What documents do you need for the Seasonal Worker Visa?

Passport, Certificate of Sponsorship from operator, proof of funds (£1,270 minimum), TB test if staying longer than 6 months. Full list — /sezon.

What to do if the operator keeps your passport?

This is a violation of UK law. GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority) accepts anonymous reports: 0800 432 0804. An operator can ask to copy your passport, but cannot keep the original.

What is eVisa and what is a share code for?

eVisa is a digital proof of your immigration status. BRP cards no longer exist from 2025. Share code is generated on gov.uk in 2 minutes — your employer needs it to check your right to work. Guide — /evisa.

What is a NI Number and how do you get one?

National Insurance Number is your tax ID. You can work without it, but more tax will be deducted. Seasonal workers usually get it through the operator. Others — apply at gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number. Guide — /ni-number.

Which bank can you open without a UK address?

Revolut, Monzo and Suits Me accept a passport without a UK address. Opening takes 5-15 minutes in the app. FSCS protection up to £85,000. Guide — /banki.

How to send money to Uzbekistan / Kazakhstan cheaply?

Wise — best rate, 1-2 minutes to Uzcard/Humo/Kaspi. Paysend — fixed fee £1, good for regular small transfers. Compare — /dengi.

What is Council Tax and who pays it?

Council Tax is a UK housing tax. Paid by the tenant or owner (not the landlord). Band D average ~£199/month. Students are fully exempt. Guide — /council-tax.

How to register with a GP for free?

GP registration is free for everyone living in the UK for more than 3 months. Submit form GMS1 at the nearest surgery. Immigration status is NOT checked. Guide — /gp.

How to apply to a UK university through UCAS?

UCAS is the single platform for undergraduate applications. 5 universities, one application, one Personal Statement. Deadline usually 31 January. Step by step — /student/ucas.

06 · Partners

Day 1 in the UK — what to set up

Affiliate disclosure. These are partners we work with on an affiliate basis: we get a small commission if you open an account through our link. We recommend these services because we use them ourselves, and they are the only ones that accept a passport without a UK address. If we knew something better, we would recommend it.

£10/mo

VOXI

Unlimited WhatsApp

20 GB + unlimited social media and messengers. £10/mo. No contract — cancel any time.

Card in 5 minutes with a foreign passport. Apple Pay from day one. FSCS protection £85,000.

Go to revolut.com

£1

Paysend