Family Reunion
Family reunion visas have historically allowed a person granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK to sponsor close family members to join them. The rules permitted sponsorship of a spouse or partner and any children under the age of 18 who were part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their home country.
Important Update: This Route Is Currently Closed
As of 4 September 2025, the family reunion route for refugees and those granted humanitarian protection was suspended. The government announced a temporary pause on new applications pending a review of the immigration rules. This means that, for now, individuals who have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK cannot sponsor family members to join them under the previous framework.
If you already submitted a family reunion application before the closure, it will continue to be processed under the rules that were in place at the time. If your application was refused or if you are seeking to sponsor family members now, the standard family visa route under Appendix FM may be the only option available, though this route requires meeting financial and English language requirements.
We Can Advise On:
- The status of existing applications and any options for pursuing them
- Challenges to refusals where the decision was made before the route closed
- Whether an application under Appendix FM may be possible in your circumstances
- Judicial review challenges where the Home Office has acted unlawfully or unfairly
It is important to note that Appendix FM applications require meeting the financial requirement of £29,000 per year and the English language requirement (A1 for first applications, A2 for extensions, B1 for settlement). These requirements did not apply under the dedicated family reunion route, and many refugee families find them difficult to meet.
If you are affected by the closure of this route and wish to discuss your options, please contact our clerking team. We will assess your circumstances and advise on whether any alternative avenues remain open to you.