Hundreds of children at risk of separation every month without access to family reunion, British Red Cross warns

At least 550 children could be left separated from their families every month that refugee family reunion remains suspended, new analysis by the British Red Cross reveals.  

Among them, at least a third (180 each month) are likely to be unaccompanied minors – children living without a parent or legal guardian.  

Previously, under the UK government’s family reunion scheme, people granted refugee status in the UK could apply to be reunited with spouses and children left behind when they fled their country of origin. However, refugee family reunion was suspended by the government for new applications from September 2025. This has left many children unable to access the protection they need. 

The British Red Cross is concerned about the ongoing impact on people affected by the suspension to refugee family reunion, which has been one of the only safe and managed ways for people to apply for protection in the UK. When the route does reopen, it is expected to have stricter requirements including financial and other additional conditions that refugees must meet before their families can join them. 

Since the suspension began, the British Red Cross has been contacted by around 1,160 families left separated.  

Among people the British Red Cross has supported with ongoing family reunion applications over the last six months, common themes have included: 

• Women and children left in dangerous situations. This includes a family the British Red Cross is supporting from Sierra Leone, where two girls are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) from family members. They were able to submit their application before the suspension came into effect. They are in hiding and out of education, until they can safely be reunited with their mother in the UK.  
• Confusion around the application process. Only four days’ notice was given before the suspension – leaving many families in a state of panic as they tried to submit applications before the deadline. In the case of one family from Sudan, the husband submitted an application for his wife, not realising it didn’t include their baby. They didn’t realise the mistake until after the scheme was suspended.  
• Additional stress, time and expense for families. As a result of the scheme closing, in some cases mothers and children have had to apply for visas via separate routes. This is time-consuming, expensive and some families are worried that children could become separated from their mothers if the applications are not processed together.  

People supported by the British Red Cross are fleeing from countries facing conflicts and humanitarian disasters all over the world, including Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and Eritrea. The dangers they face when left behind include threats of persecution and violence. Women and girls are at particular risk of gender-based violence. 

The charity predicts between 550 and 1,360 children could remain separated from their families for every month the refugee family reunion suspension continues. Of these, between 180 and 430 each month are likely to be unaccompanied minors. 

Mubeen Bhutta, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the British Red Cross, said:  

“It is vital to recognise the traumatic circumstances that force refugee families apart. Many flee war, persecution and violence, with no money or means of contacting their loved ones. People we support tell us they cannot begin to rebuild their lives until their children and family members are safely reunited with them.  

“Family reunion is one of the only safe ways for many children to be reunited with their parents, without having to take dangerous journeys. Without it, they can be trapped in unimaginable situations, alone. We urge the government to reinstate the scheme as soon as possible and ensure any new requirements are fair, achievable and compassionate.” 

Notes to editors 

Background 

• The children who are not counted as unaccompanied minors could be with one parent and separated from another, or in the care of a guardian rather than their parents. 
• The figures for each month do not include overlap with people from the previous month who remain separated. 
• The predicted numbers of family reunion visas for minors each month was calculated based on Home Office data of visas granted to children each quarter, from Q2 2024 to Q4 2025 inclusive. 
• The forecast uses a Bayesian approach to model the total expected number of visas, accounting for variation in the historical data and estimating credible ranges for future visas. 
• The forecast is based on historical proportions of under-18s granted family reunion visas. This was 56% of all visas in 2025. 
• The forecast assumes a 2% increase in visas issued, quarter on quarter; this conservative estimate of increasing visas is based on recent historical data showing 2-4% growth in the year-to-date figures for recent quarters. 
• The proportion of unaccompanied minors was calculated using the same method, but including historical proportions of unaccompanied minors supported by the British Red Cross’s family reunion travel assistance (FRTA) programme over the past three years. Note that BRC supports less than 5% of all Family Reunion visa holders through FRTA each year, so these proportions may not be representative of all unaccompanied children among the wider group of visa-holders. 

About the British Red Cross

For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. With millions of volunteers in over 190 countries, the British Red Cross is part of an international humanitarian Movement that’s there for people before, during and after a crisis. Together, we are the world’s emergency responders. www.redcross.org.uk