Family reunion for refugees

Visa applications to be reunited with your family are handled by the UK Home Office.

We can help you understand how to apply for family reunion. We may be able to help you find an immigration adviser, provide visa support and travel assistance.

Download our self-help guide (PDF) to help you through applying for family reunion.

Changes to Refugee Family Reunion

As of September 2025, the UK Government has temporarily suspended new family reunion applications.

A new set of immigration rules is expected to be announced in spring 2026.

If you have refugee or protection status in the UK, you now need to apply under a different set of immigration rules.

See the government webpage on UK family visas for more information.

Some of the requirements under this set of immigration rules are different to Family Reunion requirements and may include:

• Financial requirements: If you apply for a family visa as a partner, you and your partner need a combined income of £29,000 a year. Find more information about financial requirements. 
• Knowledge of English: You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.  Find out more information about knowledge of English requirements.
• Application fees: Cost if joining your partner, parent or child: £1,938. Cost for each dependant added to your application: £1,938 each person. Find more information about application fees.

We recommend that you speak to an immigration adviser to discuss any requirements involved under this set of immigration rules.

You can find an immigration adviser on the IAA Directory or the ILPA website.

Any application for family reunion that has already been submitted to the Home Office before September 2025, is not affected by the recent suspension and will be processed in the normal way. See this government briefing note for more information.

If you submitted an application to the Home Office before 3pm on 4 September 2025, you will have 240 days from the date of submission for you to gather the relevant evidence and for your family members to undertake biometric enrolment.

If you are still waiting for a decision to be made by the Home Office on your Family Reunion application, you can email the Home Office: refugeefamilyreunion@homeoffice.gov.uk and you can ask for an update on your application.

Refugee Family Reunion changes expected in 2026

The UK government is expected to announce new family reunion rules in the coming months. We will update this page with information on the new rules when they are announced.

We don’t know what the new rules will look like, but it is expected they may involve stricter requirements. This could include (but is not limited to):

• An application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge fee attached to each application.
• A mandatory delay before a new refugee becomes eligible to apply for refugee family reunion.
• A minimum income requirement for the sponsor. Or maintenance and accommodation requirements for the sponsor.
• English language requirements for the family members applying to join the sponsor.

How we can help

Use our enquiry form and our team may provide information on:

• what’s involved in the application process
• immigration advisers and other organisations that can help
• how we might be able to help

By completing the enquiry form, we may be able to provide general advice on the family reunion process or connect you with our other services. The form is not an application for family reunion but will help us understand your needs. 

Fill in our enquiry form

We can’t give legal advice, apply on your behalf or pay for your application for family reunion.

We can't help you appeal, if your application has been refused by the Home Office.

If you have problems filling in the form:
Email: FRAdvice@redcross.org.uk 
(We’re available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Help with travel to the UK

If your family live overseas and have family reunion visas, we may be able to help them travel to the UK.

Find out if you and your family are eligible and what's involved.

Learn about travel assistance

Further help for refugees

• Family reunion – UK Government

  Learn about eligibility and apply for family reunion with the Home Office.
• Immigration Advice Authority

  Search for an immigration adviser in your area.
• Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association
  Search the directory of members to find an immigration advisor near you.
• Help for refugees and asylum seekers

  We may be able you with other issues such as emergency help and one-to-one support and casework.
• Download our self-help guide (PDF) to help you through applying for family reunion.