The UK’s Family Reunion visa was once a vital route for reuniting families separated by conflict and persecution. It allowed recognised refugees and individuals granted humanitarian protection in the UK to bring close family members — typically a partner or dependent children — to join them. This route is now closed to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 under Statement of Changes HC 1298, with transitional processing for applications lodged before that cut-off and linked Home Office guidance changes published the same day.
What this article is about: This article explains what the Family Reunion visa was, why and how it was closed, and what immigration options now exist for family members seeking to join relatives in the UK. It also covers potential humanitarian exceptions and provides practical guidance for families affected by the policy change, including the implications of related legislative reforms.
Section A: What the Family Reunion Visa Was
Before its closure at 3:00pm on 4 September 2025, the Family Reunion visa operated as a humanitarian route enabling recognised refugees and individuals granted humanitarian protection in the UK to reunite with their immediate pre-flight family. It reflected the principle of family unity where separation arose from persecution, conflict or serious harm, and it sat alongside resettlement policy and the broader family routes in the Immigration Rules.
The route was tightly defined. It focused on restoring the core family unit that existed before the sponsor fled, rather than creating new rights for extended relatives or post-flight relationships. The policy emphasis was on evidencing genuine family ties and dependency within the pre-flight family, not on meeting financial or English language thresholds.
1. Purpose and Eligibility
The route allowed a person in the UK with refugee status or humanitarian protection to sponsor close family members who formed part of the household before the sponsor’s flight. Its purpose was to prevent prolonged separation where returning to the country of origin was unsafe and relocation to a third country was unrealistic.
Eligibility centred on the sponsor’s protection status and the existence of a qualifying pre-flight family relationship. Qualifying sponsors were limited to refugees and those with humanitarian protection. Family members had to show the relationship existed prior to the sponsor leaving their home country and that it continued to subsist. In practice, this covered spouses and partners in durable relationships, and dependent children under 18 who were part of the family unit.
Unlike applications under Appendix FM, family reunion applications were not subject to the minimum income requirement or English language tests. The route was humanitarian by design and assessed on documentary proof of identity and relationship, together with credibility of the account of separation.
2. Eligible Family Members
The policy drew a narrow boundary around who could qualify:
- Partners — a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner in a durable relationship, where the relationship existed and was subsisting before the sponsor fled.
- Children under 18 — including biological, adopted or step-children who were part of the pre-flight family unit and remained dependent.
Adult dependent relatives, parents, siblings or adult children were generally excluded. Exceptionally, the Home Office could consider cases outside the Immigration Rules on compelling compassionate or human rights grounds, but there was no entitlement as of right. The policy intention was to prioritise the immediate nuclear family and avoid expanding the route beyond pre-flight dependency.
3. Application Process
Applications were made for entry clearance from overseas, normally at a UK Visa Application Centre. The evidential focus was on proving identity, the qualifying relationship and its pre-flight nature, plus the sponsor’s status in the UK. Typical documents included civil status records and proof of cohabitation or ongoing contact where relevant. Where documentation was missing due to conflict or displacement, alternative evidence and credibility assessments were used.
- Proof of relationship (marriage or civil partnership certificates, birth or adoption records, evidence of durable partnership).
- Proof of the sponsor’s refugee or humanitarian protection status in the UK.
- Evidence the family unit existed before the sponsor’s flight and that the relationship continued.
The route charged no application fee and did not require meeting the Appendix FM financial or English language thresholds. Biometric enrolment and security checks applied as standard. Decisions turned on credibility, corroboration and the fit with the policy’s narrow definition of the pre-flight family unit.
Section Summary: The Family Reunion route functioned as a targeted humanitarian mechanism for restoring immediate, pre-flight family life for refugees and protection holders. It was intentionally narrow, evidence-led and distinct from the fee-bearing family routes under Appendix FM, focusing on identity, relationship and pre-flight dependency rather than income or language.
Section B: Closure of the Family Reunion Visa Route
The Family Reunion visa route closed to new applications at 3:00pm on 4 September 2025. The change formed part of a broader restructuring of the UK’s asylum and immigration framework, aligning refugee family policy with a more discretionary, programme-led approach. While applications lodged before the cut-off continue under transitional arrangements, there is no facility to make a fresh application under the closed category.
The closure signalled a shift away from a rights-based route for immediate family members of refugees and humanitarian protection holders and towards consideration under resettlement schemes, human rights claims and other existing immigration categories. In practice, the Home Office now addresses family unity primarily through narrower policy discretion and mainstream family provisions rather than a dedicated, fee-free route.
1. Policy and Legal Changes
The closure followed successive legislative and policy developments. The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the Illegal Migration Act 2023 recast the UK’s approach to asylum, emphasising control of irregular entry and encouraging authorised pathways. Against that backdrop, the Statement of Changes effective on 4 September 2025 removed the standalone family reunion entry route for sponsors with protection, with the government indicating that family unity would instead be managed via resettlement programmes and case-by-case discretion outside, or alongside, the Immigration Rules.
The practical effect is that there is no longer an automatic, entitlement-based application route for pre-flight partners and children of protection holders. Officials may consider applications through other mechanisms, but the rules-based category that previously guaranteed a structured assessment has been withdrawn.
2. Impact on Existing Applications
Transitional provisions protect those who submitted valid applications before the 3:00pm, 4 September 2025 deadline. Such applications proceed under the pre-closure policy framework, with decisions focusing on identity, relationship and pre-flight dependency. However, applicants who had not lodged a valid application by the cut-off cannot now apply under the closed category.
For families mid-way through gathering evidence at the time of closure, the Home Office does not permit new filings under the former route. Instead, affected individuals must assess eligibility under current alternatives, including Appendix FM, resettlement pathways or human rights-based claims outside the Rules. Individuals already granted entry or leave under the former Family Reunion route retain that status subject to the conditions and duration originally granted.
3. Humanitarian Exceptions
Although the dedicated route is closed, limited avenues remain where refusal would produce unjustifiably harsh consequences or where specific programmes provide for family unity. In practice, the main possibilities are:
- Applications outside the Immigration Rules invoking Article 8 ECHR (right to respect for family life), supported by evidence of dependency and the impact of separation.
- Discretionary Leave to Enter or Remain on compelling compassionate grounds, granted exceptionally following an individualised assessment.
- Resettlement schemes (for example, the UK Resettlement Scheme or specific country programmes) which may contain limited family reunion provisions for qualifying beneficiaries.
These pathways are not automatic and depend on strong, well-evidenced circumstances. They are narrower than the previous rules-based Family Reunion category and often require a higher evidential threshold and careful legal presentation.
Section Summary: From 3:00pm on 4 September 2025, the Family Reunion route closed to new applications. Pending, pre-deadline cases continue under transitional arrangements, but new cases must now proceed via alternative pathways. Family unity is dealt with through resettlement programmes, Article 8 and other discretionary mechanisms rather than a dedicated, fee-free rules route.
Section C: Current Immigration Options for Family Members
With the Family Reunion route closed to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025, families must consider alternative pathways under the Immigration Rules and limited humanitarian discretion. The principal structured options sit in Appendix FM (family members), supported in narrow circumstances by human rights claims outside the Rules and by resettlement programmes with specific eligibility criteria. These alternatives are not like-for-like replacements: they are fee-bearing, evidence-intensive and, in many cases, subject to financial, accommodation and English language requirements that did not apply to the former Family Reunion category.
In practice, the best pathway depends on the sponsor’s UK status (British citizen, settled person, refugee or humanitarian protection holder), the nature and timing of the family relationship (pre-flight or post-flight, dependency and durability), and whether children are involved. Applicants should also factor in the Immigration Health Surcharge, application fees, biometrics and character checks, and — for human rights claims — the need to demonstrate that refusal would produce unjustifiably harsh consequences. The statutory duty to consider a child’s best interests remains a primary consideration where relevant.
1. Family Visa Routes under Appendix FM
Appendix FM provides the main, rules-based framework for non-refugee family migration. It is available to qualifying family members of a sponsor who is British, settled, or in certain cases has protection status. Unlike the former Family Reunion route, Appendix FM applications are fee-bearing and usually require the applicant (and/or sponsor) to meet the minimum income requirement, English language and accommodation standards. Within Appendix FM, the principal categories are:
- Partner or Spouse — for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners in a genuine and subsisting relationship with a qualifying sponsor. Applicants must meet relationship, financial (minimum income requirement), accommodation and English language criteria and follow the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement depending on compliance with the requirements.
- Parent — for a parent who has responsibility for, or direct access to, a child in the UK who is British or settled, where it would be unreasonable for the child to leave the UK. The focus is on the child’s best interests and the applicant’s role in day-to-day care and decision-making.
- Child — for children under 18 to join or remain with a parent or parents in the UK who have qualifying status, subject to parental responsibility, dependency, care arrangements and adequacy of accommodation and maintenance.
Evidence typically includes civil status documents, relationship and cohabitation proof, financial records (to the applicable minimum income requirement), accommodation details and English language certificates where required. Applicants should check current thresholds and evidential formats, noting that failure to meet mandatory requirements often results in refusal unless the Rules provide a specific exception.
2. Refugee and Humanitarian Protection Holders
While the dedicated Family Reunion route is closed, protection holders may still have limited scope for family unity via policy discretion and resettlement programmes. The Home Office can, in narrow circumstances, consider discretionary family reunion for pre-flight partners and children where evidence of the relationship and dependency is strong and refusal would be disproportionate. In parallel, some resettlement schemes — for example, those operated in partnership with UNHCR — may contain confined family provisions for qualifying beneficiaries.
These pathways are not rules-based entitlements and should be approached as discretionary routes requiring a carefully evidenced presentation of facts, including identity, relationship chronology (pre-flight vs post-flight), ongoing dependency, welfare considerations and any protection vulnerabilities faced by the family member overseas. Decisions are highly fact-sensitive and there may be no right to apply as of law, so early legal advice is recommended.
3. Exceptional and Compassionate Grounds
Families who cannot meet Appendix FM or access a resettlement pathway may consider applications outside the Immigration Rules on human rights grounds, most commonly under Article 8 ECHR (respect for family life). The central question is whether refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences when assessing the family’s circumstances as a whole, including the feasibility of family life continuing abroad.
Successful outcomes generally depend on robust, contemporaneous evidence, such as medical reports, social services material, expert country evidence, detailed statements on dependency and caregiving, and records demonstrating the practical impact of separation. Where children are involved, the decision-maker must treat the child’s best interests as a primary consideration, and submissions should address welfare, stability, education and care plans in detail.
Section Summary: With the Family Reunion route closed, most families must proceed under Appendix FM or, failing that, through narrowly framed discretionary or human rights pathways. These alternatives are more onerous than the previous fee-free route, demand precise evidential packages and often hinge on meeting financial and language requirements or demonstrating disproportionate consequences on refusal.
Section D: Practical Guidance for Affected Families
For families impacted by the closure of the Family Reunion visa route, navigating the UK’s current immigration framework can be complex. The right strategy depends on the family’s individual circumstances, the immigration status of the UK-based sponsor, and the nature of their relationship. It is therefore vital to assess eligibility carefully and seek professional advice before submitting any new application.
1. Assessing Eligibility for Alternative Routes
Families should begin by identifying whether the UK-based sponsor qualifies under one of the available routes in Appendix FM or under humanitarian policy guidance. Refugees and those with humanitarian protection may still request discretionary consideration for family members, while others may apply under the standard family visa categories.
It is important to distinguish between:
- Refugees or humanitarian protection holders, whose relatives may be eligible for limited discretionary reunion; and
- British citizens or settled persons, whose family members may qualify under Appendix FM.
Applicants must also consider whether they meet financial, accommodation and English language requirements, all of which differ depending on the specific visa route. Legal representatives can help map out the most appropriate path based on the family’s circumstances and supporting evidence.
2. Evidence and Documentation
Strong documentation is essential. While the Family Reunion visa previously operated on a relatively low evidential burden, the current routes require detailed proof to demonstrate eligibility. Typical documentation includes:
- Evidence of the relationship (e.g. marriage or birth certificates, joint correspondence).
- Proof of the sponsor’s immigration status in the UK.
- Evidence of financial means and accommodation (for Appendix FM applications).
- Records of communication and dependency, particularly in humanitarian or discretionary cases.
Each case must be supported with up-to-date and verifiable evidence. The Home Office places a high emphasis on credibility, and incomplete or inconsistent information can lead to refusal.
3. Next Steps and Legal Advice
Given the complexity of UK immigration law and the policy changes following the closure of the Family Reunion route, seeking expert immigration advice is strongly recommended. An adviser or solicitor regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) can assess eligibility, advise on documentation, and guide families through the correct application process.
Applicants should also be aware of processing times, appeal rights, and any risk of refusal under general grounds (such as previous breaches of immigration law). Where a case falls outside the Immigration Rules, a solicitor can assist in presenting a compelling human rights or discretionary claim, supported by evidence of dependency and humanitarian need.
Section Summary: Families affected by the closure of the Family Reunion visa route should act cautiously and seek professional advice before applying under any alternative pathway. While options remain available through Appendix FM and humanitarian discretion, success depends heavily on accurate eligibility assessment, detailed documentation, and expert legal representation.
FAQs
What was the Family Reunion visa in the UK?
It was a humanitarian route that allowed recognised refugees and people with humanitarian protection in the UK to sponsor immediate pre-flight family — usually a partner and dependent children under 18 — to join them, without the financial or English language requirements found in Appendix FM.
When did the Family Reunion visa close?
The route closed to new applications at 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 under Statement of Changes HC 1298. Valid applications lodged before that deadline continue to be processed under transitional arrangements, but no fresh applications are accepted.
Can I still apply for a Family Reunion visa?
No. You cannot start a new application under the closed route. Only pre-deadline applications proceed. Families must consider alternatives such as Appendix FM (Partner, Parent or Child), applications outside the Rules on Article 8 grounds, or limited resettlement and discretionary pathways.
What are the alternatives to the Family Reunion visa?
The main structured options are Appendix FM Partner, Parent and Child routes, which are fee-bearing and usually require meeting the minimum income requirement, accommodation and English language criteria. Outside the Rules, applicants may pursue a human rights claim (Article 8) or seek Discretionary Leave in compelling cases. Some resettlement schemes provide narrow family provisions.
How can refugees bring family to the UK now?
There is no entitlement-based Family Reunion category. Protection holders may request case-by-case consideration where strong evidence shows pre-flight relationships and dependency, or they may access specific resettlement programmes if eligible. Success is evidence-led and often turns on whether refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences, with a child’s best interests treated as a primary consideration where relevant.
Conclusion
The Family Reunion visa once provided a focused humanitarian pathway for refugees and protection holders in the UK to reunite with immediate pre-flight family. That pathway is now closed to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 under HC 1298. Transitional processing continues only for valid applications lodged before the cut-off; there is no facility to start a new case under the closed category.
For families seeking to reunite today, the realistic options are the fee-bearing, evidence-intensive routes under Appendix FM, narrowly framed discretionary decisions (including outside-the-Rules, Article 8 ECHR claims), and specific resettlement programmes where eligibility exists. These alternatives are not like-for-like replacements: they typically require meeting financial, accommodation and English language standards, and they demand meticulous evidential packages addressing relationship chronology, dependency and, where relevant, the best interests of any child.
Given the shift from a rights-based rules route to discretionary and mainstream family frameworks, early, specialist advice is critical. A regulated representative can map viable options, identify evidential gaps, and structure submissions to Home Office requirements and current policy.
- The Family Reunion route is closed to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 (HC 1298).
- Pre-deadline applications continue under transitional arrangements; existing grants of leave remain valid.
- Current pathways are Appendix FM, limited humanitarian discretion (including Article 8), and defined resettlement schemes.
- Success depends on precise eligibility analysis and robust evidence; seek expert legal advice before applying.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Family Reunion (Closed Route) | The former fee-free UK immigration route that enabled recognised refugees and people with humanitarian protection to sponsor their immediate pre-flight family (partner and children under 18). Closed to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 (HC 1298). |
| Refugee | A person recognised under the 1951 Refugee Convention as having a well-founded fear of persecution for a Convention reason and who cannot or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country. |
| Humanitarian Protection | Leave granted to a person facing a real risk of serious harm (e.g. death penalty, unlawful killing, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment) if returned to their country of origin, but who does not meet the Refugee Convention definition. |
| Appendix FM | Part of the UK Immigration Rules governing partner, parent and child applications. Fee-bearing and usually subject to the minimum income requirement, accommodation and English language criteria. |
| Article 8 ECHR | Right to respect for private and family life. Often relied upon in applications outside the Rules where refusal would produce unjustifiably harsh consequences for family life. |
| Discretionary Leave | Leave granted outside the Immigration Rules on compelling or compassionate grounds following an individualised assessment. |
| Pre-flight Family | Family relationships (partner/children) that existed and formed part of the household before the sponsor fled their country of origin. |
| Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) | The financial threshold that generally applies to Appendix FM partner and some child applications. Not applicable to the former Family Reunion route. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | A fee paid by most applicants for limited leave to access the UK’s National Health Service during their stay. Not payable under the former Family Reunion route. |
| UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) | The UK’s global refugee resettlement programme, operated with UNHCR referral, which may include limited family provisions for qualifying beneficiaries. |
| Nationality and Borders Act 2022 | Legislation reforming asylum and immigration processes, including differentiated treatment of refugees based on method of arrival. |
| Illegal Migration Act 2023 | Legislation restricting access to the UK asylum system and curtailing in-country protection and family claims for people arriving unlawfully. |
| Statement of Changes HC 1298 | The legislative instrument that, among other changes, closed the Family Reunion route to new applications from 3:00pm on 4 September 2025. |
| Unjustifiably Harsh Consequences | The proportionality test commonly applied in Article 8 assessments to decide whether refusal would have consequences outweighing the public interest in immigration control. |
Useful Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK: Family reunion for refugees and those with humanitarian protection | https://www.gov.uk/family-reunion |
| GOV.UK: Family visas (Appendix FM) | https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa |
| GOV.UK: Immigration Rules – Appendix FM (Family Members) | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-family-members |
| GOV.UK: UK Resettlement Schemes (collection) | https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-resettlement-schemes |
| GOV.UK: Immigration Rules – Statements of Changes (includes HC 1298) | https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-rules-statement-of-changes |
| GOV.UK: Find an immigration adviser (OISC) | https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser |
| DavidsonMorris: Family Visa UK (guide) | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/family-visa-uk/ |
| DavidsonMorris: Immigration Rules Appendix FM (overview) | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/immigration-rules-appendix-fm/ |
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
