Family reunion for refugees

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Download our PDF for all FAQs, or see some of the of the most popular FAQs below:

What is family reunion?

Can you and your family members apply for family reunion?

How can you make a family reunion application?

How long does a family reunion application take?

How much will your application cost?

Who can help you apply for a family reunion?

Download translation of frequently asked questions (PDF) in Arabic, Farsi, French, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.

Please note that these documents have been translated by a team of volunteers and they have not been professionally edited.

What is family reunion?

The family reunion Immigration Rules determine how family members overseas can apply to join a refugee in the UK.

Please note if you are now a British Citizen after having been a refugee, a different set of Rules apply. We strongly encourage you to seek legal advice in this situation.

Can you and your family members apply for family reunion?

In order to meet the refugee family reunion rules, a sponsor must have protection status in the UK. Protection status means:

• Refugee status; or
• Humanitarian protection; or
• Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) following a grant of refugee status or humanitarian protection; or
• Been settled as a refugee to the UK under a resettlement scheme.

Which family members may get a family reunion visa under ‘Appendix Family Reunion (Protection)’ of the Immigration Rules?

Your spouse (wife, husband or civil partner), if:

• They were part of your family unit before you left your country of origin/where you normally lived to seek protection in the UK;

Or your partner (when you have a serious relationship but you are not married or in a civil partnership), if:

• You and your partner have been in a relationship together similar to marriage which is ongoing and has lasted for two years or more;
• Your relationship existed before you left your country of origin (and/or where you normally lived) to seek protection in the UK;

Your child/children and/or your partner's child/children, if:

• Yours/your partner’s child/children are under the age of 18 at the date of application (or if they are over 18, there are exceptional circumstances);
• Yours/your partner’s child/children must not be leading an independent life. This means the child has not formed a separate family unit from their parent(s);
• Yours/your partners child/children were part of your family unit at the time you left your country of origin. This means that they were born or conceived before you left your country of origin (and/ or where you normally lived) to seek protection in the UK

How can you make a family reunion application?

Collect evidence to show that your family are related to you:

• Home Office documents proving your status, such as your e-Visa or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
• Identity documents (yours and your family members’).
• Documents that show your relationship to your family (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate/s of child/ren or adoption orders).
• Information that you have already given in interviews with the Home Office about your family (e.g. at the time that you claimed asylum, normally on the ‘Statement of Evidence’ form or in your screening interview). If you did not mention your family members, you should explain why, for example, because you were worried about their safety.
• Family photographs.
• Communication records (e.g. telephone records, emails, social media messages and emails) to show your family relationship continues.
• Proof of financial support (e.g. money transfer receipts).
• DNA tests – getting DNA tests is your choice and if you offer to get DNA tests done, you will also have to pay for the tests. The DNA tests need to be done at an official laboratory.
• Statements (from yourself and the applicant).

Make an application online and submit documents to show you are related to your family.

• You need to make one application for each of your family members.
• The application forms and guidance notes for these applications are on the Home Office website.
• You will need to submit your evidence online before your family members attend the Visa Application Centre or alternatively, they can bring the evidence with them to their appointment.

How long does the process take?

It takes a minimum of 3 months for your family reunion visa application to be processed. However it might take much longer to collect evidence to prepare the application, apply for passports etc.

You or your legal representative can contact the Home Office at: refugeefamilyreunion@homeoffice.gov.uk - if you haven’t heard back from the Home Office after 3 months and want an update on your application.

How much will your application cost?

Applying for your family to join you in the UK can be expensive. Some costs you may need to consider are:

• legal advice
• applying for passports and/or identity cards
• translations of documents
• DNA tests
• TB tests
• travel costs to the Visa Application Centre and exit/entry visas
• Fees linked to the family reunion application
• travel costs to the UK
• money lost through time off work

If you are in England and Wales, government funding (called "legal aid) is not available for the legal costs associated with refugee family reunion cases. You might be able to apply for Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) to help you get a lawyer for free.

If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, government funding is still available to help people pay for the legal costs for family reunion applications.

Who can help you apply for Family Reunion?

The process can be complicated, and we strongly encourage you to seek legal advice. You can apply for Family Reunion with the help of charities such as The British Red Cross, GMIAU, the Sheffield Hallam Refugee Rights Hub, RLAP, Notre Dame Refugee Centre or others that might be operating in your area; or you can seek advice from private law firms.

You can look for an immigration advisor on Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) websites. Private law firms will charge a fee, but you may be able to apply for Legal Aid (called ‘Exceptional Case Funding’ or ECF) if your case meets the ECF criteria and you cannot afford legal advice.

If you choose to apply for Family Reunion by yourself, you can find more information in the British Red Cross guide.

The process can be complicated we strongly encourage you to seek legal advice.