Refugee Family Reunion UK: Bringing Your Family to Safety

For refugees granted protection in the UK, being reunited with family members left behind is often their most urgent priority. The UK’s Refugee Family Reunion route provides a pathway — but it has significant restrictions. Our Bolton asylum solicitors explain the process.

Who Can Apply Through Refugee Family Reunion?

A person who has been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK (the “sponsor”) can apply to bring their spouse or civil partner and children under 18 to the UK under the Refugee Family Reunion route, provided: the family relationship pre-dated the sponsor’s flight from their home country, and the family members are still overseas.

Who is Not Covered

The route does not extend to adult children, siblings, parents, or other extended family. Those with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme do not qualify. Family members who arrived in the UK separately, even if they are now refugees, cannot use this route for their relatives.

The Application Process

The family member makes an application from outside the UK. There is no application fee for Refugee Family Reunion. The application must demonstrate the qualifying family relationship and that the sponsor has been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection.

Sole Responsibility

In cases involving children where only one parent is in the UK and the child was living with the other parent, the sponsor must demonstrate that they have had sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing — which can be difficult to prove where the other parent remains in the picture.

Adult Children and Extended Family — Alternative Routes

For family members who do not qualify through the official Refugee Family Reunion route, the Article 8 ECHR private and family life route may be available in exceptional circumstances. Our solicitors advise on the best available option for each family’s specific situation.