Refugee family reunion: Government proposals for change
The refugee family reunion visa is currently closed to applications while the government reviews its conditions. The government says the visa could be encouraging asylum claims and is adding to pressures on housing and other public services.
For many years, close relatives of adults with refugee status or humanitarian protection have been able to apply for the refugee family reunion visa. Unlike relatives of British citizens or other UK residents, they didn’t have to satisfy accommodation or income requirements or have any knowledge of English. Visa numbers have been increasing since 2023, and families have been applying sooner after the asylum decision.
The visa was temporarily closed on 4 September 2025 while the government reviews its conditions. It is expected to re-open in spring 2026 with different eligibility rules.
The government says the visa could be encouraging asylum claims and is adding pressures on public services and local authorities, particularly in relation to housing. The Prime Minister has also said it is “unfair” that people who entered the UK without permission can benefit from more generous family reunion rules than other migrants and British citizens.
Ministers are considering introducing a “contribution requirement” and setting a qualifying residence period which refugee sponsors would have to satisfy. Some EU countries already apply similar conditions. Germany and Austria have also recently suspended some refugee family reunion provisions, citing similar concerns about demands on public services.