On 1 September 2025, the then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced a pause on new applications under the refugee family reunion route. The government says this is a temporary stop while it designs new rules planned for Spring 2026. 

The pause started on 4 September at 3pm: 

• From this point no new Refugee Family Reunion applications can be made
• Applications submitted before the deadline will still be processed 

In all other situations, if someone with refugee or humanitarian protection status wants to bring their partner or child to the UK, they must apply under existing Immigration Rules meeting stricter requirements .

What is the refugee family reunion route?

It’s the route that lets a person with refugee (or humanitarian protection) status in the UK apply for their partner and children to join them, without having to meet the income or English language tests used in the standard family visa route. 

What does the pause mean in practice?

Until new Rules are introduced:

• Refugees can no longer use the family reunion route.
• Family members must meet stricter immigration Rules, just like other people applying to join family in the UK.
  

What applications can you make instead

Applications for a spouse to join you can be made under Appendix FM. We set out some guidance on how to make those applications in our toolkit. Applications for children will be made under different rules for children.

We are grateful to Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit and Free Movement, for producing blogs, which set out in detail the possibilities for family members.
We encourage you to read these blogs, which set out clear Guidance to understand the routes forward.

If you already applied before 4 September 2025 at 3pm

• Stay calm. Your application should continue under the previous family reunion rules.
  
• Keep copies of your submission, any Home Office acknowledgements and correspondence.
  
• Stay in regular contact with your UK-based family member (the sponsor). Keep simple records of messages/updates in case the Home Office asks for more evidence later. 

Why this matters?

The Home Secretary said the pause is to tackle “pull factors” but there’s no evidence that family reunion drives irregular journeys. In reality, removing safe and legal routes will push families toward unsafe routes. Free Movement points out that the Immigration Rules are not designed with refugees in mind, so it creates serious barriers for families trying to reunite.

What we don’t know yet

We don’t yet know the exact shape of the new Rules that the government plans for 2026 – only that they want to make the rules stricter. There will be campaigning and legal scrutiny. For now, the most important things are to support each other, and remember a simple truth: families belong together.

Ally – Legal Education Officer