New statement of changes to the Immigration Rules published to immediately implement changes announced earlier this week
The Home Office has today published a new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1298) that suspends new applications for the refugee family reunion route from 3pm today.
You can download the 9-page statement here. The accompanying explanatory memorandum can be downloaded here. All materials related to the statement can be accessed from here on GOV.UK.
As first announced on Monday of this week, the Home Secretary said the route was being suspended as it is no longer financially sustainable or fair, and smuggler gangs were using the promise of family reunion to promote dangerous journeys to the UK.
Today's explanatory memorandum states: "The refugee family reunion route places further pressures on public services and local authorities, due to the lack of requirements for sponsors to be able to support their family members before they enter the UK. As the Government set out in the Immigration White Paper, we intend to reform our approach across the whole system to bring greater fairness to the rules relating to the ability for a partner or child to join or stay with a person with protection status in the UK. Given the immediate pressures that result from family reunion, we are therefore introducing a temporary pause to Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection), as we undertake a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system."
The route is expected to be suspended until spring 2026, at which point the Government will bring in reforms following its review. The Home Secretary suggested the reforms will include requirements for contributions and longer periods before newly granted refugees can apply.
While the route is suspended, refugees wishing to bring family members to the UK will need to apply under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules and meet its requirements, such as the financial and English language requirements, and either pay the required fee or secure a fee waiver.
Changes were made to Appendix FM today to allow applications from a partner and child of a person with protection status. The explanatory memorandum sets out: "The Appendix FM rules require the parent of a dependent child to have a sole responsibility where the child is not accompanying or joining both parents in the UK, which is different than the approach under Appendix Family Reunion. The policy intention is to ensure that where both parents have parental responsibility for a child, the child remains with the parents to ensure the UK is not brought into custody battles and a child is not brought to the UK against the wishes of the other parent. However, where an applicant is unable to demonstrate sole responsibility under Appendix FM, the child will still be granted permission if there are serious and compelling family circumstances that make exclusion of the child undesirable."
Seema Malhotra, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, provided the following details about today's changes in a written statement to Parliament:
Seema Malhotra
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship
Statement
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules.
The new rules provide for a temporary suspension of new applications for Refugee Family Reunion, and for refugees to be covered in the meantime by the main family rules that apply for other UK residents and British citizens, with plans for new reformed arrangements to be put in place at a later date.
Appendix Family Reunion: suspension of new applications
The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution, but the way they are being used now has changed. Currently there are limited conditions on family reunion for refugee sponsors unlike those in place if the sponsor is a British citizen or settled in the UK. A refugee sponsor does not have to prove they can financially support or accommodate their family.
Before the pandemic, refugees who applied to bring family to the UK typically did so more than one or two years after they were granted protection. Long enough for them to get jobs, find suitable housing and be able to provide their family with some support.
However, in recent years more of these applications are received shortly after they obtain protection. As a consequence, refugee families who arrive are more likely to seek homelessness assistance, which is adding unsustainable pressures on local authorities and associated public services.
We continue to believe that families staying together is important, but change is needed. The Immigration White Paper sets out reforms to legal migration, so that we can restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth.
In the Immigration White Paper, we said that we will set out a new family policy before the end of this year, which will cover all UK residents including those who are British, settled, on work routes or those with protection status seeking to bring family members to the UK.
Noting the immediate pressures that result from family reunion particularly on public services and local authorities, we are introducing a temporary pause to Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection), as we undertake a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system.
Changes to Appendix FM to allow applications from a partner and child of a person with protection status
Appendix FM: family members, has been amended to allow applications from a partner and dependent child of person with protection status in the UK whilst this pause is in place. In line with other applications under Appendix FM, a person will need to pay the fee (or obtain a fee waiver) and meet the core requirements of the route.
These changes to the Immigration Rules are being laid on 4 September 2025 and will come into effect at 1500 on 4 September 2025.