Refugee

family
reunion
Frequently
asked questions
This information can help you if you have applied for asylum and have
now refugee status or humanitarian protection, and want to know:
What is Family reunion? 4

Can you and your family apply for family reunion? 5

How can you make a family reunion application? 8

How long does the process take? 11

What happens if your family’s application is refused? 12

If your family’s application is accepted, what visa do they get? 13

How can your family members apply if they are already in the UK? 14

Who can help you apply for Family Reunion? 15

How much will your application cost? 16

How can you pay for the costs of applying for family reunion? 19

How can you prepare for your family’s arrival in the UK? 20

Do you want to know more information about the family reunion process? 23

Please note, these Frequently Asked Questions have been written as a resource to help refugees and their families understand the
family reunion process. However, this process is complex, and it is always preferable to obtain legal advice tailored to someone’s
particular circumstances. You can look for an immigration advisor on the Office for the Immigration Services Commissioner
(OISC) or The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) websites.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 2

Family reunion
road map Evidence gathering Form filling Application bundle

Understand what evidence - Complete online application form - Upload application

you need and Appendix 4 form for each bundle online or prepare
- Passports/ID documents family member physical bundle for your
- Translate documents into English - Book appointment at Embassy/ family to take to the
Sponsor
VAC (Visa Application Centre) VAC/Embassy
in the UK - Supporting statement or letter
ca tion Comp
p li let
Ap e
1 2 3
Check
carefully Ensure your You have now
that all names family know that submitted your Family
and date of birth on the person receiving They may be reunion applications.
the application forms their application is interviewed at A Decision can
Family match your family’s not the person making this point.
details on their the decision on take a minimum of
abroad passport their visa. three months.
or ID.
1 2 3 4

Ask your family to - Your family need to - Your family may need to take a - Your family attend the
gather evidence provide details of their TB test embassy appointment
- They send you copies of the address, their parents - Your family need to print out and bring any relevant
relevant documents and keep details and their travel appointment confirmation and documentation
the originals history and passports document checklist - They will get their
biometrics taken

Evidence gathering Form filling Prepare for Embassy appointment Embassy appointment
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.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 4

Can you and your family
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 resettled as a refugee to the UK under a resettlement scheme.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 5

Can you and your family apply for family reunion?

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

Your spouse (wife, husband or Or your partner (when you have

civil partner), if: a serious relationship but are not
- They were part of your family unit before married or in a civil partnership), if:
you left your country of origin/where you -Y
 ou and your partner have been living
normally lived; together in a relationship similar to a
- Your relationship with your spouse is marriage or a civil partnership which
genuine and subsisting; is ongoing and lasted for two years or
- Your spouse cannot be your child, parent, more (unless living together in this way
sibling, uncle/aunt or niece/ nephew put you and your partner in danger);
-Y
 our relationship existed before you left Your child/children and/or your
your country of origin (and/or where you partners child/children, if:
normally lived); - Yours/your partners child/children are
-Y
 our relationship with your partner is under the age of 18 at the date of
genuine and subsisting; application (or if they are over 18, there
are exceptional circumstances);
- Yours/your partners child/children are
not living independently, is not married or
in a civil partnership, and must not have
formed an independent family unit;
- 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).

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 6

Can you and your family apply for family reunion?

Which family members may not get a visa under

family reunion Immigration Rules?
- Your husband or wife who you married after leaving your
country of origin (and/or where you normally lived);
- Your child who was conceived after you left your country
of origin (and/or where you normally lived);
- Children over 18 years old, unless there are exceptional
circumstances to their situation;
- Parents;
Please note, if you wish to apply for children under 18 who are not
- Adult siblings; your own or formally adopted, but are dependent on you, you may
- Other relatives be able to do so under a different set of Rules.
(niece, nephews, cousins).
If you have a family member who wants to join you but their
relationship is not spouse, partner or your own dependent
child under 18:
- you should get legal advice;
- other immigration rules and costs may apply;
- If you are based in England or Wales you might need to make
an application to support with the cost of legal fees (called
‘Exceptional Case Funding’). For more information, speak to
your lawyer or look at gov.uk/guidance/legal-aid-apply-for-
exceptional-case-funding.
- If you are based in Scotland or Northern Ireland Legal Aid may
be available to help pay for legal costs associated with family
reunion applications. See pg.18 for further detail.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 7

How can you make a
family reunion application? After the online
application has been
made, your family must
go to an appointment at a
Visa Application Centre.
Collect evidence to
show that your family
are related to you.

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

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 8

How can you make a family reunion application?

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

- Your Biometric residence permit (BRP) and Home Office
documents proving your status.
- Identity documents (yours and your family members’).
- Documents that show your relationship to your family
(eg 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 (eg at the time that you claimed
asylum, normally on the ‘Statement of Evidence’ form or in your Make an application online and submit documents to show
screening interview). If you did not mention your family members, you are related to your family.
you should explain why, for example, because you were worried
about their safety. - You need to make one application for each of your family
members.
- Family photographs, copies of phone messages to show that - The application forms and guidance notes for these
your family relationship continues. applications are on the Home Office website.
- Communication records (eg telephone records, emails and - In addition to the online application, each of your family
letters, or social media messages). members should fill in a ‘family settlement application form’
- Proof of financial support (eg money transfer receipts). (VAF4A) and the ‘Appendix 4’ to it.
- DNA tests – getting DNA tests is your choice and if you offer - You will need to submit your evidence online before your family
to get DNA tests done, you will also have to pay for the tests. members attend the Visa Application Centre or alternatively, they
The DNA tests need to be done at an official laboratory. can bring the evidence with them to their appointment.
- Statements (from yourself and the applicant).

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 9

How can you make a family reunion application?

After the online application has been made, your family

must go to an appointment at a Visa Application Centre.
- The nearest Visa Application Centre might be in a different
country.
- At the Visa Application Centre, they will have their photograph
and fingerprints taken, and they will have to give their passport/s;
- After the decision (whether it is negative or positive), your family
will have to travel to the Visa Application Centre again to collect
their passport/s

If it is too dangerous for your family to travel to a Visa

application centre, we encourage you to seek legal advice
to explore alternatives
- If your family are still in their country of origin, they must have
passports because they may face issues leaving the country
otherwise. If they are not in their country of origin and cannot get
passports, the UK Home office might be able to provide one-way
travel documents (FAV – Form for Affixing a Visa).
- Most applicants must also take a test for TB.
- If successful, your family must travel to the UK before the visa
expires (normally within 90 days)

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 10

How long does the
process take?
You or your legal
representative can contact
the Home Office at
RASIFamilyReunion@
It takes a minimum of
homeoffice.gov.uk if you
3 months for your family
haven’t heard back from the
reunion visa application to be
Home Office after 3 months
processed. However it might
and want an update on your
take much longer to collect
application.
evidence to prepare
the application, apply for
passports etc.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 11

What happens if your family’s
application is refused?

You have a right to appeal, even if it is

not mentioned in the refusal letter).
- You have 28 days from the date you receive the decision
to appeal.
- Information on how to appeal, the appeal process and the fees payable
are all available online at:
gov.uk/immigration-asylum-tribunal/appeal-from-outside-the-uk
- You can appeal online or by post or fax with form IAFT-6.
We strongly encourage you to seek legal advice for this process.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 12

If your family’s application is
accepted, what visa do they get?
- Your family members will be given a visa which normally
lasts 90 days. This means your family will need to travel to the
UK within three months of getting their visa. If they are not able to
due to circumstances beyond their control, and their visa expires,
it may be possible to renew it. In order to request to renew your
visa, you must contact the Family Reunion team at the Home
Once in the UK, your
Office via email at: family will be given a
[email protected].
- Once in the UK, they will be given a Biometric Residence Permit Biometric Residence
(BRP), which will last as long as your own refugee status. Permit (BRP), which will
- When you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) following
refugee status or Humanitarian Protection, please seek legal last as long as your own
advice about options for your family’s leave in the UK.
- The basis of your family’s right to be in the UK is their relationship
refugee status.
with you. If this relationship changes or breaks down, or if your
status changes, this could have implications for your family.
- If your relationship breaks down, your spouse should get
independent legal advice urgently.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 13

How can your family
members apply for
family reunion if they are
already in the UK?
If your family are inside the UK, each of your family members may
apply for free by writing to the following address:

UKVI Family Reunion Team

Admin Team
7th Floor
Capital Building
Liverpool
L3 9PP

We strongly recommend that you seek legal advice to write this

letter and prepare an in-country application. If the application is
refused your family members will have a right to appeal.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 14

Who can help
you apply for
Family Reunion?
The process can be complicated, and we strongly encourage you to
The process can
seek legal advice. You can apply for Family Reunion with the help of be complicated we
charities such as The British Red Cross, GMIAU, the Sheffield
Hallam Refugee Rights Hub, RLAP, Notre Dame Refugee strongly encourage you
centre or others that might be operating in your area; or you can
seek advice from private law firms. to seek legal advice.
You can look for an immigration advisor on the Office for the
Immigration Services Commissioners (OISC) 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 (see below).

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

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 15

How much will your application cost?
Applying for your family to join you in the UK can be expensive.
You could prepare for the possible costs for:
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

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 16
How much will your application cost?

Legal advice: Applying for passports and/or identity cards and birth
- If you are in England and Wales, government funding (called certificates for your family:
“legal aid”) is not available for the legal costs associated with - This depends on the costs in the country where your family
refugee family reunion cases. You might be able to apply for are living
Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) to help you get a lawyer for free.
For more information, speak to your lawyer or look at Getting translations of any documents:
gov.uk/guidance/legal-aid-apply-for-exceptional-case-
funding. - If you have documents in a language which is not English,
you will need to pay for certified translations to send with
- If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, government your application
funding is still available to help people pay for the legal costs for
family reunion applications.
- If you are an unaccompanied or separated child in the DNA tests (to prove your family relationship:
UK, with refugee status or humanitarian protection, legal aid is - It can be very helpful to get DNA tests, especially for children
available to help pay for the legal costs of applying for your family where there are no birth certificates that show you are the
to join you in the UK. parent. Please see the list of the Home Office approved DNA
- Some Law Centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux are able to provide providers - Get a DNA test: If you’re getting a test to use in court
legal support in some family reunion cases. Contact your local - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
office for details. - DNA tests can be expensive and the process can complicated.
- The British Red Cross may be able to provide free advice in For example, your family will need to travel
some areas of the UK. For more information please contact to a specific clinic for a DNA sample to be taken (likely in
[email protected] a large or capital city). It could cost approximately
£400-£600 per person.
- DNA testing may not be available in your family’s country of
residence, so travel costs will also have to be taken into account.
Check if your family can take their TB tests (if needed) at the
same time to reduce journey costs.

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 17

How much will your application cost?

TB tests: Fees linked to the family reunion application:

- If your family is living in a certain country, your family will need to - The family reunion application itself is free of charge
get a test (an x-ray or sputum sample) to show that they do not - UK Immigration Health Surcharge costs do not apply to family
have tuberculosis (TB) before coming to the UK. See the list of reunion
countries here https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
- The cost of a TB test can vary from country to country Travel costs to the UK:
- The TB test must have been taken before you apply for family - If your family are given visas to the UK, they will most likely need
reunion, and the result submitted with your application to arrive to the UK within 90 days of the date of the visa.
- TB testing may not be available in your family’s country of - Your family will need to organise and pay for travel to the UK
residence, so travel costs will also have to be taken into account.
You may be able to reduce travel costs by - In a few specific cases, the British Red Cross might be able to
checking if your family can take their DNA tests (if needed) help with the costs of travel to the UK.
at the same time.
Remember to also consider the money that you might lose
Travel costs to the Visa Application Centre and Exit / entry when taking time off work to attend legal appointments and meet
visas for your family: arriving family members.
- If your family need to cross an international border to make the
application at the Visa Application Centre, they may need to pay
entry or exit visas. This depends on which country your family
are living in.
- They will need to go to the Visa Application Centre twice (one
time to attend the appointment, and one time to collect visas)
- Your family may also need to pay for an exit visa if they travel to
the UK

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 18

How can you pay for the costs of
applying for family reunion?
The following charities may be able to provide some kind of financial support with other costs associated with Family Reunion (although
please note that these funds are limited and may not be able to support everyone in every circumstance).

Fund for Human Need Positive Action in Housing Prisoners of Conscience RefuAid
fundforhumanneed.org.uk paih.org/information-for- prisonersofconscience.org/ Financial loans to support
caseworkers-wishing-to-refer-to- family-reunion/ exclusively with the cost of travel
room-for-refugees/ refuaid.org/familyreunification

Home Office
A Refugee Integration Loan may help
Together Now British Red Cross cover some of the costs, however you will
http://togethernow.org.uk/ Travel Assistance service be expected to pay this money back
redcross.org.uk/ gov.uk/refugee-integration-loan
get-help/get-help-as-a-
refugee#Family

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 19

How can you prepare for your family’s
arrival in the UK?
There is a lot to think about, including:
Covid-19 regulations
Please check on the government website for up to date
information.
Collecting BRPs
Your family members must collect their Biometric Residence
Permit (BRP), as soon as possible after arriving to the UK. The
UKVI decision letter either emailed or given with the Refugee
Family Reunion visas will inform your family member where to
collect their BRP. This will be at a local post office. Your family
member(s) must take their visa with them to collect their BRP. You
can report problems with collecting BRPs online at:
gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/collect
You can contact your local council about housing here:
Housing
gov.uk/homelessness-help-from-council
Will you need to get a bigger house?
Do any of your family members have special requirements Or for further housing advice you can contact Shelter:
(for example: difficulty with stairs; requirement to be near a
hospital, park or school?) - Shelter England 0808 800 4444 | england.shelter.org.uk

- Housing in the UK is complicated, and your options can depend - Shelter Scotland 0808 800 4444 | scotland.shelter.org.uk
on where in the UK you live in and your family’s situation. - Shelter Wales 08000 495 495 | sheltercymru.org.uk
- Housing Advice NI 028 9024 5640 | housingadviceni.org

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 20

How can you prepare for your family’s arrival in the UK?

If you have children you will need to register them with

a local school.
- Under UK law, both boys and girls must attend school. It is
important that you make sure that your child goes to school.
- If you are not sure how to apply for a school place for your child,
ask at your Local Authority education department who can give
you information.
Government benefits
Are there any benefits that you will be eligible to apply for
once your family has arrived in the UK?
(If you are already receiving benefits, this should not affect your
family’s visa applications.) Universal Credit, and other welfare
benefits can be complicated to understand. If you have questions
about benefits and how to apply, you can call:

Education Universal Credit helpline 0800 328 5644

Will older family members need English classes? Citizens Advice: Adviceline (England) 0800 144 8 444
‘ESOL’ (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes are
often offered in colleges, community centres, local charities Citizens Advice: Help to Claim (Scotland) 0800 023 2581
and even libraries across the country. There is no one provider of Citizens Advice: Advice link (Wales) 0800 702 2020 /
ESOL across the UK. You can find the provider that is 08000 241 220
nearest to you by searching for “ESOL + your area” in an online
search engine. Advice NI (Northern Ireland) 0800 915 4604

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 21

How can you prepare for your family’s arrival in the UK?

Family Reunion Integration Service

That might be able to help families after they have arrived in the
UK. The service runs in ten locations across the UK: Belfast,
Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, London,
Manchester, Plymouth and Sheffield. However, if you do not live in
one of these areas BRC may still be able to help. For further info
please contact your nearest Refugee Support team: redcross.
org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee/contact-your-local-
refugee-service
Remember that you and your family might experience different
emotions when you see each other again. It might take time for
you to get used to being together again.

Further resources
The British Red Cross has a range of digital resources for refugee
women to help them find out about life in the UK. They have been
translated into 9 different languages.
Health
You should register your family member(s) at your doctor. They can be found here: redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-
do/how-we-support-refugees/digital-empowerment-of-
Do any of your family have any special medical issues that need to refugee-women
be checked immediately after arrival? The National Health Service
(NHS) provides health services to people living in the UK. Most of
these services are free.
Recreation activities
Where would you want to take your family, and where could they
meet other people who might become their friends?

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 22

Do you want to know more information
about the family reunion process?
- See the Guide to Refugee Family Reunion by the British Red Cross on our website
- Speak to us: Contact the Family Reunion Enquiries Service run by the British Red Cross
- Call or WhatsApp on 07834 496 781. Available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm
- Or email [email protected] (Monday to Friday between 9am – 5pm).

What does the Family Reunion Enquiries Service do? What can’t the Family Reunion Enquiries Service do?

- We can give you information about: -W

 e can’t make the application for you
- Who can apply for family reunion -W
 e can’t replace your lawyer or give you legal advice
- How to make the application
- How much the process costs -W
 e can’t give you money to help you make the application
- How long it takes
- We can refer you to British Red Cross Immigration Advisers
(subject to capacity)
- We can give you details of other organisations who might be
able to support you to make the application.
- We are available to receive your call Monday to Friday between
9am – 5pm
- We can respond to your email Monday to Friday
between 9am – 5pm
- We use interpreters if you need one

Refugee family reunion: Frequently asked questions 23

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity
registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738), Isle of Man (0752), This project is co-funded by
Jersey (430) and Guernsey (CH142). the European Union

Images: ©gettyimages