how refugees in the UK can bring certain family members to join them here. If you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection in the UK, you may be able to sponsor your close family to reunite with you.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
To be eligible, family members must be what’s called “pre-flight” family—meaning your relationship was established before you fled your home country.
Partners
Refugees can sponsor a spouse or civil partner if:
The marriage or civil partnership is valid, genuine, and ongoing.
You’ve met in person.
You intend to live together permanently.
Unmarried partners can also qualify if you’ve lived together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least 2 years before the refugee left their home country. Note that fiancés or proposed civil partners are not eligible under the family reunion rules.
Children
You can also sponsor children if they are:
Under 18 and not married or living independently.
Part of your family unit before you left.
If there’s uncertainty about the child’s age, the Home Office may carry out an age assessment.
The Family Reunion Process
Applications for family reunion are free of charge. If successful, your family members will receive entry clearance that lasts as long as your status in the UK. However, once you have indefinite leave to remain or become a British citizen, normal immigration rules (Appendix FM) apply, which means family members will no longer be eligible under the family reunion rules.
Evidence Needed for Family Reunion Applications
While there’s no specified list of required documents, you’ll need to provide evidence of both identity and relationship. Useful documents may include passports, national ID cards, marriage or birth certificates, and any other documents that prove your relationship.
If these documents are unavailable, you should provide:
A full explanation detailing why original documents can’t be provided and any attempts made to obtain them.
Alternative evidence, such as photographs, DNA test results (optional, as this can be costly), records of regular contact, letters of support, or witness statements from yourself and the family member.
In cases where more information is needed, the Home Office may conduct interviews.