British Red Cross - Why refugee family reunion must be protected

Refugee family reunion has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s refugee protection system. It offers a vital, safe and managed route for refugees to reunite with the people they love, who often remain in the dangerous places from which they fled. When a person seeking protection is recognised as having a wellfounded fear of persecution, they are granted refugee status and can apply to reunite with immediate family members, including spouses and children under 18, through family reunion visas. This recognises that refugee families who were forced to separate are unable to continue their family life anywhere other than the UK. This is because they cannot return home safely or relocate elsewhere.