Overview
Family reunion covers the routes that allow family members of someone in the UK to join them. For sponsors with refugee status or humanitarian protection, the dedicated route was historically Appendix FRP. For sponsors who are British citizens or settled, the family routes under Appendix FM apply.
⚠️ Important update: Appendix FRP (Refugee Family Reunion) was suspended at 15:00 on 4 September 2025 and remains paused as of May 2026 pending the Government's wider family-migration review. New refugee family reunion applications cannot be lodged under Appendix FRP. Applications already in the system before the suspension are still being decided under transitional rules.
While the FRP route is paused, alternative pathways remain open. The right alternative depends on the family relationship, the sponsor's status, and the urgency of the case. Our Glasgow advisers map applicants to the correct route at the advice stage, including outside-the-rules applications grounded in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights where the strict-rules routes do not fit.
Key Benefits
Right route mapped
We assess your family relationship, the sponsor's immigration status, and the urgency of the case, then map you to the correct alternative: FM, Child Relative, ADR, or Article 8 outside-the-rules.
Evidence of relationship
Refugee family reunion evidence is rarely standard: documents are missing, relationships are reconstructed from communication records, financial transfers, and witness statements. We build the bundle for the route.
Article 8 case-building
Where strict rules do not fit, we draft outside-the-rules applications grounded in Article 8 (right to family and private life). These need legal-quality reasoning and a clear evidential chain.
Glasgow refugee community
We work with Glasgow's refugee support sector, including Refugee Survival Trust, Scottish Refugee Council referrals, and Maryhill Integration Network connections, to build the strongest possible application.
Our Service Packages
Advice Package
A one-to-one consultation with a Glasgow immigration adviser. We confirm whether any current route fits your family, and lay out a clear action plan including outside-the-rules options where relevant.
From £150 + VAT
Application Package
Full end-to-end application under the right alternative route (FM, Child Relative, ADR, or outside-the-rules). We prepare every document, draft the cover letter, and submit on your behalf.
From £900 + VAT
Article 8 Outside-the-Rules
Detailed legal-quality drafting for outside-the-rules applications where strict immigration rules do not fit. Includes case-law analysis, evidential plan, and full submission.
From £1,500 + VAT
Refusal Review and Re-Application
If your family reunion or alternative-route application was refused, we review the refusal letter, advise on appeal grounds, and rebuild the application or appeal.
From £600 + VAT
UK Family Reunion Status 2026: What Has Changed
Refugee family reunion was, until September 2025, a simple, fee-free route for the spouses, civil partners, and children under 18 of a refugee or humanitarian protection holder in the UK to join them. The route was set out in Appendix FRP (Family Reunion: Sponsors with Protection) of the Immigration Rules.
The 4 September 2025 suspension
By Statement of Changes HC 1298, the Home Office suspended new applications under Appendix FRP from 15:00 on 4 September 2025. The stated reason was operational: the volume of applications had grown significantly and the route was being reviewed alongside the wider family-migration framework.
As of May 2026 the suspension remains in force. The Government has not published a firm reopening date. We monitor for changes in the Statements of Changes and update this page when there is concrete news.
Who can still apply under Appendix FRP
- Applicants who lodged a valid Appendix FRP application before 15:00 on 4 September 2025: their applications are decided under the rules in force before the suspension (transitional provisions)
- No new Appendix FRP applications can be made until the route is formally reinstated or replaced
Alternative routes available now
While Appendix FRP is paused, family members of UK-based refugees, humanitarian protection holders, and other sponsors can use the following routes:
| Route | Who it fits | Headline cost |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix FM (Partner/Parent/Child) | Partner or child of a British citizen or settled refugee | ~£1,846 + IHS |
| Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection) | Child of a refugee/HP holder where Appendix FM does not fit | Per child fee |
| Appendix Adult Dependent Relative | Elderly parent or adult dependant requiring long-term personal care | ~£3,250 + IHS |
| Outside-the-rules (Article 8 ECHR) | Where no strict route fits but family/private life rights apply | Standard underlying fee |
⚠️ Important: Each alternative route has its own evidence standard, fees, and timelines. Mis-routing leads to refusal and a wasted fee. Talk to an adviser before lodging any alternative-route application. Call us on 0141 496 0321.
Documents and Evidence for Family Reunion Alternatives
Refugee and protection-status sponsors often have non-standard evidence. The Home Office is, in principle, mindful of this but the burden of proof remains on the applicant. The following categories cover most alternative-route applications.
Relationship evidence
- Original or certified copies of marriage, civil partnership, or birth certificates (where available)
- Communication records: WhatsApp messages, emails, social media exchanges across the period of separation
- Money transfer records: bank statements, Western Union or MoneyGram receipts, evidence of shared financial life
- Photographs across years showing the family relationship
- Witness statements from family members, community members, or religious leaders attesting to the relationship
- Country-of-origin registry records, even where partial
Identity
- Current passports for the sponsor and the applicant (or alternative ID where passports are unavailable due to refugee circumstances)
- BRP / eVisa screenshots for the sponsor showing current immigration status
- Refugee status letter or humanitarian protection grant for the sponsor
Sponsor evidence
- Sponsor’s current address: utility bill, tenancy agreement, or council tax
- For Appendix FM partner applications: sponsor’s payslips and bank statements covering the relevant period (financial requirement)
- Sponsor’s English language evidence (where the route requires it)
Article 8 / outside-the-rules supporting evidence
- Detailed witness statement from the sponsor explaining the family relationship and impact of separation
- Country-of-origin evidence showing why the family cannot reasonably reunite there (e.g. ongoing risk for the sponsor)
- Mental-health or social-care evidence where separation is causing serious harm
- Best-interests-of-the-child documentation where children are involved
How to Apply Through Alternative Routes
The application path depends on the alternative route. Most are made online through the gov.uk service from outside the UK; the applicant attends a Visa Application Centre for biometrics. The process moves through five practical stages.
Stage 1: Route mapping
We assess the family relationship, the sponsor’s status (refugee, humanitarian protection, ILR, British citizenship), and the practical urgency. We identify the right alternative route or, if no route fits, advise on outside-the-rules options.
Stage 2: Evidence build
We send a personalised checklist tailored to the chosen route. The applicant gathers identity and relationship evidence; the sponsor pulls financial, accommodation, and immigration-status documents. We work with Glasgow-based community organisations to source witness statements where appropriate.
Stage 3: Application preparation
We complete the online form, draft a substantive supporting cover letter (essential for outside-the-rules applications and strongly recommended for all family-route applications), and label every document.
Stage 4: Submission and biometrics
We submit the form, pay the fee and IHS as applicable, and confirm the applicant’s biometric appointment at the closest Visa Application Centre to where they are. Documents are uploaded in advance through the VFS portal.
Stage 5: Decision and travel
The Home Office issues a decision (timeline depends on route). If granted, the applicant receives entry clearance and travels to the UK. We help coordinate UK arrival, including BRP collection in Glasgow at the Renfrew Street post office.
Family Reunion Costs and Processing Times 2026
Costs vary significantly by alternative route. Below are the headline figures for 2026.
| Route | Application fee | IHS / extras | Standard processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appendix FRP (suspended) | £0 | None | n/a (no new applications) |
| Appendix FM Partner (entry clearance) | ~£1,846 | IHS £1,035/yr | ~12 weeks |
| Appendix Child Relative | Per child | IHS where applicable | ~12 weeks |
| Appendix Adult Dependent Relative | ~£3,250 | IHS where applicable | 12 to 24 weeks |
| Outside-the-rules (Article 8) | Underlying route fee | IHS where applicable | 6+ months |
Note on fees: all 2026 fees rose by approximately 6-7% from 8 April 2026. Confirm the exact current figure for your route before applying. Fee waivers are available in some cases where the applicant is destitute.
Processing times in 2026
Standard service for Appendix FM partner applications is around 12 weeks from biometrics. Adult Dependent Relative applications run 12 to 24 weeks. Outside-the-rules applications grounded in Article 8 can take 6 months or longer because they are decided on individual circumstances rather than against fixed criteria.
What happens after approval
Each route grants different leave on arrival: Appendix FM partner gets 33 months entry clearance leading to FLR(M); Adult Dependent Relative gets 5 years immediately; outside-the-rules applicants get whatever leave is appropriate to their circumstances. Once in the UK we coordinate BRP collection in Glasgow and diary the next milestone (extension or settlement).
For partner applications, see our Spouse Visa service
Frequently asked questions
Appendix FRP was suspended at 15:00 on 4 September 2025 by Statement of Changes HC 1298, pending a wider Government review of family migration including refugee family routes. The Government has not published a firm reopening date. Until the route is reinstated or replaced, families of refugees and humanitarian protection holders must use alternative routes.
Applications submitted before 15:00 on 4 September 2025 are decided under the rules that applied before the suspension (transitional provisions). The Home Office continues to process those applications. We monitor decisions and chase progress where appropriate.
The main alternatives are Appendix FM (partner/parent/child of a settled person, including settled refugees), Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection), Appendix Adult Dependent Relative, and outside-the-rules Article 8 applications. Each route has its own evidence standard, fees, and timelines. We assess which fits each family at the advice stage.
Yes, once the refugee has either Indefinite Leave to Remain or refugee status with permission to sponsor under FM. The financial and English requirements that apply to other Appendix FM applicants apply, with some Article 8 modifications where the family was reasonably formed before the protection grant.
Refugee family reunion has always allowed for non-standard evidence: communication records (WhatsApp, email, video calls), money transfer records, photographs, witness statements from community members, and registry records from the country of origin. The principle remains relevant for alternative routes. We build a robust bundle from what is realistically available.
Appendix FM partner-route applications take around 12 weeks from biometrics. Adult Dependent Relative applications take 12 to 24 weeks. Outside-the-rules applications can take 6 months or longer due to the discretionary nature of the assessment. We diary all applications and chase progress.
No. Appendix FRP was free of Home Office fees. Alternative routes have full fees: Appendix FM partner is around £1,846 plus IHS; Adult Dependent Relative is around £3,250 plus IHS; outside-the-rules applications still pay the standard fee for the underlying category. Fee waivers are available where the applicant is destitute under specific criteria.
Glasgow has a strong refugee support network including the Scottish Refugee Council, Refugee Survival Trust, and the Maryhill Integration Network. They provide community advice and onward referrals but do not give regulated legal advice. We work alongside the sector and take regulated immigration cases that need adviser-level work.