UK Family Reunion for People with Protection Status
The former Appendix Family Reunion route is currently suspended for new applications. From 3:00pm on 4 September 2025, a new partner or child of a person with protection status cannot apply for entry clearance, permission to stay or settlement under Appendix FRP; the Home Office guidance says they must instead use the family provisions in Appendix FM. Applications submitted before the suspension continue to be considered under the Appendix FRP rules that applied before the cut-off.
On this page
In brief
- The former Appendix Family Reunion (FRP) route is currently suspended for new applications (from 4 September 2025).
- New partners and children of a person with protection status must instead use Appendix FM.
- Applications submitted before the cut-off continue under the old FRP rules.
- The guide explains the historic route and what applies now.
Is UK Refugee Family Reunion Still Open?
Appendix Family Reunion is suspended for new applications. The suspension began at 3:00pm on 4 September 2025, applies to both in-country and out-of-country applications, and remains in place pending a full review of the route.
No new applications can currently be made under Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection). An application submitted after that time seeking entry clearance or permission to stay under Appendix FRP is described by the guidance as void and not considered, because the permission applied for can no longer be granted under that route.
This page therefore does two things: it explains where a new partner or child of a person with protection status should look now, and it summarises the historic FRP framework that still governs applications made before the cut-off.
What Route Applies to New Partners and Children Now?
While the suspension remains in force, the Home Office guidance says a partner or child of a person with protection status must apply under the family provisions in Appendix FM to come to, or stay in, the UK. The guidance also confirms that, during the suspension, Appendix FM may be used irrespective of when the family unit was formed — so the historic pre-flight relationship requirement does not carry across to these Appendix FM applications.
The guidance notes that an Appendix FM application requires the relevant fee, unless a fee waiver is obtained, and that the applicant must meet that route's core requirements. It does not set out those requirements or state the current fee — those are handled on the dedicated route pages:
- A spouse or civil partner → Partner & Spouse Visa under Appendix FM.
- An unmarried partner → Unmarried Partner Visa.
- A child → UK Child Visa.
The financial, English-language, relationship and evidence tests for these routes live on their own pages and are assessed under the current Appendix FM rules. Do not apply the historic FRP requirements below to a new Appendix FM application.
What Did the Historic Family Reunion Route Cover?
Before suspension, Appendix FRP was intended for the immediate family of a person with protection status, or settlement on a protection route, where the family formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin or former habitual residence to seek protection. Immediate family for this policy comprised a partner and children under 18, or children over 18 in exceptional circumstances.
For a historic partner application, the applicant had to be a spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner and ordinarily had to have formed part of the sponsor's pre-flight family unit.
The pre-flight test belongs to historic FRP cases only. It must not be presented as a current Appendix FM requirement — during the suspension, Appendix FM applies irrespective of when the family was formed.
Historic FRP Applications Involving Children
For a child under 18, the historic rules required evidence of age, the relevant child relationship, pre-flight family membership and the applicable independent-life requirement. A child conceived before the sponsor fled but born afterwards was treated by the guidance as part of the sponsor's pre-flight family.
For a child over 18, FRP 6.2 required exceptional circumstances showing that the applicant was not leading an independent life and remained dependent on their parents within the family unit in a way comparable to a child under 18.
Financial and emotional dependency, the location of the parent, lack of other support, inability to obtain support or employment, and risk of destitution were matters the guidance identified for consideration. These are factors, not individually mandatory requirements.
What Evidence Was Required for Historic FRP Cases?
Appendix FRP did not prescribe one fixed set of specified evidence, but the applicant bore the responsibility of providing sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the relevant Rules were met.
The guidance recognises that refugee families may have difficulty producing conventional documents — records may have been lost or destroyed, authorities may not have been functioning, the family may have fled suddenly, or approaching authorities may have been unsafe. Where original evidence was unavailable, a reasonable alternative or explanation could be provided, and corroborative or other evidence could be considered where preferred documents were unavailable.
This evidence flexibility is described for Appendix FRP applications. Do not automatically import it as the evidential regime for a current Appendix FM application, which is assessed under its own rules.
Exceptional Circumstances and Article 8 in Historic FRP Cases
Where a historic FRP application did not satisfy all the relevant suitability or eligibility requirements, FRP 7.1 required consideration of whether refusal would breach Article 8 ECHR because it would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or a relevant family member.
The guidance identifies matters including the circumstances of family separation, serious illness or disability, impact on the sponsor and family, the best interests of a relevant child, and whether family life can continue or resume elsewhere. These are relevant factors, not separate requirements. The guidance emphasises that the threshold is high, and that hardship, inconvenience or continuing separation does not by itself establish unjustifiably harsh consequences.
For a post-suspension Appendix FM case, the equivalent exceptional-circumstances analysis is handled on our exceptional circumstances page rather than reproduced here.
Wider Family Members and Route Boundaries
Historic Appendix FRP was principally an immediate-family route — a partner and children — not a general route for every relative of a refugee or person with humanitarian protection.
| Who is joining | Route to review |
|---|---|
| New partner of a person with protection status | Appendix FM Partner (or Unmarried Partner) |
| New child of a person with protection status | Appendix FM Child |
| Partner / child who applied before 4 September 2025 | Historic Appendix FRP rules (this page) |
| Some children joining a close relative in serious & compelling circumstances | Appendix Child Relative — a separate route, outside this guidance |
| Adult parent / grandparent / other adult relative | Adult Dependent Relative |
The guidance expressly identifies a separate Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection) route for some children seeking to join a close relative where there are serious and compelling circumstances, including where no other family could reasonably be expected to support or care for the child. That route is outside the scope of the Family Reunion guidance used for this page. The guidance also directs decision-makers to Adult Dependent Relative guidance when relevant Article 8 issues arise, but it does not set out the ADR eligibility test — see our Adult Dependent Relative Visa page for that route.
Family Reunion Route Review
Answer four questions and the review points you to the route framework to look at — historic FRP, Appendix FM, or a separate family route. It is a guide only: it does not decide eligibility, predict an outcome, or produce a score or pass/fail.
Guide only — identifies the route framework to review. Not an eligibility decision, score or prediction.
Common Misconceptions
"Refugee Family Reunion is still open for new applications."
Appendix FRP has been suspended for all new applications since 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 and remains suspended until further notice.
"A new spouse or child should still use the old Family Reunion application."
While the suspension is in place, a new partner or child of a person with protection status must use the family provisions in Appendix FM.
"The family must still have existed before the refugee fled."
Pre-flight family membership was a historic FRP requirement. During the suspension, a partner or child may use Appendix FM irrespective of when the family unit was formed.
"Family Reunion covers any relative of a refugee."
Historic FRP principally covered partners and children; separate provisions exist for some close-relative children, and the guidance refers separately to Adult Dependent Relative guidance.
"Without a birth or marriage certificate a historic FRP application automatically fails."
The guidance recognises refugee families may lack normal documents and permits reasonable alternatives or an explanation for their absence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UK Refugee Family Reunion route currently open?
No. The guidance says Appendix Family Reunion has been suspended for all new applications since 3:00pm on 4 September 2025 and remains suspended until further notice.
What happens if an application was made before 3:00pm on 4 September 2025?
It continues to be considered under the Appendix FRP Rules that applied before the suspension, using the current Family Reunion caseworker guidance alongside those pre-suspension Rules.
What route does a new partner of a person with protection status use?
The guidance says a new partner must use the family provisions in Appendix FM while Appendix FRP is suspended. The detailed Appendix FM requirements are outside this source and should be reviewed on the Partner & Spouse Visa page.
What route does a new child of a person with protection status use?
The guidance likewise directs a new child application to the family provisions in Appendix FM. The detailed child eligibility requirements are outside this source and belong on the UK Child Visa page.
Did the historic Family Reunion route require a pre-flight relationship?
Yes. Historic FRP partner and child applications ordinarily required the applicant to have formed part of the sponsor's family unit before the sponsor left their country of habitual residence to seek protection.
Could a child over 18 qualify under historic Appendix FRP?
Potentially, where FRP 6.2's exceptional-circumstances requirements were satisfied, including that the applicant was not leading an independent life and remained dependent within the parental family unit.
Was there a fixed documentary checklist for historic FRP applications?
No specified evidence list was imposed by the FRP Rules according to the guidance. Applicants nevertheless had to provide sufficient evidence, and the guidance recognised that refugee circumstances could make conventional documents unavailable.
Was the historic Family Reunion application free?
The guidance states that applications under the Family Reunion route had no application fee. That relates to the historic FRP route; for post-suspension Appendix FM cases the same guidance says a fee applies unless a fee waiver is obtained, but it does not give the amount.
How ENS Immigration Advice Can Help
ENS Immigration Advice can help families of people with protection status identify the correct route now that Appendix Family Reunion is suspended — reviewing whether a case is a historic pre-suspension FRP application, a new partner or child case that should proceed under Appendix FM, or a relationship better suited to another family route. We can help gather and present evidence, including where conventional documents are unavailable.
These cases are fact-sensitive. Where a human-rights claim is refused, an appeal to the immigration tribunal may follow; tribunal representation is a separate specialist service and may be required in addition to application-stage assistance.
Disclaimer. This page provides general information about UK immigration law and does not constitute legal advice on any individual application. The suspension of Appendix Family Reunion, and the requirements of Appendix FM and other routes, depend on the individual facts and may change. Confirm the current position on GOV.UK and seek professional advice before making an application or relying on this information.
Source basis: Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection) and Home Office Family Reunion: for individuals with protection status in the UK guidance, version 16.0, published 5 August 2026. Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance can change, and the applicable requirements are assessed by reference to the law and guidance relevant at the date of application.
Request a Family Immigration Consultation
Unsure whether your case is a historic Family Reunion application or a new Appendix FM case? We will review the sponsor's status, the relationship and the timeline, and identify the route to pursue.