UK Suspends Family Reunion Route for Refugees and Protected Persons – What Indian Applicants Need to Know

10-09-25

Yogesh shukla

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What changes happened to the Family Reunion Route for Refugees and Protected Persons?

The UK Government has suspended the Family Reunion route for sponsors with Protection Status as of 4th September 2025 , people who were planning to apply for a visa to join their family in the UK under this special protection scheme can no longer submit new applications under this route.

What Was the Family Reunion Route?

Previously, Indian applicants who had a close family member in the UK under Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection could apply to join them in the UK. This route was mainly for:

Partners (spouses or unmarried partners)
Children

What Has Changed in the UK immigration Sep 2025? Let's understand with this simple tabular format?

Aspect	Earlier (Before 4th September 2025)	Now (After 4th September 2025)
Purpose	To allow family members of people with Protection Status (Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection) to apply to join them in the UK.	This specific Family Reunion route is suspended. New applications are not accepted.
Who Could Apply?	Indian applicants who were partners (spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), unmarried partner) or children of a protected person in the UK.	Applicants must now apply under other family visa categories (e.g., Spouse Visa, Child Dependent Visa).
Type of Sponsor	The sponsor was a person in the UK with Protection Status (Refugee or Humanitarian Protection).	Sponsors now must meet eligibility under the Appendix Family Member or other family visa rules.
Application Type	Application for Leave to Enter or Leave to Remain in the UK under the Family Reunion route.	New applications are directed toward standard family visa applications.
Processing of Applications Submitted Before the Deadline	Applications submitted before 15:00 on 4 September 2025 will continue to be processed under the old Family Reunion rules.	N/A – No new applications are accepted under this route.
Application After Deadline	N/A	All new applications must be submitted under the Family Visa (Appendix FM) or other relevant visa categories.
Eligibility for Family Members	Partner (spouse, fiancé(e), civil partner, unmarried partner) or child of the protected person.	Same types of family members may apply, but under different visa rules. Eligibility criteria and financial requirements will differ.
Conditions	Based on the protection status of the sponsor and right to respect for family life (Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention).	Based on the relationship, income threshold, language requirements, and other standard family visa rules.
Public Funds Access	Special considerations could allow exceptions (e.g., destitution, exceptional circumstances).	Subject to standard visa conditions, including the “No recourse to public funds” rule unless exceptional circumstances apply.

What changes have to be faced by the Indian applicants?

If you are trying to join your family member in the UK and they are protected (have refugee status or humanitarian protection), you can no longer use the Family Reunion route to apply. Instead, you must apply through other family visa options, such as:

Standard Spouse Visa
Child Dependent Visa

These visas have different eligibility criteria and requirements.

How Aptech Visa Can Help You?

Visa keeps on changing, the rules and regulations updates are very normal. The popular methods can be alteredand new methods of Visa can be applicable. With Aptech Visa by your side, you can stay confident about meeting all immigration requirements. With more than 2 decades of experience, Aptech Visa has helped more than 50000 immigrants to get their Visa. With 99% approval cases, you are always ahead.

Here’s how Aptech Visacan help applicants:

Provide expert advice on the most suitable visa route based on your family situation.
We help you gather and organize every important document to ensure your application is accepted.
Help you apply for the correct UK Family Visa after the Family Reunion route closure.
Offer up-to-date information on UK immigration policy changes.
Ensure your application is smooth and increases your chances of approval.

Rely on Aptech Visa for expert guidance throughout your entire visa application process. Get your Visa approval in the fastest and most efficient way. Call us now to get started with your UK Visa applications!

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Also Read - Longer Wait times are expected for Ireland’s Long-Term Residency Program: Know everything for getting the permanent residency in Ireland in 2025!