Immigration Rules Changes

Seema Malhotra Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Seema Malhotra)]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a statement of changes in immigration rules.

The new rules provide for a temporary suspension of new applications for refugee family reunion, and for refugees to be covered in the meantime by the main family rules that apply for other UK residents and British citizens, with plans for new reformed arrangements to be put in place at a later date.

“Appendix Family Reunion”: suspension of new applications

The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution, but the way they are being used now has changed. Currently there are limited conditions on family reunion for refugee sponsors unlike those in place if the sponsor is a British citizen or settled in the UK. A refugee sponsor does not have to prove they can financially support or accommodate their family.

Before the pandemic, refugees who applied to bring family to the UK typically did so more than one or two years after they were granted protection—long enough for them to get jobs, find suitable housing and be able to provide their family with some support.

However, in recent years more of these applications are received shortly after they obtain protection. As a consequence, refugee families who arrive are more likely to seek homelessness assistance, which is adding unsustainable pressures on local authorities and associated public services.

We continue to believe that families staying together is important, but change is needed. The immigration White Paper sets out reforms to legal migration, so that we can restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth.

In the immigration White Paper, we said that we will set out a new family policy before the end of this year, which will cover all UK residents including those who are British, settled, on work routes or those with protection status seeking to bring family members to the UK.

Noting the immediate pressures that result from family reunion particularly on public services and local authorities, we are introducing a temporary pause to “Appendix Family Reunion (Sponsors with Protection)”, as we undertake a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system.

Changes to “Appendix FM” to allow applications from a partner and child of a person with protection status

“Appendix FM: family members” has been amended to allow applications from a partner and dependent child of a person with protection status in the UK while this pause is in place. In line with other applications under “Appendix FM”, a person will need to pay the fee—or obtain a fee waiver—and meet the core requirements of the route.

These changes to the immigration rules are being laid on 4 September 2025 and will come into effect at 15:00 on 4 September 2025.

[HCWS912]