The British Red Cross has been providing financial support for up to 1,000 individuals annually to travel to Britain and reunite with family members who have received refugee status.
The charity covers flight costs and assists with locating relatives who may have lost contact during conflicts.
Last year alone, the organisation funded travel arrangements for 288 families, totalling 959 individuals, with 702 being children.
These figures have remained consistent in recent years, according to the charity.
The Red Cross allocates approximately one-eighth of its £238million annual expenditure to displacement and migration services, with funding primarily sourced from donations and charitable activities.
Family reunion visa approvals have surged to a record 20,000 in the year ending March 2025, representing a five-fold rise from 4,310 just three years earlier, according to Home Office data.
Current immigration regulations permit refugees to sponsor relatives without demonstrating adequate accommodation or financial resources.
Family members arriving through this route face no obligation to prove they can support themselves without claiming universal credit or housing benefits.
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The British Red Cross has been providing financial support for up to 1,000 individuals annually to travel to Britain and reunite with family members who have received refugee status
The rules also waive English language requirements for these visa holders.
The British Red Cross provides a comprehensive 68-page guide explaining that applicants need not satisfy any linguistic standards or demonstrate financial capability when applying for family reunification.
Local authorities report mounting strain on housing resources as asylum seekers granted refugee status seek accommodation for their reunited families.
Council representatives indicate that successful applicants typically require larger properties after bringing relatives to Britain, with families often comprising four to six children.
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The British Red Cross provides a comprehensive 68-page guide explaining that applicants need not satisfy any linguistic standards or demonstrate financial capability when applying for family reunification
One council officer responsible for homeless families revealed they handle approximately two refugee families monthly who arrive by the Red Cross or other agencies.
The officer said: “Half, or rather 99 per cent, of the time the refugees don’t work, speak English, or have any intentions of working.”
The Local Government Association has urged ministers to coordinate asylum processing with councils to avoid overwhelming local housing capacity and shifting costs to local authorities.
The Home Secretary has indicated significant changes are forthcoming for the family reunion programme, which she described as “broken” when inherited from the previous Conservative Government.
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Yvette Cooper revealed that ministers are examining measures adopted by other European nations
Yvette Cooper revealed that ministers are examining measures adopted by other European nations that require asylum recipients to remain in the country for several years before applying for family reunification.
Currently, successful asylum seekers can submit applications immediately upon receiving their status.
Cooper said: “That also includes looking at increasing responsibilities for people to support their families, increasing English language requirements, and examining changes in this area that other countries have brought in.”
The Government expects to announce comprehensive reforms to the family immigration system later this year.
