Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis, stars of the film Love Actually, have voiced their support for the British Red Cross’s campaign to reinstate a visa route allowing refugees to reunite with their families in the UK. The family reunion visa was axed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in November, with the route now available only in “the most exceptional circumstances”.
Under the changes, refugees no longer have an automatic right to family reunion. Instead, eligibility is limited to those who enter through work and study visa routes, often facing high income requirements and English language tests. The British Red Cross warns that at least 4,900 families and 6,300 children will be affected by the suspension between September 2025 and April 2026.
Hugh Grant said: “Christmas is when most of us hope to be with the people we love. It’s heartbreaking that so many who’ve fled conflict and disaster remain separated from their families without knowing when they might see each other again.” Richard Curtis added: “Proposed changes could effectively cut off a vital route to safety and increase the risk of people making dangerous journeys to reach family and sanctuary.”
The charity has highlighted cases like that of Omer and Hiba, who fled Sudan and were reunited with their baby son at Heathrow Airport last year. Another case involves Umer Heyi, an Ethiopian computer science student who missed the deadline to apply for his wife and two-year-old son by hours. He said: “If I can’t save him, if I can’t protect him, then what have I got?”
Béatrice Butsana-Sita, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, said: “Family reunion has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s refugee protection system. We want family reunion to continue to be accessed by people separated by conflict, violence and persecution.”
