Family migration is the international movement of people due to new or established family ties.

Family migration is defined through national policy frameworks and may vary between countries. In general, family migration falls into three main categories:

• - Family formation occurs when a resident national or foreigner with residency rights marries, forms a civil partnership or other recognised family relationship with a foreigner, and sponsors that individual for admission or status change.
  
  
• - Family reunification refers to family members, also referred to as ‘dependants’, who migrate after the arrival of a principal migrant who sponsors their admission. The family ties are formed before the arrival of the principal migrant.
  
  
• - Accompanying family refers to family members (dependants) admitted together with the principal or main applicant.

Migration rules in destination countries determine which migrant family members can move and settle, and under what conditions. Policies on entry define which family members are eligible for family migration, and who can serve as a ‘sponsor’ for family reunification or be joined by a partner from overseas. Such rules often set attainment requirements (e.g. income thresholds), and various conditions such as age requirements (e.g. a maximum age for children to join their parents). National policies also determine the rights of migrants and their families once they have arrived, including length of stay, access to work, access to social and public services, and pathways to permanent settlement and citizenship.