A new report from the University of Reading sheds light on the unique challenges that transnational families face as they navigate life across borders. As more families find themselves separated due to migration, they encounter restrictive immigration policies, language barriers, and limited social rights—factors that make it harder to care for loved ones in multiple countries.
The report draws on interviews and case studies with 122 transnational families across the U.K., France, Spain, and Sweden, illustrating how policy hurdles, financial pressures, and social inequalities hinder access to crucial services like healthcare, education, and social support. It calls on policymakers to acknowledge these challenges and to develop supportive frameworks that empower families to thrive, even across borders.
Increasingly common
In a world increasingly marked by migration and displacement, families are more often split by national boundaries. Although they strive to maintain ties and continue caring for each other, barriers in policy and rising costs make accessing essential services difficult. Caregiving can offer emotional resilience, but it can also disrupt education, employment, finances, and social wellbeing, adding stress to family relationships and impacting health.
Digital tools have become vital for accessing services remotely, yet these platforms often require digital skills that some family members, particularly older ones, may lack. Younger family members often step in as “digital brokers,” managing online forms and appointments for parents and grandparents. This adds responsibility and raises privacy concerns as young family members handle sensitive information on behalf of adults.
Young people also commonly act as “language brokers,” translating for their parents in healthcare and other settings. Children and teenagers may be called upon to interpret medical information or fill out forms, tasks that can be both stressful and ethically complex. Limited access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes exacerbates the issue; many adults cannot attend due to cost, travel, or childcare constraints, leaving them more dependent on their children for translation.
Reunification restrictions
Family reunification restrictions pose further challenges, with strict eligibility rules and long wait times often preventing families from reuniting, even when close family members need in-person care. These barriers intensify caregiving burdens for those who remain and increase strain within families. The study suggests that relaxing these restrictions would benefit the health and stability of transnational families.
In light of these findings, the report advocates for targeted policy changes. Recommendations include long-term investment in ESOL programs, simplifying family reunion visa processes, and offering more affordable, accessible services to transnational families. Reducing the digital divide is also key, as it would help those who struggle with online platforms for healthcare and other essential needs.
Policymakers are urged to ease the burden on young people acting as interpreters for their families by expanding access to qualified translators and improving digital infrastructure. These steps, the report argues, would make services safer and more accessible for migrant families, supporting them in their efforts to care for one another across borders.
