Apprenticeship funding is not a public fund. Eligibility depends on a person’s immigration status and residency, not on whether they have access to public funds.
British and Irish citizens and people with the right of abode must be resident in the UK to qualify for apprenticeship funding. Non‑UK nationals must normally have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years, and not living in the UK mainly for education. The Department for Education defines ordinary residence living lawfully in a country for a settled purpose.
People granted leave under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) can meet the residency rules if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for three years.
Some people can qualify for apprenticeships if they have been ordinarily resident since the date their leave was granted, rather than for three full years. These include people with:
People seeking asylum cannot undertake apprenticeships.
You can read more about the full eligibility criteria in Annex A of the government’s guidance.
Page updated: 19 March 2026
