People who are granted permission to stay in the UK for a limited period will often be subject to an NRPF condition. This means they cannot access most benefits or local authority housing assistance.
A change of conditions application allows a person who has permission to stay in the UK with a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition to apply for access to public funds because their circumstances have changed since their permission was granted.
If successful, the Home Office will remove the NRPF condition from the person's permission to stay. This will allow them to access public funds, including benefits and local authority housing assistance.
In some circumstances, access to public funds can be granted:
The Home Office guidance Permitting access to public funds explains when access to public funds may be granted.
Some people can request access to public funds as part of an application for leave to remain, rather than through a separate change of conditions application. This may apply to people applying under:
Access to public funds may be granted where the applicant:
A request for access to public funds must be made as part of the immigration application and supported by evidence.
A person with an NRPF condition may be able to apply for access to public funds through the change of conditions process. Different eligibility requirements apply depending on the immigration route.
People with permission to stay under the following routes can apply for access to public funds through the change of conditions process:
Access to public funds may be granted where one or more of the following applies:
For Appendix CRP applications, access to public funds may also be granted where the sponsor is destitute or at risk of imminent destitution.
People who have permission to stay on other routes, such as work, Student or Graduate routes, may also be able to make a discretionary change of conditions application.
The Home Office will only grant access to public funds where there are particularly compelling circumstances that justify lifting the NRPF condition. The Home Office guidance states that occasions when discretion is used are likely to be rare.
The Home Office guidance warns that a refusal may lead to consideration of whether the person continues to meet the requirements of their immigration route and whether their permission should be cancelled.
For these discretionary cases, access to public funds will only be granted where particularly compelling circumstances are established and one of the following applies:
Examples of exceptional circumstances may include:
The Home Office also states that it will normally be appropriate for a person to leave the UK if they can no longer comply with the conditions of their permission or support themselves and their family in the UK.
A change of conditions application is free and must be made online.
As a change of conditions application varies a person's existing permission to stay, it should be completed with the assistance of a regulated immigration adviser.
Legal aid is not generally available for change of conditions applications, so a person may need to seek free advice from a voluntary and community sector organisation or pay for professional advice.
It is particularly important to obtain immigration advice where the person does not have permission under:
People who have separated from a partner should also seek immigration advice because they may need to make a new immigration application or may have other immigration options available to them.
For more information, see the Home Office guidance on applying for a change of conditions.
The Home Office prioritises change of conditions applications according to the evidence provided.
A decision may take longer if the Home Office needs further information or evidence from the applicant.
Help with a change of conditions application may be available from:
See our information about finding immigration and asylum advice.
Page updated: 03 August 2026
