Welcome to our guide on accessing apprenticeships in England for refugees and people in the asylum system. Please note that eligibility rules are different in Scotland and Wales as education is a devolved issue. The information provided here is accurate as of the publication date. However, please keep in mind that rules can change. For comprehensive and up-to-date guidance, please visit the UK Government website.

Our guide explains which individuals are eligible to receive funding and are exempt from the three-year residency requirement rule.

Eligible Individuals with Specific Immigration Status

If you possess any of the following immigration statuses, you are eligible to receive funding and are exempt from the three-year residency requirement:

1. Refugee status
2. Discretionary leave to enter or remain
3. Exceptional leave to enter or remain
4. Indefinite leave to enter or remain
5. Humanitarian protection
6. Leave outside the rules
7. Ukraine schemes:
   • Individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme.
   • Individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine).
   • Individuals with leave to enter or remain in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
8. Afghan Relocation and Assistance policy (formerly known as Locally Engaged Staff under the intimidation policy)
9. The husband, wife, civil partner, and child of any of the above
10. Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 leave
11. Calais leave to remain
12. Afghanistan schemes:
    • British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan under Operation Pitting
    • British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK government before 6 January 2022
13. A child of a person who has received leave under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 will be eligible in line with rule 281.10 where they have been granted “leave in line” by virtue of being a dependent child of such a person.
14. A child of a person who has received Calais leave to remain will be eligible in line with rule 281.11 where they have been granted “leave in line” by virtue of being a dependent child of such a person.

The individual’s immigration permission in the UK may have a “no recourse to public funds” condition. This does not include education or education funding, so it does not affect an individual’s eligibility, which must be decided under the normal eligibility conditions.

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers and individuals who have made further protection-based submissions are eligible to receive funding if they have valid permission to work granted by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Please note that any permission to work granted will only be valid until the claim has been finally determined and any appeals rights exhausted.

This guide provides an overview of the main criteria relevant to asylum seekers and refugees but is not exhaustive.

Find out more about why we created this guide over on our blog.