Working parents may be able to apply for:
To qualify, the parent making the application must meet immigration, employment and income requirements.
The parent applying for childcare support must meet a residence requirement based on their immigration status. This is usually met where the parent has:
A parent with leave to remain subject to a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition cannot apply for funded childcare hours themselves, but can be included in an application made by a partner who meets the residence requirement. Government‑funded childcare is not classed as a public fund, so including a partner with NRPF in an application does not breach immigration conditions.
Where a parent has a partner, both must meet the employment and income requirements, even if only one meets the immigration requirement. If a single parent has NRPF, or both parents in a household have NRPF, the family will not qualify for funded childcare for working parents or tax‑free childcare.
The parent (and their partner, if they have one) must be in work to qualify and have a National Insurance number. Each parent must expect to earn at least the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours per week, averaged over a 3 month period.
A family may still qualify where one parent is receiving certain disability or carer’s benefits and the other parent is working. Families will not qualify where either parent has an expected adjusted net income over £100,000 in the current tax year.
Further information about eligibility and how to apply is available in government guidance on free childcare for working parents and tax free childcare. Local authorities can refer to statutory guidance on early education and childcare.
Page updated: 12 June 2026
