26 February 2020

Information: EU exit update for apprenticeships

There will be no change to eligibility for apprenticeship funding in academic years 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 for citizens from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. They will need to ensure they have the right to live and work in the UK after 2020.

Employers should ensure that their employees, including apprentices, who are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland and living in the UK are aware that they and their family members will need to apply for settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme in order to secure their rights. Many of your employees will have already applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, or be in the process of doing so. But if they have not, they still have until 30 June 2021 to do so.

Irish citizens' right to live in the UK has not changed. This means they do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, but they can if they want to. Any family members who are not Irish or British citizens will need to do so.

Detailed eligibility requirements are set out in the apprenticeship funding rules.

You'll need to continue to check a job applicants' right to work. This will not change.

UK nationals returning from living or studying in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland will continue to be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship in England for a 7-year period. The 7-year period will begin on 1 January 2021.