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Part of Get childcare: step by step

Free Childcare for Working Parents

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Apply for free childcare

Use this service to apply for Free Childcare for Working Parents if you live in England.

If your application is approved, you’ll get an 11-digit code that proves you’re eligible to get free childcare. You’ll need to give this code to your childcare provider.

If you’re applying for Early Learning for 2 year olds, you need to contact the early years team or Family Information Service at your local council before applying for Free Childcare for Working parents.

What you need to apply

You’ll need your (and your partner’s, if you have one):

  • National Insurance number
  • Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed (if you have a UTR)

You’ll also need:

  • the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you’re applying for
  • the date you started or are due to start work (this can be approximate if it’s more than 3 months ago)

If you have a partner

You must include your partner in your application if you’re:

  • married or in a civil partnership and live together
  • not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are

Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:

  • are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months
  • are a prisoner

You and your partner cannot both have a code for the same child.

If you are separated

You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.

If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare code.

If you’re a company director

You’ll need to show you meet the minimum income requirements if you’re a company director. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will try to check this using your PAYE records.

If you do not submit regular PAYE information, you may have to provide evidence to show you are working and expect to meet the minimum income requirements for the next 3 months. This could be:

  • wage slips
  • bank statements
  • a statement from your accountant
  • copies of invoices

If you’re not paid regularly (for example, once a year) you may need to send other evidence to show you’ll meet the minimum income requirements. This could include annual wage slips, year-end payroll, or a letter from your tax agent or adviser confirming your salary has been paid and taxed.

You’ll need to do this the first time you apply and every time you reconfirm your eligibility.

Apply

When you apply, you’ll set up a childcare account. If you’re eligible, you’ll be able to use this for both:

  • Free Childcare for Working Parents
  • Tax-Free Childcare

HMRC will check if you’re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, which can help towards the cost of additional childcare.

You only need to apply once. It usually takes 20 minutes to apply.

Apply now

If you’ve been unable to use the service

You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve had technical problems with your account.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Get childcare: step by step

  1. Step 1 Find out if you can get help with childcare costs

    1. Check what help you could get with childcare costs

    You can only get help with 'approved childcare'.

    1. Find out what 'approved childcare' is

  2. and Find where you can get childcare

    1. Find a nursery school place
    2. Find a registered childminder
    3. Search for free early education and childcare

  3. Step 2 Get help paying for childcare

    You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:

    You could also get free childcare when your child is aged 9 months to 4 years. You might be able to apply for:

    You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.

    1. Check the rules for childcare vouchers

  4. Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change

    1. If you're getting Universal Credit, tell government straight away if your circumstances change

    If you're getting Free Childcare for Working Parents or Tax-Free Childcare you have to confirm if your details are up to date every 3 months.

    1. Sign into your childcare account to find out when you next have to check your details

    Your eligibility for support with childcare costs might also change.

    1. Check if your eligibility for help with childcare costs has changed

  5. Step 4 Check what to do when your child reaches school age

    1. Apply for a primary school place
    2. Find before and after school and holiday clubs

    You might be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for childcare like wraparound care, after school clubs or other activities.