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Use this service to apply for free childcare if you鈥檙e working and you live in England.

If your application is approved, you鈥檒l get an 11-digit code that proves you鈥檙e eligible to get free childcare. You鈥檒l need to give this code to your childcare provider.

What you need to apply

You鈥檒l need your (and your partner鈥檚, if you have one):

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

You鈥檒l also need:

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

If you鈥檙e a director

You鈥檒l need to show you meet the minimum income requirements to be eligible. 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鈥檙e not paid regularly (for example, once a year) you may need to send other evidence to show you鈥檒l meet the minimum income requirements, such as:

• annual wage slips
• year end payroll
• a letter from your tax agent or adviser confirming your salary has been paid and taxed

You鈥檒l need to do this the first time you apply, and every time you reconfirm your eligibility.

If you have a partner

You must include your partner in your application if you鈥檙e:

• 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 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will decide who gets a childcare code.

Apply

To apply you鈥檒l need to set up a childcare account.

It usually takes 20 minutes to apply.

If you鈥檝e been unable to use the service

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

After you鈥檝e applied

You鈥檒l usually find out if you鈥檙e eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.

Once your application has been approved

You鈥檒l get an 11-digit code in your childcare account.

HMRC will let you know by text or email that the code is in your account.

Give the code to your provider along with:

• your National Insurance number
• your child鈥檚 date of birth

If you have not heard from HMRC

Contact the Childcare Service helpline if you applied more than 7 days ago and you still have not heard from HMRC.

Reconfirming your eligibility

To keep getting free childcare, you must reconfirm your eligibility by signing in to your childcare account every 3 months.

If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, you鈥檒l have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account in order to keep your code valid.