From 1st August 2025 residency eligibility rules for accessing Adult Skills Fund funded courses have changed.
Individuals, across the North West, are now eligible for funding if they are ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of learning and the learning is taking place in England.
Individuals will not be able to access ASF funding if:
- they are here without authority or lawful status
- they are resident in the UK on a student visa, unless they are eligible through meeting any other of the categories
- they are in the UK on holiday
- they are in the UK on a sponsorship visa
- their residence permit imposes a study prohibition or restriction
DfE has published updated funding rules to reflect this: Adult skills fund: funding and performance management rules 2025 to 2026 – GOV.UK
Impact on BN(O) Visa Holders
BN(O) visa holders will no longer have to prove 3-years residency in the UK to access funding. With this rule change a BN(O) visa holder will be able to access ASF funded courses from day one of learning if they can prove ordinary residence, including ESOL classes..
As the Adult Skills Fund is devolved in some areas, if you live in Greater Manchester or Liverpool City Region please contact their Adult Skills Fund Team to understand how to access funding in your areas.
For the financial year 2025/26 MHCLG also has funding available for Local Authorities to draw down to support BN(O) visa holders with English language. Up to £850 per learner is available for LA’s to retrospectively claim from MHCLG. MHCLG has informed SMPs that this funding will continue to be available for the remainder of the financial year.