Homeless applications: immigration and residence
When you ask for council help with housing, the council asks:
about your immigration status
if you've lived abroad recently
The council asks this even if you're British or have lived here all your life.
You can usually get some homeless help if you meet immigration conditions.
You must meet other conditions to get emergency housing.
Proof of your status
You might need to show your immigration status to get homeless help.
The council might ask you for a share code to prove your immigration status online.
Some people already have an online immigration status.
The government wants to move more people to an online status. This is called an eVisa.
The council must accept paper documents if you cannot show them an eVisa.
For example, a Home Office letter that tells them your immigration status.
The council should give you time to get your information if you do not have it when you first speak to them.
If you get universal credit, you could show your online account to the council.
Who can get homelessness help
You could get homeless help if you have:
British or Irish citizenship
EU settled status
indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
refugee status or humanitarian protection
leave to remain with recourse to public funds
Some EU citizens with pre settled status can also get help.
What is 'recourse to public funds'?
This means you can apply for help with housing or benefits.
People with settled status, refugee status or humanitarian protection can get this help.
You also have recourse to public funds if your visa allows this. For example, if the Home Office gave you leave to remain through any of these schemes:
Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme
Afghan relocations and assistance policy
Afghan citizens resettlement scheme
migrant victims of domestic abuse scheme
victims of human trafficking or slavery scheme
If you do not know if you can get housing help
What is 'habitual residence'?
You usually need to be habitually resident to get homeless help. This includes British citizens.
It usually means you have lived in the 'common travel area' for at least a month and will keep living here.
The common travel area means the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.
You do not need to be habitually resident if you came to the UK because you were:
deported from another country
evacuated from or told to leave another country by the British government
If you have lived here before
You could be habitually resident as soon as you arrive if you return to resettle.
You can show that you plan to resettle by:
looking for work
registering with a GP
arranging school places for your children
The DWP also looks at this if you claim universal credit.
Try to stay with friends or family when you return to UK.
You might not get emergency housing.
You can usually get universal credit and some homeless help within 3 months of arrival.
Refugees and other people escaping war
You can get homeless help if you have:
refugee status
humanitarian protection
discretionary leave with recourse to public funds
If you apply to extend your leave before it expires, you can still get help until the Home Office makes a decision.
British citizens and other people with recourse to public funds
You can ask for homeless help when you arrive in the UK if you lived in:
Ukraine before 1 January 2022
Sudan before 15 April 2023
Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Lebanon or Israel before 7 October 2023
If you are seeking asylum
You cannot get homeless help from the council.
You could get asylum support while the Home Office looks at your asylum claim.
If you are under 18 and have no family in the UK, you can get help from children's services. This is a different team at the council.
EU citizens
You can usually get help if you are an Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK.
Some EU citizens with pre settled status can also get help but you have to meet extra conditions.
People with indefinite leave to remain
You can usually get help if you have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and are habitually resident.
The only exception is if a relative sponsored you to come and live in the UK within the last 5 years. You can only get homeless help if your relative has died.
Commonwealth citizens
You can get help if you're habitually resident and have right of abode.
Other long term residents from the Commonwealth can have rights to homeless help.
Get free immigration help from Citizens Advice if:
you moved to the UK before 1989
you are settled here
you do not have the documents to prove it
If the council says you cannot get help
The council must give you a letter which explains their decision.
Contact our emergency helpline or webchat service if either:
the council does not give you a letter
you are not sure of your next steps
If the council give you a letter
Council sometimes get things wrong, or make decisions without enough information.
You have 3 weeks to ask for a review if you think the decision is wrong.
Get free legal advice and help with a review:
If you came to the UK as someone's partner
You cannot usually get homeless help if you're on a spouse or partner visa.
The Home Office expects you to live in your partner's home for your first 5 years in the UK.
If you experience domestic abuse
You can ask for Home Office permission to stay if your relationship ends.
You could get benefits for 3 months while you apply to stay.
Get immigration advice before you contact the Home Office.
Find specialist advice through:
Some refuges have spaces for women who cannot get benefits.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
