“Apply to for” is not a fixed phrase, but you can use both words in one sentence when a person or place comes between them. The pattern is apply to [recipient] for [thing].
For example: I applied to the university for a scholarship.
Here is the quick rule. “To” points to the place or person who receives your request. “For” points to the thing you want. If you remember only one idea from this guide, remember that one.
This guide covers jobs, universities, visas, rules, and a few related forms like “apply with” and “apply at.”
What “Apply” Means
“Apply” has several meanings, and the preposition you choose depends on which one you mean.
The main meanings are:
- Make a formal request
- Put something into use
- Spread something on a surface
- Be relevant to someone or something
Most confusion comes from the first and last meanings. Both can use “to,” but they work in very different ways. I applied to Google means you sent Google an application. This rule applies to employees means the rule affects employees.
Dictionaries such as Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, and Longman all record these patterns. Reference pages show update dates from 2020 to 2026, but the rule itself has not changed.
When to Use “Apply For”
Use “apply for” when you name the thing you want to get.
“For” introduces the benefit, role, document, or opportunity you are requesting. Ask yourself: What am I trying to get? If the answer is a job, a visa, or a scholarship, use “for.”
Common things people apply for:
- A job, internship, or position
- A scholarship, grant, or loan
- A visa or permit
- Permission or admission
- A credit card
Examples:
- She applied for a job at a bank.
- We applied for a visa last month.
- He is applying for funding.
When to Use “Apply To”
Use “apply to” when you name the person, place, or organization that receives your request.
Ask yourself: Who or where receives my application? If the answer is a school, company, or office, use “to.” Typical recipients include universities, colleges, employers, government offices, and programs.
Examples:
- She applied to Harvard.
- He applied to three companies.
- They applied to a program in Canada.
“Apply to” also has a second use. It means “be relevant to.” Rules, laws, and discounts apply to people or situations.
- This law applies to everyone.
- The discount applies to students.
- Does this apply to me?
Is “Apply To For” Correct?
Not as one continuous phrase. It is only correct when an object sits between “to” and “for.”
You will sometimes see people write “I applied to for a scholarship.” That sentence is wrong because “to” has no object. Who did you apply to? The sentence needs an answer.
Fix it by adding the recipient:
- ❌ I applied to for a scholarship.
- ✅ I applied to the university for a scholarship.
The same is true for any other pairing. In I applied to the embassy for a visa, “to” goes with the embassy and “for” goes with the visa. The two prepositions belong to two different objects.
Apply To vs. Apply For: Examples
The easiest way to compare them is side by side.
| Pattern | Use it for | Example |
| Apply for + thing sought | Job, visa, scholarship, loan, permission, admission | Apply for a job; apply for a visa |
| Apply to + recipient/place | University, company, school, program, office, person | Apply to Harvard; apply to Google |
| Apply to + rule/situation | Relevance or effect | This rule applies to everyone |
| Apply to + recipient + for + thing | Both recipient and benefit | I applied to the university for a scholarship |
Here are the common nouns and the preposition that usually goes with them:
| Noun | Natural phrase |
| Job / position / role | Apply for a job |
| University / college | Apply to a university |
| Admission | Apply for admission |
| Visa / permit | Apply for a visa |
| Company / employer | Apply to a company |
| Scholarship / grant / loan | Apply for a scholarship, grant, or loan |
| Program / course | Apply to a program; apply for a course |
Do You Apply To or For a Job?
You usually apply for a job. If you name the employer, you apply to the company.
A job is the thing you want, so it takes “for.” The company is the place that receives your application, so it takes “to.” That is why “I applied to a job” sounds wrong, but “I applied to Google” sounds fine.
Use both in one sentence when you want to be precise:
- I applied to the company for a marketing role.
- She applied for a job at a local school.
If you want to say where you hope to work, “apply to work at” is also natural: I applied to work at a hospital.
Do You Apply To or For a University?
You usually apply to a university. If you mean the permission to study there, you apply for admission.
The university is the recipient, so it takes “to.” Admission is the thing you are asking for, so it takes “for.” Both of these are correct:
- I applied to Oxford.
- I applied for admission to Oxford.
“I applied for Oxford” is generally unnatural when you mean applying for a place there. Stick with “applied to Oxford,” or use the longer form with “admission.”
Courses are a small exception. You can apply to a program or for a course, depending on how the sentence is built.
Apply For a Visa, Loan, or Scholarship
For documents, money, and permission, always use “apply for.”
These are all things you want to receive, not places you send your request. So the question “Is it apply for a visa or apply to a visa?” has a simple answer: apply for a visa.
When you also name who you are asking, add “to” before the recipient:
- I applied to the bank for a loan.
- She applied to the embassy for a visa.
- They applied to the foundation for a grant.
This is the full pattern in action, and it makes your sentence clearer.
When Rules “Apply To” People
When you talk about rules, laws, or conditions, use “apply to,” never “apply for.”
Here “apply” means “be relevant.” Nobody is submitting a request. The rule simply affects someone.
- ❌ This law applies for everyone.
- ✅ This law applies to everyone.
You can also use “this applies to you” in everyday speech. It means the point or rule is relevant to you. This sense is common in company policies, school rules, and offers like discounts.
Can You Use “Apply To” and “Apply For” Together?
Yes, as long as each preposition has its own object.
The full pattern is apply to + recipient + for + benefit. Think of it as two questions answered in order: where does the request go, and what do you want?
Examples:
- I applied to the bank for a loan.
- He applied to the council for permission.
- We applied to three colleges for financial aid.
In formal writing, you can also say “submit an application to [organization] for [purpose].” It can be clearer than repeating “apply,” especially in letters and official forms. Other formal options are “make an application for” and “request.”
Apply With, Apply In, and Apply At
These forms are less common, but they are natural in specific situations.
- Apply with: often used for the company or service you use. Apply with your passport and a photo. It can also mean “using” something.
- Apply at: often used for a location. Apply at the front desk.
- Apply in: often used for a method or place. Apply in person.
Many guides skip these, which is why learners get confused. If you are unsure, go back to the main rule. “To” and “for” cover most cases. The others add detail about how or where you apply.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most errors come from mixing up the thing you want with the place you send it.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I applied for Harvard University. | I applied to Harvard University. |
| I applied to a job. | I applied for a job. |
| This law applies for everyone. | This law applies to everyone. |
| I applied to for a scholarship. | I applied to the university for a scholarship. |
Other mistakes to watch for:
- Assuming “apply to” always means sending an application. It can also mean “be relevant” or “put on a surface.”
- Translating word for word from another language, where prepositions work differently.
- Mixing up “apply to,” “apply with,” “apply at,” and “apply in.”
How Do You Choose the Right Preposition?
Ask what you want and who receives it.
Follow these steps:
- Do you want something? Use for. (job, visa, scholarship, loan)
- Are you sending it somewhere? Use to. (university, company, program)
- Are you naming both? Use to … for …. (I applied to the bank for a loan.)
- Are you talking about relevance? Use to. (This discount applies to students.)
Do not write “apply to for” as one phrase. Put the recipient between the two words.
Quick Examples for Everyday English
These short examples cover most situations you will meet.
- Applying for a job: I applied for a job at a hotel.
- Applying to a school: She applied to five colleges.
- Applying for a visa: We applied for a visa in March.
- Using both: He applied to the company for an internship.
- Talking about rules: The new policy applies to all staff.
- Other meanings: Apply the cream twice a day. / Apply pressure to the cut.
Conclusion
Use “for” for the thing you want and “to” for the place that receives it.
“Apply to for” is not a correct phrase on its own, but “apply to [recipient] for [thing]” is perfectly good English. Dictionary references still show the same rule today, so you can rely on it for emails, cover letters, university forms, and exams like IELTS and TOEFL.
When in doubt, ask two quick questions: What do I want? and Who gets my request? Your answers will tell you which word to use.
FAQs
Is “apply to for” correct?
Not as a continuous phrase. Use “apply to [recipient] for [thing],” such as “I applied to the embassy for a visa.”
Do you apply to or for a job?
Usually “apply for a job.” If you name the employer, say “apply to a company for a job.”
Do you apply to or for a university?
Usually “apply to a university.” You can also say “apply for admission to a university.”
What does “apply to” mean?
It can mean sending an application to a recipient, or it can mean something is relevant to or affects someone or something.
What does “apply for” mean?
It means making a formal request for something you want to get, like a job, visa, or scholarship.
Can I say “apply for Harvard”?
It sounds unnatural if you mean applying for a place. Say “apply to Harvard” or “apply for admission to Harvard.”
Can I use “apply to” and “apply for” in the same sentence?
Yes. Give each its own object: “I applied to the bank for a loan.”
Is it “apply for a visa” or “apply to a visa”?
“Apply for a visa.” A visa is the thing you want.
Should I say “apply to work at” or “apply for work at”?
“Apply to work at” is natural. You can also say “apply for a job at.”
What does “this applies to you” mean?
It means the rule or point is relevant to you.
Is “apply with” correct?
Yes. It is used in specific cases, such as “apply with a passport” or “apply with a company.”