In order to start legally working in the UK you need to obtain National Insurance Number (NI). This is your registration number which is needed when you sign an employment contract. Employers need it to deduct your taxes, local authorities to provide financial benefits and it is also required for dealings with the Inland Revenue. Note that this is not optional – it is a requirement for everyone to have it. You are eligible for this card since you turn 16 years old. UK residents should receive the card automatically once they turn 16, however, new entrants to the country will need to apply.
- It is free! Be aware of any companies that may charge you to complete documents for National Insurance Number. The service is absolutely free.
How much is National Insurance Number?
What documents do you need to apply for NI?
- 3 confirmations that you are actively looking for a job. These can either be letters or emails with potential employer’s name and address or official email address. All these 3 confirmations can be easily replaced by 1 employment contract if you have already been offered a position. However, employers are not keen on issuing these before they have your National Insurance Number since this is the main proof you are entitled to work within the UK. To obtain these confirmations you will need to send out your CV to several places. When I was a student in my National Insurance Number meeting I presented an official interview confirmation from McDonald’s and a rejection letter from Greggs. I actually got away with two confirmations at the time but I am not sure whether this is always possible. It is sufficient to have an email saying “Thank you, we have received your application for the position and will be contacting you in due course”. It is one of examples how your confirmation may look like. So three of those and you can call to schedule your interview. You can of course arrange an interview in advance – just make sure you obtain these before you attend it.
- Confirmation of an address. If you are living with someone else and you are not paying any bills, have no bank account or mobile phone contract you are facing a bit of a problem. If you are a student you can ask your University administration to issue an official letter on a headed paper confirming your term time address. If the first option, you will need to open a bank account. Lloyds Bank is quite keen at opening accounts for new entrants into the country. You will need to bring a current account customer (may be your friend living with you) to vouch for you living with them. We have applied this is practice and it worked!
- Eligibility to work in the UK. There is no need to evidence this for European Economic Area (EEA) residents (this is EU plus Switzerland citizens). However, if you are from a country outside EEA you need to bring all the documents you possibly can in relation to your visa and confirming your identity.
- Proof of Identity. This is obviously your passport. According to the Government website a driving licence and birth certificate could also be used for the purpose. Please note that National Identity Card may no longer act for this purpose since the UK have recently started shifting from this kind of proof of identity claiming that they can be easily forged. For example, I once tried to using this in the currency exchange shop when trying to buy a lump sum of £££ and they have refused it. They said that I need to present either a passport or at least a driving licence.
You can read about a complete application process at HM Revenue & Customs website or on Gov.uk.
How to schedule an interview?
TIP
You need to call Jobcentre Plus application line on 0345 600 0643. Lines are open 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.
I have now mentioned the interview twice but I have not explained how this works. It is called an interview but as long as you bring all relevant documentation you will get your card. For the interview you will have to go to one of local Job Centres, this will be explained to you during the call.
Obviously you are going to be asked some questions. Such as relevant residency information (all of previous residential addresses including overseas), birth details (place, mother’s name, father’s name, siblings), purpose of coming to the UK (do not be afraid to say “to work” if that is true), etc.
As long as you do not make any major mistakes in your application National Insurance Number will arrive by post in around two weeks’ time . National Insurance Cards are no longer issued – you now only get a letter where your number will be stated. Please ensure you keep it safe or make a note of it elsewhere.
Temporary National Insurance Number
This is a code your employer used to use to complete your records while you don’t have a permanent one. Your temporary National Insurance Number is TN DD MM YY F/M. DD stands for your day of birth and MM & YY stand for month and year respectively. F/M stand for female and male. So if you are John Smith who is born in 1986 April 26, your temporary National Insurance Number would have been TN 26 04 86 M.
Employers are no longer permitted to use TN numbers and they will not be accepted by the Quality Standard. If the employer does not know an employee’s NINO when they submit their end of year return, they should leave the NINO box blank, enter the employee’s date of birth and gender in the appropriate boxes on the form, following the guidance in Employers’ Guidance, or on the HMRC internet site. In simple words: as of mid 2010, YOU WILL NOT BE GIVEN TEMPORARY INSURANCE NUMBER ANYMORE. You will always have to apply for a full NI regardless if it is a full-time job or just a short summer placement.
National Insurance Contributions (correct as at 1st February 2015)
These are different for employed and self-employed.
If you’re employed
If you’re employed you pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:
- if you earn more than £153 a week and up to £805 a week, you pay 12% of the amount you earn between £153 and £805;
- if you earn more than £805 a week, you also pay 2% of all your earnings over £805.
Your contributions are deducted from your wages by your employer.
If you’re self-employed
If you’re self-employed you pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:
- Class 2 National Insurance contributions are paid at a flat rate of £2.75 a week;
- Class 4 National Insurance contributions are paid as a percentage of your annual taxable profits – 9% on profits between £7,956 and £41,865, and a further 2 per cent on profits over that amount.
If your profits are expected to be less than £5,885 you may not have to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
Your Class 2 National Insurance contributions payments are due on 31 January and 31 July, the same as a Self Assessment tax bill. You pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions either monthly or six monthly by Direct Debit – follow the first link below for more information about payment dates.
You pay Class 4 National Insurance contributions when you pay your Income Tax.
Source: HMRC
Hello, I thought you do not need a NIN if you’re looking for a summer job? Because if you do, to what address would it be sent?! Thank You in advance for clearing that up.
Sincerely,
S.C.
You will need National Insurance Number even if it is just a summer job, but you do not necessary need to have it while you are looking for job. You can apply once you started working. But remember – if you are employed legally your employer will not be able to pay you until you get NIN. In addition, if you never worked in UK before, do not forget to ask for P46 form from your employer, so you would not pay tax for your summer job in UK.
I am 17 in September and looking for a job. I was born in the UK and I have not received my National Insurance card yet. What do I do?
You should follow the standard procedure and call to register for your card
can I get temporary insurance number before the interview?
I am afraid not…
Hello,
My name is Aaron and I am a Spanish citizen., I recently completed an MSc here in the UK and now I am actively looking for a job. WOuld I be entitled to apply for a NIN?
Thanks
Yes you would ;)
I know my NIN as it was sent to me by letter but do not have an NIN card, do I need one or not?
As long as you know your number, you don’t need the actual card – nobody ever asked me to show the actual card, knowing the number was always enough…
So they send out your temporary number? Or tell you in person? Because could i not put my details in TM DD MM YY F/M format and just tell my employee that while i wait? (Havent been to an interview yet) hope that all makes sense. Thanks!
You do not get temporary number, your employer has to wait until you receive it by post (takes around 2 weeks) and it will not be in the format you suggested..
Hello, I arrived to UK a week ago I’ve been looking for a job and I was asked for national insurance number and i still don’t have it … I called Jobcenterplus and they gave me an appointment for 17th of December. The question is does it make any sense to keep searching for work without “NI”? Because everywhere i was asked for it. Sorry for my English.
Hi Audrius. Yes, it still makes sense to keep looking. Employer technically does not need you to have the National Insurance Number when he offers you a job. The problem is that the majority of employers is not aware that they can leave the NI section blank and fill it in as soon as you get the letter with a number assigned. The only option in this case would be to try explaining this to anyone who will question you not having a NINO. I think it is also worthwhile mentioning that you have an appointment scheduled. Another advice would be to try calling again at least once a week to check if they have any appointments that were cancelled and there is a high chance they might offer you an earlier date. Good luck.
Hello.I came to UK on November 8.I came to my boyfrend, he work here.I was pregnannt and i need to make insurance number to registr at hospital. i have 22 weeks pregnant,so i cant work. Where i need to go, or call to make the insurance number?
Thank you for your answer.
“You need to call Registrations Helpline on 0845 915 7006. Lines are open 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday” ;)
Hi. I came to UK 1 month ago. My wife leave in UK for 7 years, and she working. I am actively looking for a job, but all of the employers asking me for NIN. When I saying I haven’t got it, they say that they can’t offer me a job. I haven’t got any proof, because I usually phone about the job. I have appointment for NIN tomorrow, do you think I’ll be able to get NIN?
Thanks
Hi. Just explain them your situation, don’t forget your passport and you should be fine. One of my friends got it without hard evidence…It might depend on the person you get, so good luck ;)
Hola yo ya realice mi entrevista y me he mudado a otro domicilio,como puedo obtener mi nin ? Gracias ya no tengo contacto alguno con la otra casa y necesitaría mis cartas! Un saludo gracias
Sorry but I have no idea how I could help you with your issue… You will get your NI number to the address you provided during your interview so you need to ask people who live in your old address to pass you your letters, or give a call to the NI office and they should be able to give you your NI over the phone
Hi. My name is Veronika and I am from Bulgaria. I have started working as self-employed, I have already have a few invoices. I have a registration with General Pharmaceutical Council because I am working as a locum pharmacist. What kind of evidence should I have to demonstrate that I am working?
Please enquire this when you schedule your interview and they will be able to tell you what exactly what is needed in your case
Hi, i have been working in 2005 in England and they gave me a temporary insurance number with my date of birth. All my papers have this to proof. Now I want to return and I would like to know if they will give me another number or can I work with the old one? The same with my bank account. Do you know if it is still open because I never had touch since 2006.
Hi Jo,
As per our article, the temporary insurance number is no longer used and therefore is not valid/expired. However, I would assume this is not going to be a problem. You will need to follow exactly the same process as you would in obtaining the national insurance number for the first time. During your interview I would avoid mentioning the fact that you have worked in England before. Even if you had been allocated a temporary national insurance number back in 2005 it is no longer valid and has no credit whatsoever. This might confuse the interviewer and additional information and documents on your previous employment may be required.
What is concerning your bank account – you should visit any local branch of the same bank and see if they still hold your details/account. One of my friends was in a similar situation, however, it was easier to open a new account rather than re-opening an old one.
Hello just a quick question, I have a limited company and I wanna pay all my taxes and close down the company. The problem is that I don’t have national insurance number. Is that a problem? Is it possible to get temporary one just to pay my taxes as a director of the company. Sorry for my poor English. Merry xmas!!
You need to get to the HMRC for consultation on this…http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kbroker/hmrc/locator/locator.jsp
hi
i just got my (( eea2 coa ))..can i apply for national insurance number…
what documents i need? thanks
You need passport (+visa is required) and proof that you either have a job offer or are activelly looking for a job. Ring the JobCentre to schedule a meeting and they will be able to clarify all the requirements ;)
Hi, Can I apply a job in UK then apply for a visa later? I am currently in the UK with social visa which allows me to stay for only 6 months, so I can’t get NI number.
I am afraid no legitimate employer will employ you without a valid Visa…
Hi, I’m Polish and I used to work every holiday in the UK using the same temporary number(NINO) cause it was job for 2 months. I’ve got question. What if I would like to come over to the UK to work again but for longer that I used to work? I should apply for a new National Insurance Number? Thank U so much for any help :)
Hi Kathleen,
I believe temporary NI numbers are no longer valid and you would need to apply for full NI number
Hi there, my 17 year old German niece wants to work here in the UK at my company for the summer hols to learn better English. My employer has agreed to this. Can I set everything up for her ready for when she starts in the summer or does she still have to have an interview? I could provide her with the necessary letters she needs confirming she can work here. Thanks for any help.
Hi Eva,
If she already has a guaranteed position it is great. All you need is to schedule NI interview for her for the some day after she comes to the UK (she must be present in the country and attend this herself) and bring a letter from your employer confirming her acceptance as well as her passport and proof of her address – so if she is going to stay in your house bring your utility bill/credit card statement with you to the interview.
Hi,
I want to know how many days, weeks or month it will take to get my nino, after submission. Thanks
Hi, it usually takes between two weeks and a month.
Hello,
I am coming to London on the 12th of May. Is it possible to call and arrange interview for NIN in advance, e.g. if I call them upcoming Monday, what the approximate date for my interview will be then?
Another question I would be grateful to get help with is: how can I prove my adress? I already know that I will be staying at my friends and paying for the separate room, however, there will be no bills in my name. Are there any options for me to get a proof asap, so I can bring it along to the interview straight away?
Thanks a million!
Hi Victoria,
You can call in advance to arrange the interview. However, I am not sure whether the number will work from abroad so you could get your friend to call them giving all of your details and pretending to be you. The date available will depend on the area you are going to live in and how busy their interviewers are. Usually the waiting time is up to a month. As a proof of you address you will need a bill or a bank statement. For that you need to go an open a bank account. Lloyds TSB should be happy to do that for you as long as you bring a bill with your friend’s name. After you open up a bank account you will get a few letters from the bank in your name at your friend’s address. So that’s going to be your proof. Remember you also need three different proofs emails/letters demonstrating that you are looking for a job. The best is to apply through different websites and get these confirmations by email. Usually they say something like “We have received your application and will be getting back to you as soon as possible”. Rejection letters can be used for this purpose as well.
Hi,I am currently living and studying in the UK. A friend, who lives in Germany, wants to come and stay here for 5 weeks in summer and work. I am thinking to call in and set up an interview for him as soon as he arrives, but even if he gets a quick interview are 5 weeks enough to get the insurance number issued? And can he use my address for proof, as he doesn’t live here permanently?
Thank you so much for your help.
5 weeks is very short period but it is possible to get NI in that period if you schedule the interview for the day he arrives… Remember that it is not easy to get such short term jobs as employers prefer people who stay longer, all the best ;)
In terms of address you will need to give him a utility bill or bank statement with your address and it should be sufficient.
Hello, I’m looking for a job in England, I’m Italian. I have an appointment on 20 of May for NIN(. When I called ad the govern number, the woman she sad me a number (for example 025845123)..what is it? After the interview, I’m reading for work (the NIN will arrive about 2-3 weeks)?
Thank you!
Maybe I’ve written the wrong address and I’ve confused the number.. Is possible to call for the correct address and for ask all correct information? If so, which number?
Thank you!!
Hi Maurizio, as per your previous comment, call the same number quoting the reference they gave you. If the reference was wrong, they might not be able to find you straight away so may need some extra details from you.
Hi Maurizio. This is a reference number which you shall use if you need to contact them again before your interview.
hi there, i was in uk about 7 years ago i was working for an agency for 13 weeks on a temporary ni number. after that i started to work for the company for about 1 year. now after 7 years i lost my job in italy and i had an offer from my brother in law to come to work in the uk. in the agency i gave them the national insurance number that i remember from 7 years ago, now i got a letter from the HMRC telling me the tax ref number, the ni number is empty, and i have temp NINO. now my emloyer says that i no longer have a national insurance number, i called the hmrc telling them all my details and they say the details are wrong but they dont explain me anything else. can u tell me what to do?
Hi Ronato, I would suggest scheduling a national insurance number interview. Let your employer know that you have such scheduled and job centre will sort everything out for you.
Hi ! My name is Daniel and I’m romanian. I know that there are some problems with romanians and bulgarians regarding their right to work in UK. Anyway, I have a UK driving license, a bank account(Barklays), and I just passed the CSCS(green card for site operatives-constructions). I also applied for some jobs on different job sites, and I received those confirmations. Having this construction site permit to work, do I have the right to work in UK now ? I know how it sounds, but we are going to some cloudy days… Can I get NINo or at least a temporary one ? I just want to be allowed to work in a working area which most of us wouldn’t find very ‘sexy’… constructions.
Thank you, for your answer !
Hi Dan,
As you mentioned there are some questions regarding romanians and bulgarians, so you need to schedule your National Insurance interview and they will be able to advice you on the latest rules regarding your approval to work. I wish I worked for British Government and knew all the answers, but sadly I do not. All the best! PS. You can always to your local JobCentre and they will also be able to give you latest advice
Hi, How long does it take usually to make an identity appointment to get the NIN after you call to arrange it?
Thanks
Vadim
About 2-3 weeks
Hi!
I am Balazs Rostas from Hungary. Me and my girlfriend will travel to London for the summer to work. I was just informed that we need an NI number, and that it could take weeks to actually get it. The problem is, that we will be there for only 5 weeks, and we can not afford to wait for it. Is there a way to get a NI number or finish most of the processes before we leave? I have friends in London, can they do it for us?
Also what do I need to be able to work and get paid in the UK, do I need any special documents?
Thank you!
Hi Balazs, you friends in London can call NI office and arrange interviews for both of you for the day then you come. They should call at least 3 weeks before you come, cause there will be people already waiting in line. Once you get NI, all you need is passport and someone who will give you a job for just 5 weeks (not going to be that easy!). All the best!