Most of people need to apply for a National Insurance number once they’ve arrived in the UK and intend to work, study or claim benefits.

The National Insurance number is issued by the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions). It is made up of letters and numbers and never changes. E.g. SX123456A

You can apply for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

You must also be looking for work or have an offer to start work in the UK. If you have already started working you can still apply.

You’re not eligible to apply if you:

• have lost your National Insurance number
• are a UK resident aged 19 or under and have not contacted HMRC first
• have a biometric residence permit (BRP) which has a National Insurance number printed on it
• are only applying for a National Insurance number because you want to apply for benefits or a student loan

If you’ve lost your National Insurance number

Check how to find a lost National Insurance number.

If you’re a UK resident aged 19 or under

You’ll normally be sent a National Insurance number automatically, in the 3 months before your 16th birthday, if both the following are true:

• you live in the UK
• a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

If you’re aged 16 to 19 and you did not get a National Insurance number what you do depends on if a Child Benefit claim was made.

Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if your parent or guardian filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you, or you’re not sure. You may already have a National Insurance record.

Apply for a National Insurance number online if your parent or guardian did not fill in a Child Benefit claim form for you.

If you have a BRP

If you have a BRP, you might have a National Insurance number already - it will be printed on the back of your BRP if you do.

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you must apply for one if you plan to work. You can only apply when you’re in the UK.

If you’re applying for benefits or a student loan

You do not need a National Insurance number to apply for benefits or a student loan. You will receive one if your application for benefits or a student loan is successful.

How to apply

You can apply for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK and have the right to work.

To get a National Insurance number you need to apply online and prove your identity.

What you’ll need

If you have the following documents, use them when you apply:

• a passport from any country
• a BRP

You can also use a national identity card from:

• a country in the EU
• Norway
• Liechtenstein
• Switzerland

You can still apply if you do not have any of these documents but you may need to attend an appointment to prove your identity.

Prove your identity

You may be able to prove your identity online by submitting digital photos of your identity documents and yourself.

If you cannot prove your identity online then you may need to:

• post photocopies of your documents
• attend an appointment

Apply online

After you apply you’ll get an email with your application reference number. The email will tell you if you need to provide more proof of your identity.

If you’re left UK and lost your NI number

You have a NI number to make sure your NI contributions and tax are recorded against your name only.

If, by mistake, you have lost your letter with NI number there is always the possibility to recover it.

Please contact the office on 07789758177 / 02082211165 and our team of professional advisers will help you to get your National Insurance Number.