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Apply for a National Insurance number

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Who can apply for a National Insurance number

You can apply for a National Insurance number if you:

  • live in the UK
  • have the right to work in the UK
  • are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work

You can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

If you already have a National Insurance number, you do not need to apply for a new one, even if your personal details change. Your National Insurance number remains the same for life.

This guide and the service are also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

When you do not need a National Insurance number

You do not need a National Insurance number to start an application for benefits or a student loan. If you need a National Insurance number to get your benefit or student loan paid, you’ll be contacted and told how to get one.

You do not need a National Insurance number to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How to find your National Insurance number

Check how to find a National Insurance number if you already have one.

If you’re a UK resident aged 19 or under

You’ll normally be sent a National Insurance number 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 did not get a National Insurance number

If you’re aged 16 to 19 and you did not get a National Insurance number either:

If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) or eVisa

If you have a BRP or eVisa, you might have a National Insurance number already.

You can find it:

  • on the back of your BRP 
  • by logging into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to view your eVisa

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’ve already applied for a National Insurance number

It can take up to 4 weeks to get your National Insurance number.

You can call the application helpline if:

  • you applied more than 4 weeks ago
  • you’ve moved house since you applied
  • your personal details have changed since you applied

If you have an application reference number, have it ready when you call. You’ll find it at the top of the confirmation email you were sent after you applied.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Start a new job: step by step

  1. Step 1 Get your National Insurance number

    You'll usually need your National Insurance number when you start your new job.

    1. Find your National Insurance number
    1. You are currently viewing: Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not already have one

  2. Step 2 Accept the job offer

    The offer might be ‘conditional’ or ‘provisional’, which means you may need to give further details to your new employer or pass pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out about your rights when accepting a job offer

  3. Step 3 Share your details for any employer checks

    Give your new employer what they need to complete any pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out what checks your employer can make
    1. Find out how to prove your right to work
    1. Find out about criminal record checks

  4. Step 4 Review your employment contract

    Your new employer should give you an employment contract. Check the terms before you agree to it.

    1. Find out about employment contracts

  5. and If you're leaving a job, hand in your notice

    Tell your current employer that you’re going to leave and when your last day will be. This is known as handing in your notice.

    1. Find out how to hand in your notice

    When you hand in your notice, ask your employer when you’ll get your P45.

    1. Find out about the P45

  6. Step 5 Prepare your personal information for your first day

    To get paid, you’ll need to give your new employer:

  7. Step 6 Give your P45 to your new employer

    Your new employer will use your P45 to work out how much tax to take from your pay.

    1. Find out about the P45

  8. or If you do not have a P45, fill in the starter checklist

    Use the starter checklist to give your employer details they need to work out your pay and tax.

    1. Fill in the starter checklist

  9. Step 7 Check your first payslip

    Your employer must give you a payslip on or before payday.

    1. Find out what should be on your payslip

    It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.

    1. Check if the tax on your payslip is correct

    If you think the tax is wrong, your tax code may be incorrect.

    1. Find out what to do if you think your tax code is wrong